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IN FOCUS: SustainabilityIN FOCUS Seminar: Sustainability and the Economy, Society, and Environment This seminar is closed. Applications are no longer being accepted. Description This dynamic seminar will provide you the opportunity to cultivate your role as one of tomorrow's sustainability innovators and sharpen your college and career plans. Through a rich mix of field trips, meetings with local leaders, group projects, readings, and discussions, this interactive experience offers a hands-on, comprehensive grounding in the intersection of social, economic and environmental challenges. You will study how sustainability principles are impacting different sectors of urban life—including energy, business, buildings, food systems and transportation—and are creating a wide range of emerging internship and job opportunities. You will leave with a new perspective that empowers you to apply your deepened understanding to a broad diversity of academic and professional pursuits. The program is hosted in partnership with the Foresight Design Initiative, a Chicago-based sustainability innovation organization with significant educational experience and extensive local connections. Objectives
Structure Each day is different in this highly interactive program. Approximately 2/3 of the classes will be held on the Evanston campus, with the remainder of the time spent on site visits throughout Chicago. By using the city as a living classroom, the seminar provides unique access to local sustainability initiatives through tours and meetings with sector leaders. Group discussions, exercises, and projects foster collaboration and a deeper understanding of the insight gained from lectures and outings. The course begins with an introductory primer to sustainability that includes key concepts and vocabulary. Students will documents their insights through field notes and journaling. Students who desire a deeper look can request to do a special research project supervised by the instructors. A Typical Classroom Session Each day of the program will include a mix of a leader-facilitated discussion, an activity, and a guest speaker or site visits. As scheduling permits, every day will be organized around a different subject. Sustainability topics covered could include waste, water, energy, building, conservation, cleantech, urban planning, and food. Below is a representative day of the two-week schedule. While this session would be a half day held on the Evanston campus, some days will be full days with field trips offsite. Subject of the Day: Public Policy 9:30-10:15: Article Discussion on “To Really Save the Planet, Stop Going Green”
10:15-11:15: Policy Case Study
11:15-11:30: Break 11:30-12:30: Meet with an Energy Policy Expert
12:30-12:45: Processing Check-In Tentative Speakers and Tours This seminar will be a mixture of half days and full days. On the full days, there will be field trips or other seminar activities that will require attendance beyond the typical classroom schedule. They may include:
Readings The seminar’s reading list provides a diverse contextual background on sustainability-related issues. Given the often quickly evolving nature of the field, they are drawn as much as possible from current publications, and will be provided by to students through email or in class. In-class discussions will help solidify the new knowledge and make connections to the material being covered by speakers. Throughout the program, students will break into small groups to give article presentations. Past selections have included:
Applicants This IN FOCUS seminar is ideal for high school students who possess a passion for learning and a strong curiosity about sustainability. No previous knowledge of environmental studies is required.
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