Hello readers, I am Claire Hamilton, a senior environmental studies and French student. During my three years at Luther, I have traveled to Tanzania, Madagascar, and France to study conservation and environmental issues. The opportunity to study similar issues in the U.S. this J-term was one I could not pass up. Despite traveling overseas, I have yet to go further west than Texas, so venturing to the national parks and deserts of the Southwest will be just some of many firsts for me. My hope for this course is to learn about solutions to current social and ecological issues occurring in this region today.
And . . . I am Piper Wood, a sophomore environmental and international studies major focusing on environmental policy at Luther. For my first trip off-campus during J-term, I opted for a program that combined my love of the natural world with my interest in U.S. policy. Having taken a similar trip to the Southwest when I was young, I am looking forward to traveling the region with a greater appreciation for the science behind its beauty. I am especially interested in the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues in the region, and the policies in place that act as solutions for these problems.
We will be the blog coordinators for the Bio 140/240: Ecology of the Southwest program. Throughout the month, you will also hear from each of our peers describing different aspects of our adventure.
The first of these experiences will start tomorrow morning as the group sets out for the first leg of the trip. Over the course of 21 days, we will travel to destinations such as Mesa Verde, Lee’s Ferry, the Grand Canyon, Organ Pipe Cactus, and the Santa Rita Experimental Range. We will explore topics like water policy, wildfires, mining, and border security. Additionally, throughout the course, each student will be formulating an ecological question which can be tested during individual research projects on the Santa Rita Experimental Range.
In just 12 hours we will desert Decorah for three weeks of camping, hiking, and discovery! Be sure to follow us on this journey as we discover the ecology of the Southwest!
