Western Washington University
Biostatistical Analysis (ESCI 340) - spring
Research in Environmental Science (ESCI 501) - fall
Invasive Species Ecology and Management (ESCI 497P) - winter
Research in Environmental Science (ESCI 501) - fall
Invasive Species Ecology and Management (ESCI 497P) - winter
Portland State University
Limnology and Aquatic Ecology (ESM 4/575)
Limnology is a large subject that covers geological, physical and chemical aspects of freshwater environments, as well as their biology and development. The class will present an overview, emphasizing fundamental interactions and processes. The objectives of this course are to provide you with a basic understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes, as well as an appreciation of the impact of human activities on these waterbodies.
Field trip
The class goes on a weekend-long field trip to learn field techniques, as well as to compare two distinctive lakes. Past trips have included visits to Coldwater Lake (Mount St Helens), Blue Lake, Siltcoos Lake, and Woahink Lake.
Limnology is a large subject that covers geological, physical and chemical aspects of freshwater environments, as well as their biology and development. The class will present an overview, emphasizing fundamental interactions and processes. The objectives of this course are to provide you with a basic understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes, as well as an appreciation of the impact of human activities on these waterbodies.
Field trip
The class goes on a weekend-long field trip to learn field techniques, as well as to compare two distinctive lakes. Past trips have included visits to Coldwater Lake (Mount St Helens), Blue Lake, Siltcoos Lake, and Woahink Lake.
Class Projects and Posters
Students design, implement, analyze, and present a poster on an independent research project. Past projects have studied the effects of nutrients, salinity, acid, batteries, turbidity, and carbon on plankton communities.
Students design, implement, analyze, and present a poster on an independent research project. Past projects have studied the effects of nutrients, salinity, acid, batteries, turbidity, and carbon on plankton communities.
Introduction to Environmental Systems (ESM 220)
Introduction to the structure and function of terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric systems, including the human actions that affect them. Includes a lab section that introduces basic quantitative techniques for collecting and analyzing data from environmental systems.
Introduction to the structure and function of terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric systems, including the human actions that affect them. Includes a lab section that introduces basic quantitative techniques for collecting and analyzing data from environmental systems.
Capstone (ESM 450/UNST 421)
In this class, we partner with Sherwood Middle School to promote scientific inquiry into water quality issues in the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The Tualatin NWR is one of a handful of urban wildlife refuges in the nation, highlighting a unique region where urban areas intersect with natural spaces. Understanding the effects of environmental stressors on aquatic ecosystems in this unique area is of importance to citizens and managers. University students will mentor middle school children in the development of scientific experiments, hypotheses, study implementation, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of study results.
In this class, we partner with Sherwood Middle School to promote scientific inquiry into water quality issues in the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The Tualatin NWR is one of a handful of urban wildlife refuges in the nation, highlighting a unique region where urban areas intersect with natural spaces. Understanding the effects of environmental stressors on aquatic ecosystems in this unique area is of importance to citizens and managers. University students will mentor middle school children in the development of scientific experiments, hypotheses, study implementation, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of study results.
More videos can be found at the
Portland State University Capstone - Environmental Science and Management YouTube channel.
Portland State University Capstone - Environmental Science and Management YouTube channel.
Fish Ecology and Conservation (ESM 4/574)
This class provides a multidisciplinary focus on major ecological issues related to fish conservation, with a strong emphasis on grounding ecological concepts in real-life case studies. The course incorporates (1) lectures on major topics in fish ecology and (2) class discussions of papers elucidating those concepts and/or relating them to fish conservation issues in systems such as Pacific salmon in the Columbia River and others. The course is specifically designed to build a basic foundation of ecological literacy relative to fish conservation and management, emphasizing knowledge and conceptual skills that will strengthen students beyond their time in class and university. The course will also touch on policy, economics, equity, and management topics as they relate to fish biology and environmental stressors.
This class provides a multidisciplinary focus on major ecological issues related to fish conservation, with a strong emphasis on grounding ecological concepts in real-life case studies. The course incorporates (1) lectures on major topics in fish ecology and (2) class discussions of papers elucidating those concepts and/or relating them to fish conservation issues in systems such as Pacific salmon in the Columbia River and others. The course is specifically designed to build a basic foundation of ecological literacy relative to fish conservation and management, emphasizing knowledge and conceptual skills that will strengthen students beyond their time in class and university. The course will also touch on policy, economics, equity, and management topics as they relate to fish biology and environmental stressors.
Fish as Art
The goal of the ‘Fish as Art’ assignment was for students to do research on a species of fish and to translate that research into artistic expression. This assignment gave students a unique platform to integrate art and science.
The goal of the ‘Fish as Art’ assignment was for students to do research on a species of fish and to translate that research into artistic expression. This assignment gave students a unique platform to integrate art and science.