People-Centered Conservation & Climate Solutions

Taught by Professor John Swaddle

• 3 credit hours
• COLL 300
• CONS 440
• REQUIRED Pre-meeting on the evenings of:
  • October 30, 5:00-6:20 pm
  • November 6, 5:00-6:20 pm
  • November 13, 5:00-6:20 pm
  • November 20, 5:00-6:20 pm

Course Description:

This immersive course focuses on global, people-centered conservation and climate solutions, emphasizing the vital role individuals and communities play in addressing environmental challenges. Participants will learn directly from scientists, behavioral and social scientists, and other conservation partners in the D.C. area. Through interactive sessions and case studies, students will explore successful strategies that integrate human behavior into conservation efforts, creating lasting environmental impact. A highlight of the course is the Behavior-Centered Design Challenge, where students will apply behavior-centered design skills to tackle a real-world conservation issue. Working in teams, students will develop, test, and refine solutions, gaining hands-on experience in creating behavior-driven approaches to contemporary environmental conservation. This course offers students a unique experiential opportunity to engage with cutting-edge conservation methodologies, collaborate with global leaders in the field, and gain practical skills in behavior-centered design that they can apply to their own conservation and environmental work.