Environment and Society
Science isn’t the complete answer, because you have to address the social/cultural context in which environmental problems arise.
Student Profile: Blair Brown
Studying Irondequoit Bay during her third year as an ES major at RIT, Blair Brown had an experience she believes will forever affect how she approaches environmental problems.
Wanting to learn how various human interests affect decision-making about the bay, Blair interviewed town supervisors, ordinary citizens, Department of Environmental Conservation officials—a broad range of bay stakeholders. What she learned was how to think and talk about environmental problems in terms relevant to diverse points of view.
“A lot of scientists don’t know how to speak to the public, and a lot of writers don’t understand the science,” Blair says. “I really enjoy trying to make connections between people.”
Blair’s favorite subjects in high school were English and science. Serving as an RA in a dormitory where many of the students were deaf, Blair learned sign language. Hoping someday to work as an eco-tourism consultant in Latin America, she minored in Spanish. She also plays on the RIT basketball team and works with the environmental club on campus.
RIT’s emphasis on Society and the Environment, Blair says, gives her the multi-dimensional perspective it takes to develop effective solutions.
It’s not the parts. It’s the interaction among the parts.
That central truth about the sustainability of ecosystems also includes the human element. That is why RIT’s Environmental Science program combines a foundation in the natural and physical sciences with liberal arts disciplines such as policy, ethics, sociology, law and public policy. An environmental advocate needs to work effectively with lawmakers, business people, neighborhood citizens and other decision makers. That means understanding how these people think, speak, and frame their priorities. RIT’s ES program brings a unique emphasis to this often overlooked but crucial aspect of environmental education.
Community Involvement: RIT Environmental Science students not only learn theory, they apply it to solve real-world problems. The projects might involve wetlands research, species protection or even urban environmentalism. For several years, the ES program has partnered with Rochester’s NorthEast Neighborhood Alliance to gives students an opportunity to work on inner-city revitalization. One student, for example, developed Geographic Information System maps to identify potential development sites and to pinpoint areas at high risk for children’s lead poisoning. Another is interviewing community youth to develop curricula on urban ecology and agriculture.
Curriculum: RIT’s ES program trains well-rounded specialists, through coursework that builds a solid foundation in both science and liberal arts. The interdisciplinary course sequence emphasizes creative problem solving, critical thinking and forward-looking innovation—qualities essential to making a real-world difference.