Syllabus

Treaty Oak, downtown Jacksonville, FL, USA. Jan Thompson, Iowa State University, in photo.

Conserving Urban Biodiversity (NR595 & NREM596)

Spring 2019

A Collaborative Approach

  • In this collaborative graduate course (also open to undergraduate seniors), we will explore concepts and practices from conservation biology, landscape ecology, and urban planning that frame conservation in urban regions. We will do this in the context of Duval County and Jacksonville, FL, as well as Alachua County (Gainseville, FL).
  • You will work with an interdisciplinary team of faculty and students from two universities — NC State and Iowa State — to develop presentations and working papers.   Our long-term goal — by studying a different place each spring — is to develop a book or other compilation of urban conservation challenges and success stories.
  • The course includes an extended field trip (13-19 Mar 2019) to Jacksonville, FL, to study their nature preserves and natural areas. We will meet with key players in the conception, creation, and ongoing management of these places. We’ll get to see conserved habitat up close and personal and learn how conservationists meet the challenges in the region.
  • We’ve not established specific prerequisites for the course, because there are so many ways in which people might contribute. If you’re interested, please contact us and we’ll talk through your interests, learning desires, and potential contributions.

Learning Objectives

  • We will develop more detailed learning objectives together during the early part of the semester, but our overriding objective is to better understand challenges associated with conservation of biodiversity in urbanizing regions, and how they are successfully met.
  • We will create some product(s), possibly including a manuscript, web site, book chapter, or conference presentation.
  • Improved professional skills in collaborative research, communication, and leadership will also be a focus of our efforts.

Class Philosophy

This class will live or die by the quality of the interaction among team members. It will only work well if everyone participates fully. We would like to establish a class environment in which everyone feels free to pose ideas or ask questions. We ask each of you to accept the following for this course:

  • There are no stupid questions. If you don’t understand something, please ask questions – there’s probably someone else who’s also confused (and it might be us). [ We’ve also heard a somewhat different version of this … “There are stupid questions, but they need to be asked anyway.” ]
  • If you think an idea is flawed you should present your case in a reasoned and civil manner; no personal attacks, please.
  • Our class is a “Positive Attitude, No Whining Zone!”

Class Meetings and Outside Work Expectations

  • Because of our collaborative approach, participation during class is critical to your success. Significant outside research, in collaboration with teammates, is also expected.
  • Weekly meetings throughout the semester
    – NCState   |   NR 595  |   Fridays 10:00 – 11:50 Eastern   | 3213 Jordan Addition
    – Iowa State   |   NREM 596   |   Fridays 9:00 – 10:50 Central   | 009 Curtiss Hall (Brenton Center, north wing, ground floor)
  • NC State and Iowa State students will meet electronically for our class sessions on Friday mornings.
  • Weekly activities and assignments will be posted on the course home page. The calendar is sparse at the beginning of the semester, by design, so that we can establish the details of our learning goals and schedule together.
  • At NC State, our final exam period is Friday 3 May 8A-11A EDT – please reserve 9-11EDT (8-10CDT) final review and debriefing session.  Iowa State’s exam period is 6-9 May; we will not likely meet during this period.
  • Mandatory course travel to Jacksonville, FL, is scheduled for Wed 13 March – Tue 19 March.  Travel details will be developed during January.
  • You are responsible for arranging and purchasing your own travel to and from Jacksonville and arriving at the designated time and place.  Hess will drive a rented minivan from NC State to Jacksonville on Wed 13 March, departing around 9AM – all NC State students are welcome to join.  He will drive back on 19 March, departing Jax at around 9AM – same offer.
  • You should be at our hotel no later than 6PM on Wed 13 March.  You should not book a departing flight that leaves Jax before noon local time on Tues 19 March.
  • You may arrive in Jacksonville before or leave after the scheduled class activities. NC State’s spring break starts on 11 March; Iowa State’s starts on 18 March.
  • We will arrange lodging for the nights of 13-18 March. If you want to stay any additional nights you must arrange that yourself.
  • We will have vans for transport during the course activities.
  • After subsidies from NC State and Iowa State Universities, we anticipate your total course-related travel cost, including deposit to be around $800 for Iowa State students and $300 for NC State students (the difference being due to airfare).

Instructors

  • George Hess @ NC State University‘s Department of Forestry & Environmental Resources has devoted his academic career to conserving open spaces in urbanizing areas. Although most of his work is in Wake County, NC, George has studied and written about the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan.  In past courses, he and Jan have also studied Chicago Wilderness and the Open Space Plans of Boulder City & County.
  • Jan Thompson @ Iowa State University‘s Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management has collaborated with peer faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students, and community participants to enhance and inform management of natural resources. She is interested in understanding relationships among peoples’ perspectives, decision-making, and actions as they influence land use, conservation, and functional ecology in urban and urbanizing areas.
  • George and Jan are both intensely devoted to engaged learning and have worked together on collaborative graduate teaching before.

Required Readings & Materials

  • You are not required to purchase any textbooks.
  • Required readings will be supplied electronically, most linked to the resources page of this website.
  • If you have a laptop, please bring it to class to facilitate collaboration.

Evaluation. Your grade will be based on the following …

  • We will establish this with your input early in the semester.
  • The following was agreed during our first class … [ to be put in place ]
  • We propose to evaluate your assignment products on a simple ABC scale.   An “A” product is one that is well conceived, thorough, well supported, well presented (in writing, orally, or both), and demonstrates your investment in the assignment and the larger products we define.   A “B” product is one that does not meet one of these criteria.   A “C” product is on that does not meet two or more of these criteria.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to uphold the highest level of academic integrity. Please adhere to the codes of conduct for your University: University Code of Student Conduct at NC State or Student Disciplinary Regulations at Iowa State.

Disabilities

We will take appropriate steps to accommodate students with disabilities, in collaboration with the Disability Resources Office at NC State or Student Accessibility Services at Iowa State – please let us know if you need assistance.

People in Distress

College can be a stressful place at a stressful time of life.  If you are personally struggling emotionally, please talk with your instructor or visit the NCSU Counseling Center or Iowa State Crisis Information or Student Assistance Staff for guidance.   As members of the NC State community, we also share a personal responsibility to express concern for one another.   Occasionally, you may come across someone whose personal behavior concerns or worries you, either for the other person’s well being or the well being of others.   If so, you should visit the NC State Students of Concern website and decide whether to report the behavior to people who can help.