Just to speak up for those of us in programs that are truly Environmental Science, but include a broader conception of what constitutes science beyon= d math and chemistry.... Indiana University's program in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs covers math (problem solving, modeling), chemistry, ecology, toxicology, risk assessment, bioremediation, fate and transport, GIS, and a healthy dose of law, environmental policy and related fields like cost-benefit analysis. The research here is similarly broad, and the program tends to be mathematically rigorous, even in the policy analysis. We are not the only such broad program, but I do believe we were the first. Diane Henshel
On 5/21/06, Tana Wood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > There is environmental science, environmental studies, and > environmentalism. I would say that they are each very different. An > environmental science program (at least at UVa), is very process > oriented and the research is typically math/chemistry based with very > little focus on the social aspects of the environment (i.e. policy, > environmental law, anthropology, etc). Environmental studies > programs tend to focus more on that line of research. I consider > environmentalism to be individual activism, completely independent of > environmental science and environmental studies programs. > > Tana > > --------------- > I very sincerely would like to know just what an "environmentalist" > is, apart from its common use as a kind of slang by the media and the > "general public." > > All I "know" is rather dated, but in the 1970's, for example, > "environmental science" had a reputation for being more generalist > than scientific. That did not and does not necessarily have a > negative connotation for me, but I do wonder what current graduates > of such programs do, and where they find work--that is, how are they > distributed between government, industry, commerce, and academia > (other?). Is there any opportunity for graduates at the BA and MA > level, and are PhD's in this discipline awarded on the basis of their > extended work or do they do actual integrated science? Exactly what > kind of grounding in ecology do such programs provide at those > levels? Is ecology even relevant, or do these programs emphasize > chemistry, physics, and other scientific specialties or policy > issues? Are such environmentalists broadly competent in several fields? > > I hope that perhaps some such graduates and others can help clarify > these and perhaps other issues that should be included. > > WT > > Ms. Wood was unclear about the purpose behind her question, but > perhaps she is not a student (at least in the sense of being nearer > to the beginning of her years as a student than later)? If she is a > younger student, I do hope that she has a better advisor than I > did. I didn't get even decent advice until I shed the cross of > academe and tried to make a living outside the "virtual" world, and I > hope that things have changed a lot since the Stone Age. > > At 04:39 PM 5/20/2006, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > I suggest yu take another look at the Yale program. It used to be > > more forestry than environmental when I went there, but most of the > > graduates I have met during the past 15 years or so or read about in > > the alumni magazine are environmentalists, not foresters. > > > > I agree that having the right advisor is more important than the > > school. > > > > Bob Mowbray > > > > ------ Original message from Tana Wood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: - > > > --=20 Diane Henshel Indiana University 1315 E 10th #340 Bloomington, IN 47405 812 855-4556 P 812 855-7802 F [EMAIL PROTECTED]
