The sixth annual ENR 2100, Introduction to Environmental Science Student Poster Symposium took place on April 16th, 2018 in the Ohio Union Grand Ballroom. Approximately 380 students presented their scientific posters over the course of three sessions from 9:00 am – 11:00 am, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, and 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Students completed peer reviews via Carmen and interacted with teaching assistants, Dr. Lower, and several SENR guests.
The second volume of the Environmental ScienceBites book was published on March 12, 2018. Pressbooks is a online textbook publishing software that is utilized for open access textbooks.
Description of text:
“The second volume of the Environmental ScienceBites book was authored by 30 unique undergraduate students enrolled in the course Introduction to Environmental Science at The Ohio State University. The book was edited by Brian H. Lower, Travis R. Shaul, Kylienne A. Shaul, and Ella M. Weaver. Chapters explore 1) invasive species, 2) human-wildlife conflict, 3) pollution, 4) climate change, and 5) sustainability. The second volume highlights both articles and posters describing critical environmental issues important to the first-time authors. We hope that the text channels the students’ enthusiasm for solving environmental challenges and is an inspiration for resource conservation and sustainable solutions.”
The Pressbook can be viewed on Ohio State’s Affordable Learning Exchange’s website: https://affordablelearning.osu.edu/catalog/bookshelf/environmental-sciencebites-volume-2
On January 31st, the second volume of the Environmental ScienceBites book was published. The book was edited by me, Kylienne Clark Shaul, Travis Shaul, and Brian Lower. The free, open textbook includes posters (new to this edition) and articles written by 30 undergraduate students from many different OSU departments. The latest volume picks up where the first volume left off with new bite-sized descriptions of environmental challenges of interest to students enrolled in the course Introduction to Environmental Science, including topics such as human-wildlife conflict and invasive species.
Both textbooks are free and part of The Ohio State University’s Affordable Learning Exchange, which helps instructors at Ohio State better understand affordable options to engage students in course content and according to its website “find creative solutions that promote students savings.”
The authors hope that the book “channels the students’ enthusiasm for solving environmental challenges and is an inspiration for resource conservation and sustainable solutions. The new eBook is available for download from the Apple iTunes store by simply searching “environmental sciencebites.” A Pressbook version will be available in March 2018. The Pressbook for Volume One of Environmental ScienceBites is available on the Bookshelf at the Affordable Learning Exchange.
The Open Online Courses that were developed from ENR 2100, Introduction to Environmental Science on the Canvas.net platform are gaining attention in the school and college. The courses are now seeing enrollments over 200 students each and growing. Read the articles published regarding the courses by SENR and CFAES below.
CFAES article: https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/ohio-state-offers-3-new-free-online-courses-environmental-science#.WjGASvsXumE.linkedin
SENR article: https://senr.osu.edu/news/enhancing-access-environmental-science
During the Spring 2017 semester, Introduction to Environmental Science (ENR 2100) implemented the first annual Environmental Science Student Virtual Poster Symposium. This active learning assignment was able to assist us in engaging students in the online section of the course and was very successful. The Office of Distance Education and eLearning worked with us to create videos on the assignment to be published on their Instructor Resources portion of the website.
Link to article and videos: https://odee.osu.edu/news/2017/12/18/person-poster-symposium-goes-virtual