ENVS 3020

Earth Projects

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Taught by an artist and scientist, in this experiential, place-based field course, students will engage in a range of interdisciplinary practices to understand and interpret ecological systems and land use issues using artistic and scientific approaches. The core of this course will be based on weekend field trips to diverse sites in the Finger Lakes Region of New York with varied cultural and ecological significance. Sites include Cornell's Biological field station at Shackelton Point on Oneida Lake, Arnot Forest, and several art museums. Immersive stays will allow students to gain a deep understanding of place along with uninterrupted time to work on creative projects independently, in groups, and as a class. Students will gain an understanding of the history of creative interventions and performance in the landscape, as well as scientific approaches to engage with and conceptualize Earth's topography and natural phenomena. Students will have the opportunity to interact with various visiting scientists and artists who are leaders in their fields. Lectures, readings, fireside chats, critique, and interdisciplinary experiences will contribute to students' development. The final product of this class will be an art exhibition at the Soil Factory, an interdisciplinary art space in downtown Ithaca.

Prerequisites REF-FA25/Corequisites REF-FA25 at least one of the following: a studio art class or a college-level biology class or a visual studies class or an environment and sustainability class or permission of instructor. Corequisites: None.

Fees REF-FA25 50 (). to cover certain meals for weekend trips.

Exploratory Studies (CU-SBY)

Last 4 terms offered (None)

Outcomes REF-FA25

• Interrelate field study, scientific research, cultural and artistic practices to deepen a sense of place.
• Design, conduct, and present site-specific research and artwork.
• Illustrate knowledge on a wide range of current topics in environmental studies while broadening aesthetic and sensorial capacities to respond to and bolster field-based scientific research.
• Name, describe and critique the work of a diversity of international artists and scientists who exemplify a holistic study of nature, sustainability, and humanities while learning about the strategies and critical concepts they employ in their work.
• Gain new perspectives to diversify approaches to students' discipline-specific problems.
• Use shop tools and/or software for the creation of artwork.

View Enrollment Information