Curriculum Development for Interdisciplinary Field Courses in Environmental Geosciences

目前，培训环境科学家的跨学科、实地为主的课程极为罕见；对于较低层次的本科教育来说尤其如此。作为印第安纳大学环境科学理学学士（BSES）项目的一部分，将为环境科学家开设一门跨学科的野外课程（G329），除了传统的地质原理外，还强调场地特征、水文地质学和生态系统分析。第二门课程将通过修改现有的高级地质研究课程（G429）而开设；修订后的课程（G429e）将包括环境内容，并更加强调地表地质学。这些新课程将利用位于蒙大拿州烟草根山的印第安纳大学地质野外站作为教学基地。新课程将包括教学练习、独立评估练习和最终研究领域项目。G329和G429e共同构成了一系列面向其他认可学院和大学学生的实地教育。新课程的一个独特方面将是利用仪器示范分水岭用于教学目的。示范流域将包括最先进的监测设备，这是印第安纳大学、州和联邦机构以及当地水区和牧场主合作努力的一部分。为了确保课程材料的传播，我们已经为外部教师提出了一个现场访问计划。

At the present time interdisciplinary, field-based, courses for the training of environmental scientists are extremely rare; this is particularly true for the lower level of undergraduate education. As part of the new Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (BSES) program at Indiana University, an interdisciplinary field course for environmental scientists (G329) will be created that emphasizes site characterization, hydrogeology, and ecosystem analysis in addition to traditional geologic principles. A second course will be created through modification of an existing course for advanced geologic study (G429); the revised course (G429e) will include environmental components and place more emphasis on surficial geology. These new courses will utilize the Indiana University Geologic Field Station located in the Tobacco Root Mountains, Montana as their base for instruction. The new curriculum will consist of a combination of teaching exercises, independent evaluation exercises, and a Final Study Area project. Together, G329 and G429e constitute a sequence of field-based education open to students from other accredited colleges and universities. One unique aspect of the new curricula will be the utilization of an instrumented Demonstration Watershed for instructional purposes. The Demonstration Watershed will contain state-of-the-art monitoring equipment established as part of a cooperative effort involving Indiana University, State and Federal agencies, as well as the local water district and ranchers. In order to ensure dissemination of curricula materials we have proposed an on-site visitation program for external faculty members.