Practical Ideas to Get Students to Think About Justice in Science Courses

Abstract:

Loyola University Maryland is a Jesuit Catholic comprehensive university with undergraduate only science programs. One of the learning aims of the University is that student should learn “an appreciation of the great moral issues of our time…” including “the environmental impact of human activity.” One of the ways this and many of the other justice and diversity focused learning aims are taught is through the development and teaching of ‘diversity’ courses for undergraduate students. Currently, the 6 applied and natural science departments at Loyola only offer only 1 such course, while the university as a whole offers ~120 such courses.

CH114 Global Environment is the course offered in the sciences and is the only diversity course with an environmental focus at the university. This course is designed for general studies; however it is also taken by science students interested in the global environment. This presentation will offer some practical suggestions of how bring justice into general studies courses on the environment as well as how some of these ideas can translate to courses for science majors.