Envs 490 : Independent Study Individual research on a specialized topic or problem with an emphasis on the environment. Requires permission of the Environmental Studies Program Committee and the supervising faculty member. Open only to Environmental Studies Minors

The Environmental Studies Minor was established as a multidisciplinary minor to reflect the nature of environmental issues or problems and their solution. The courses presently comprising the minor have demonstrated environmental content or relevance from ten departments. An Independent Study in Environmental Studies further encourages multidisciplinary study of environmental topics, enabling the student to explore a topic of special interest from a multidisciplinary perspective. Although not a requirement for successful completion of an independent study, the results of many independent studies are presented at regional and national professional meetings.

To participate in an independent study, the student must be an Environmental Studies Minor and must meet requirements described in the Faculty Manual. In order for the experience to be a meaningful "adventure in scholarship," the student must have completed coursework in both their major and minor prior to preparing the independent study proposal. The student should meet with the potential supervising faculty member with a preliminary proposal to ascertain the appropriateness of the proposal for independent study and to solicit advice for developing the final proposal and bibliography. In addition, the student must meet with the Program director to discuss the appropriateness of including the independent study in Environmental Studies. The Independent Study Proposal must include a clear statement of the problem being addressed, methods of study, a tentative schedule of study, a bibliography, and the means by which the study will be evaluated upon completion. The proposal must also address rationale for including the study under the Environmental Studies course listing as opposed to a similar course listing within the student's major department. This rationale may include a statement addressing both the environmental content and relevance of the independent study. The Independent Study should compliment courses already taught in the Environmental Studies curriculum if the proposed study is an in-depth analysis of a specific topic introduced in a current course offering. Otherwise, the proposed study will involve a topic not covered by current course offerings from the departments involved in the program.

The opportunities for independent study at Wittenberg are best characterized by a sampling of students and their respective studies: David Rush, '94 Geology and Biology, investigated the habitat and distribution of ground water fauna in riverine sediments of an Ohio stream system. He presented this work at the Ohio Academy of Science Annual Meeting and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Jennifer Hathaway, '94 Biology, and Eric Monschein, '94 Biology, studied the seasonal movements and habitat use of spotted turtles in a southwestern Ohio fen. This work was presented at the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Daria Gere, '96 Interdepartmental Major, is studying the influence of ideas, such as ecological design and environmental sustainability, initiated and developed in intentional communities on the broader community.

Toby Dogwiler, '96 Geology, and Megan Porter, '96 Biology, are measuring the impact of human visitation on cave humidity and temperature. They will present this work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

The stream is colored fluorescent green due to dye. The dye is used by Toby Dogwiler to trace subsurface flow in drainage basins underlain by karst.