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Associate Professor of Anthropology

Dept. of Sociology/
Anthropology
and
the Environmental Initiative

 

STEPS Building, Room 436
Lehigh University
1 West Packer Ave.
Bethlehem, PA 18015

Tel: (610) 758-2672

Below is a list of courses I teach at Lehigh University. Feel free to contact me about any of these classes.

 

Introduction to Environmental Studies (EVST 1)

The study of environmental issues from the perspectives of the social sciences and humanities. This course includes a brief overview of environmental history, ethics, politics and economics. The primary goals are to learn critical thinking and some basic social science methods from sociology, psychology and anthropology. We use these to critique environmental policy. Issues we discuss include energy & climate change, endangered species & biodiversity, water & air pollution, water scarcity, sustainability & resiliency, agriculture, and environmental justice.

Environment & Culture (ANTH 121, EVST 121)

In this course we examine environmental issues in the context of human ecology and cultural adaptation using theories and methods from anthropology. We consider how different cultures engage environmental issues and explore strategies for solving environmental problems that span cultural boundaries. Environmental issues covered include global climate change, biodiversity, water scarcity, global sustainability, and human rights. Upon completion of the course, you should be able to: 1) define environmental problems using viewpoints from more than one culture; 2) analyze environmental issues using theory-based comparisons of human behavior through time and across cultures; 3) apply ethnographic methods to the study of environmental problems; and 4) develop policy recommendations in group settings. To achieve these goals, students will complete weekly reading assignments, short take-home research assignments, in-class group problem-solving exercises, and an independent research project. There are also two short-essay exams.

Urban Permaculture (EVST 127)

In this course, students work in Lehigh's Southside Permaculture Park to combine social, political, economic, engineering, and ecological modes of thinking in the design, construction, and evaluation of a permaculture food garden that serves as a living laboratory and interactive classroom to teach about sustainable urban living.

Socio-cultural Foundations of Environmental Policy  (EVST 304/404)

This course is based on the premise that social and ecological sustainability require new policy approaches. Drawing on social, organizational, and behavioral theory, students will learn techniques for analyzing and critiquing existing environmental policies and designing more effective policies. Case studies highlight how cultural values, social norms, public opinion and politics shape policies and their outcomes. We examine the entire policy process from how environmental problems are defined, to how organizations implement policies and how policies are evaluated.

Ethnobotany: People and Plants (ANTH 353, EVST 353)

This course explores the meanings and uses given to plants by diverse cultures in their unique ecological settings. Ethnobotany combines botany and cultural anthropology to study how people classify, use, and manage plants for medicine, food, and ritual. This course introduces the history, methods, theory, and practical applications of ethnobotany, including plant conservation, sustainable development, and cultural survival. Special emphasis will be placed on learning to do ethnobotany through collecting plants for herbarium specimens and student research projects.

Indigenous Cultures of Latin America (ANTH 184, LALS 184)

In this course we examine the Latin American experience by looking at social change from the perspective of indigenous peoples. The main goals are: 1) to develop an appreciation for the diversity of cultures found in Latin America; 2) to develop anthropological concepts like cultural ecology, ethnicity, acculturation, religious syncretism, and resistance; and 3) apply these concepts and critical thinking to social problems. Issues will include cultural survival, human rights, and environmental/cultural sustainability of indigenous peoples of Latin America. The course is divided into five sections. The first part provides an historical perspective. This is followed by four case studies chosen to represent resistance and change from a variety of cultural and theoretical perspectives. Cultures may include the Tzeltal Maya and Nahuatl of Mexico, Kayapo of the Brazilian rainforest, and the Aymara of the Bolivian highlands. How are each of these groups similar and yet different? How have European and indigenous cultures blended to create the cultural diversity we see today? Will these cultures survive or become extinct in this era of high migration and rapid globalization? We will examine these and other questions in detail through extensive reading, writing, and discussion, supplemented with lectures by the instructor.

 

"Scientists believe in proof without certainty: most people believe in certainty without proof."

Ashley Montagu