Current Course Examples
EVPP 302 Biomes and Human Dimensions. To authentically connect students to ecological impacts the 300 level undergraduate course usually consists of unique field trips to a proactive landfill, streams and a state park. However, due to COVID these could not happen. Because Dr. Smith feels strongly that students learn best when connecting to the environments they are studying, they were provided with tools, virtual training and the creative spark to stimulate their critical thinking and problem-solving skill sets.
Dr. Smith personally filmed topical lecture intro videos, and teamed up with GMU-TV to script engaging, educational lab videos. Below are a few examples.
“Dr. Smith and [GTA] Chelsea Gray have been incredible throughout this whole thing [pandemic],” O’Keefe said. “They’re involved, supportive and proactive, and they connect to their class.”
—E. O’Keefe, Human Dimensions and Biomes Student
George Mason Honey Bees
Our class normally studies anatomical differences between bee species, as well as examines pollen basket structure and microscopic differences between males and females. With COVID, we shifted to students conducting pollinator observations remotely and developed this video series.
You can view the 5 part video at this link: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7735519
Prince William County Landfill
A highlight of the semester is a tour of the most environmentally proactive landfill in Virginia, including personal meetings with bird abatement, methane and groundwater monitoring contractors. We developed this video to give students a similar window into the world of solid waste management and associated career tracks.
You can view the video at this link: https://vimeo.com/472184115 using the password “Landfill”
Assessing Insect Biodiversity
Students compare wildflower patches to cultivated ornamental landscapes. They observe insect behavior and calculate biodiversity of each plant bed.
You can view the 3 part videos at this link using the password “cos”
#1: https://vimeo.com/452363189
George Mason Facilities
We tour the Mason Facilities Plant to better understand hot the energy comes into the plant and is dispersed to dorms, labs and classrooms.
You can view the video at this link: https://vimeo.com/479630382 using the password “Smith”
Preparing students for jobs
Because streams are a common feature in many ecosystems, stream bioassessments like this are done all over the US, by both professional and citizen scientists. PEREC Faculty Dr. Cindy Smith and Dr. Chris Jones wanted to ensure that students in their Human Dimensions and Biomes class got real world experience testing local Fairfax County waters. In October, students visited both Accotink Creek and Cub Run, where they gathered benthic macro-invertebrates via kick net. Giving students experience with this type of data collections prepares students for a variety of jobs, whether it be for the government or volunteering in their local community [read more]