First Year Programs in Sustainability

Nature/Cities/Humans Academic Community

This academic year, the 7-credit Nature/Cities/Humans Academic Community (FP002) had 15 first year students The first-year Academic Community creates a cohort for students to take Environmental Science, Introduction to Urban Studies, and a 1-credit seminar as a cohort. This past year, the 1-credit course ran for 12 weeks in Fall and was taught by Ellie Cadden, who included field trips to the Student Office of Sustainability, Plant 2 Plate’s Oakland garden, and Phipps Conservatory. The class completed neighborhood group projects centered on environmental justice issues in East Liberty, Lawrenceville, North Oakland, and the Strip District. Students also hosted guest speakers from the Career Center, Study Lab, Hillman Library, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, and Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Engineering for the Environment Panel for First-Year Students

MCSI worked with the Swanson School of Engineering’s First-Year Program to host an “Engineering for the Environment” panel attended by over 150 first-year engineering students. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni shared their personal academic and career paths, how they developed their interest in sustainability, and answered questions about academics and professional development.

Panelists (lefttoright)

• Max Smith, Chemical Engineering ‘22

• Isaiah Spencer Williams, PhD Candidate, Environmental Engineering

• Robin Kaufman, Chemical Engineering

• Amanda Lee, Environmental Engineering

• Melina Hudson, M.S. Sustainable Engineering

• Elaina Geiger, Environmental Engineering