Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

DCISE Annual Report 2016-2017 The Department of Environmental Studies and Science (ESS) has developed into a vibrant bi-campus unit. With the hiring of six full-time faculty over the past three years (with two hired this past academic year), the department's curriculum has been refined to meet today's real-world challenges. Both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs stress training in analytical thinking—multiple frameworks, measurement, media literacy, communication—with hands-on skills such as field identification, habitat assessment, geographic information systems (GIS) and policy research, and advocacy. The new faculty have created meaningful connections with community organizations and government offices in Westchester and New York City, affording students exposure to a diversity of environmental job fields. The department is well- equipped to fulfill its objective to enrich students with the skills for positions in private, public, academic or non-governmental organizations, or prepare students for further graduate studies. Research and teaching within the department has begun to coalesce along five major themes: Eco-citizenship Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Management Training in Complex Thinking Evidence-informed Policy and Management Sustainability Transitions UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS The ESS department's programmatic themes are reflected in a new Sustainability minor on the New York City campus launched this academic year. This minor focuses on the exploration of successful designs for transitional, open processes through citizen participation, and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) evidence- based policy efforts that require complex interdisciplinary thinking premised upon multiple perspectives. Additionally, the ESS program themes were the basis for re-tooling its undergraduate curriculum in innovative ways. I. A new gateway sequence was created for a student's first year in the Environmental Studies major: Water, Wildlife and Windmills – An Introduction to Environmental Studies and Science is taken in the first freshman semester to introduce environmental issues that combine elementary science concepts and social science concepts, facilitating interdisciplinary thinking. A videoconference course with a professor on each campus allows students to explore through discussion issues in both urban and ex-urban environments. 6 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS ESS Assistant Professor and Director of the MS in Environmental Science program Matthew Aiello-Lammens, PhD, teaching on the Pleasantville campus.

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