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Publication Date
2009-5
Document Type
Capstone
Study Type
EVS 300
Department
Environmental Science and Policy
Abstract
Students at Hampshire College generally do not try very hard to reduce their energy consumption. This I believe is due to a lack of understanding of the impact energy use has on the environment. Thus the best way to solve the problem of excessive energy use is through education about the effects of energy use on the environment. How can Hampshire effectively educate about this. To answer this question I did research on different ways environmental education can be done and conducted conversations with ten Hampshire students on how they thought they could be most effectively educated to reduce their energy consumption. In my research I looked at two predominate ways to educate about the environment. The first way is expressed in the work of David Orr who suggests that the education system needs to be completely restructured so all education is essentially environment education. The second way to educate about the environment is through student initiatives. These initiatives can vary widely depending on the institution. In response to the student conversations most students thought having any additional academic requirements would not work due to the independent academic nature of Hampshire College. However, in one conversation the possibility of incorporating an environmental education requirement with existing requirements was discussed and the student agreed that this might work. Overall students thought strengthened student groups would be most effective. Based on these results I made several recommendations to Hampshire College. My recommendations include. First, incorporating an academic requirement as part of the natural science requirement or independent of any class that has students do a project on how they impact the environment. Second, strengthening support for student groups. Third, to have environmental education incorporated into the new student orientation program.
Rights
© 2009; Emma Parker
Recommended Citation
Parker, Emma, "How to Get Hampshire College Students to Reduce Their Energy Consumption by Educating About the Environmental Consequences of Energy Use" (2009). Capstone, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/other_projects/148
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