A Resource and Environmental Geology course using issues and problems of contemporary interest as the vehicle to introduce basic scientific principles. Class activities involve the active engagement of students in "thought experiments" and hands-on exercises in lab and field through the emphasis on the collection, consideration and use of scientific evidence and principles in historical, political, economic, and cultural contexts. The products of class assignments require clear articulation of the problem and proposed solutions via both the written and spoken word. Collaborative learning is featured. The goals of this approach are to a) show the connections of Science to our social institutions, b) promote critical thinking and communication skills, and c) recruit and mentor science students, while making science education more accessible to all students.
