2018 Conference

Individual Paper Presentation

To address daunting multi-faceted environmental problems as future professionals, students will need to understand societal and environmental contexts, build collaborative problem-solving approaches across diverse interests and values, prioritize actions, and deal with conflict in constructive, catalyzing ways. Wolves present a complex, thorny environmental issue that can provide insights into the interplay of ecology, sociology and policy. Variously portrayed as bloodthirsty killers, powerful leaders, unrestrained loners or symbols of dwindling wildness, wolves evoke strong emotions. The management and conservation of wolves is a timely case study to gain insights into the dynamics between state and federal policies, urban and rural constituencies, and conserving and killing another species. During fall 2018, I will teach a new field-based course called, “Wolves: Conversations in Conservation and Controversy.” Over the summer, students will conduct background reading and research, identify stakeholder perspectives and create potential interview questions to foster rich discussions. During week 0, we will take an 8-day camping trip to northeastern Oregon, meeting with people—environmentalists, an ethicist, policy makers, biologists, ranchers and tribal members—along the way. Students will take turns leading stakeholder interviews, then will reflect upon and integrate what they have heard through personal journaling and structured debrief sessions. Interviews will be interspersed with hands-on activities such as practicing research methods, conducting “howling surveys,” and/or installing non-lethal methods used to prevent livestock depredation. Back on campus, students will participate in a weekly class and a group project to help them reflect upon and integrate what they heard, observed, and considered during the field trip. In this presentation, I will describe some of the planned activities and exercises intended to help students practice active listening, empathy, understanding opposing viewpoints and synthesis. Through discussion, I will welcome audience feedback and ideas.