Curious about sustainability issues, environmental policy, and natural science? That's what we study in the Environmental Program at Colorado College!
The Colorado College Environmental Program prepares its majors to understand their connection to the environment, acquire the skills to explore scientific and human interrelationships in the global ecosystem, and pursue interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. We also have fun out in the field and in lab, studying the nitrogen footprint of our food habits, the dynamics of treeline advance
03/28/2017
Signatures needed, protect the clean power plan. President Trump is launching an unwise and anti-science assault on the Clean Power Plan, one of the most important actions America has taken to address the climate crisis.
Our first faculty research lunch talk is starting in 30 minutes! Come hear professor Howard Drossman talk about Sustainability Literacy Assessments!! Tutt science building 122 (the lecture hall)!
01/16/2017
Check out this video from The Garden Project of SW Colorado to hear about their work supporting school and community garden programs in La Plata County. They do some incredible work with local elementary schools and soup kitchens, providing food for food-insecure families. To hear more from Sandhya Tillotson '09, the executive director of The Garden Project, make sure to read our upcoming Spring 2017 EV Program Newsletter!
The Garden Project of SW CO 2016 - Short School & community garden programs in La Plata County, CO.
01/11/2017
Starting to think about summer internships and jobs? Take a look at this list for some good options!
RESEARCH
-NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research): https://www.soars.ucar.edu/
Research internship in atmospheric or related sciences, located at NCAR in Boulder.
-RECESS (Research Experiences in Solid Earth Science for Students): http://resess.unavco.org/resess.html
Summer research internship dedicated to increasing the diversity of students in the geosciences, located at UNAVCO in Boulder.
-NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network): http://www.neonscience.org/learn-experience/research-internships
Join a research project in ecology for 10-12 weeks in Boulder.
-NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab): http://www.nrel.gov/careers/internships.html
Work on a research project related to renewable energy in Golden, CO-- includes summer, spring, and fall internships for those interested.
-REU (Research Experiences for Undergrads): https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/
NSF-funded summer research positions at universities across the country, in all different fields.
POLICY
-Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/careers/internships
Internships in San Francisco or Washington D.C., focusing on a number of different environmental initiatives.
-Environment America: http://jobs.environmentamerica.org/internship.html
Work on initiatives to combat climate change, conserve natural landscapes, and promote renewable energies, as an intern or a canvasser—openings at offices all over the country!
-EPA: https://www.epa.gov/careers/student-internships
Paid and unpaid internships in a variety of areas of interest.
-Clean Cities Coalition:
https://cleancities.energy.gov/working-with-us/
Work on initiatives to reduce petroleum use in cities across the country.
-Foundation for Sustainable Development: http://www.fsdinternational.org/trainingprograms
Intern or volunteer abroad and work with a partner organization on a local project.
OUTDOOR:
-ACES (Aspen Center for Environmental Studies): https://www.aspennature.org/work-aces/recurring-positions/summer-naturalist
Be a summer naturalist in Aspen, CO, leading interpretive hikes and learning about the local ecology and wildlife.
-Walking Mountains Science Center: https://www.walkingmountains.org/employment/
Spend the summer in Eagle County as a Naturalist or a Summer Educator.
-Conservation Corps:
http://www.corpsnetwork.org/impact/corps-by-state
Work on a trail crew—available across the country.
AT CC:
-State of the Rockies: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies/
Independent projects related to “Western Forests in the Anthropocene.”
-PIFP: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/publicinterest/
Summer fellowships available with The Catamount Institute, Palmer Land Trust, and other great organizations!
SOARS: Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science
12/19/2016
It was an eventful Block 4 for students in our Energy class. We took several trips, including a visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO, and a tour of the Front Range and Ray Nixon Power Plants that generate electricity for Colorado Springs. Students also undertook some exciting projects. Earlier in the block, the class did an energy retrofit to improve the energy efficiency of an off-campus house earlier in the block, getting some hands-on experience. Last week ended with a lab session making and testing different kinds of batteries, and students will finish out class this week with presentations on different types of renewable energies. It's been a great end to the semester, thought I'm sure students will be glad to be done with problem sets and off to break!
11/14/2016
Last week, climate changes students celebrated International Science Center and Science Museum day at the NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) Mesa Lab in Boulder. They made cards about how to address climate change, which are on display at NCAR right now! Students had a lot of good ideas; some of my favorites are : "Not your mother, not your milk- go vegan!" and "Algae bio-fuel: look it up!"
11/11/2016
On Tuesday students stood outside Worner protesting the election results. Today, my Facebook feed is filled not with anger and fear, but calls for action and togetherness. So let's not think about what this might mean for environmental policy in the next four years, or the supreme court, or any of the setbacks that might come. This is a chance for us to come together as a nation and fight for real change.
11/02/2016
First day of November out in the field learning ecological methods!
10/25/2016
"The year 2015 ushered in a new era of optimism and climate action with the Paris climate change agreement, but it will also make history as marking a new era of climate change reality with record high greenhouse gas concentrations." - WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
We've come to the point where atmospheric CO2 levels are consistently above 400ppm for the first time in millions of years! What will you do about climate change?
CO2 levels mark 'new era' in the world's changing climate - BBC News 2016 is likely to be the first year in recorded history in which levels of CO2 in the atmosphere remain above the symbolically important threshold of 400 parts per million.
10/19/2016
Check out our Fall 2016 Newsletter to hear about upcoming events and lectures, students' adventures over the summer, and alumni travels! Find it on our website:https://www.coloradocollege.edu/academics/dept/environmentalprogram/docs/Newsletter%20Fall%202016.pdf