Document: MAR-3-28-7

Communicating ecology through the humanities.

STARK, M.V.* and S.R.JOHNSON

Central College, Pella, IA 50219 1

Abstract:
Our combined approach is to infuse ecological literacy into literature and nature writing classes at the college level. We have provided ecological information on composting to accompany Walt Whitman's "This Compost", arachnid ecology for Whitman's "A Noiseless Patient Spider", ecology of invasive plants with H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, ecology of sperm whales with Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and barrier island ecology with Kate Chopin's The Awakening as well as other works of American and World literature. This combined approach stimulates humanities students into greater ecological insight and provides a pathway for ecological information dissemination to students who may otherwise avoid ecology taught in science departments. We have seen students inspired by this approach who go on to take ecology classes. It is also a pathway for student teachers in the humanities to carry ecological information to elementary and high school classes.

Keywords: Humanities, Ecology, Education

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This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
Oral Session #29: Communicating Ecology.