Introduction to Environmental Management (ESM 335)
This course provides an overview of the paradigms that shape current environmental management in the United States and elsewhere, and introduces students to management concepts, policies, institutions of environmental management, and the champions of different management paradigms. The class draws on peer reviewed readings and case studies drawn primarily from contemporary challenges in environmental management in the western US. The course also teaches students to be confident managing, manipulating, and summarizing large datasets in Excel. This course offered twice per year (typically in the fall and spring) by me and/or another ESM instructor.
Natural Resource Policy and Management (ESM 435/535)
This course advances student understanding of the impact of natural resource policy on natural resource management. We will draw on the study of environmental impact assessment, land use, sensitive species management, and water resource management by examining relevant policies, and the implementation of those policies at the local, regional, and federal levels. Students will also learn about the challenges of managing natural resources policies in complex settings, difficult socioeconomic contexts, and charged political environments. This course also teaches students the art and craft of memo writing as an important form of written communication. This course was taught in the Winter quarter of 2014 and 2015, and Fall quarter 2015 - 2018. This course is currently taught by Dr. David Kunz.
Wildfire Ecology and Management (ESM 440/540)
This is a field-based course taught during the summer by myself and Andres Holz, professor of Geography and director of PSU's DendroEcology Lab. Each September, after a few days on campus, we spend a week in NE Oregon's Wallowa County studying the science behind wildfire ecology and how local communities are addressing the challenges of living in a landscape defined by fire. The course covers fire science methods, an overview of fire policy and management, and provides opportunities to interact with fire managers, mitigation planners, and community stakeholders. This course was formerly taught as ESM 410/510 during Summer 2015, Summer 2016, and Summer 2017; Geog 445/545 in Summer 2018, and ESM/Geog 440/540 in Summer 2019. Due to the remote instruction requirements caused by COVID-19 this course will not be offered in summer 2020 or summer 2021.
Managing Climate Risks and Vulnerabilities (ESM 464/564)
This course examines policy and practice around climate change mitigation and adaptation. The course covers international climate change agreements such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, surveys the emerging practice of climate change action and adaptation planning and management, and discusses issues of climate equity and justice in the context of policy, planning, and management. Students in this course will gain in-depth understanding of Climate Action Plans and Climate Adaptation Plans and will primarily use the art and craft of memo writing for written communication. This course was taught in the Spring 2015, Winter 2016 Spring 2017, 2018, and 2019. This course is currently taught by Dr. David Kunz.
School of the Environment Speakers Seminar (ESM 407/507)
Click the link above to see topics and and access links to videos of the speakers from years that I coordinated the seminar (2015 - 2019). The Environmental Science and Management Department Seminar is offered each winter quarter.