Fall 2009
Food, Energy and Quality of Life Sustainable Agriculture Field Study in Iowa will focus on designing a sustainable agricultural landscape for Iowa, and by example for much of the rest of the world's intensive agricultural lands. The field component will be an intensive 10 days (Sept 4-14, 2009) at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (http://www.iastate.edu/about/) in collaboration with their well respected sustainable agriculture program (http://www.sust.ag.iastate.edu/gpsa/). Participants will: Conduct an intensive investigation of conventional and alternative agricultural, food and energy systems in Iowa at the present time and develop projections for these systems into the future. Introduce and apply the principles and concepts of ecological economics. Spend 9 days in an immersion field experience in early September 2009 and then reconvene in two-hour meetings one evening per week following the field portion of the course. Share the class with participants from ISU during the field portion of the course, and continue to interact with them electronically after your return to Vermont. Each participant will be responsible for two 10-page assessments on how a specific topic area affects food, agriculture, and energy systems. Participants will need to consider relationships between their individual focus areas and broader issues of sustainability, system resilience, and quality of life. Participants will also be expected to contribute to a multi-authored summary article. NOTES: Participants are responsible for all travel costs to and from Iowa. Shared housing is available for free but private accomodations must be paid for independently. Most meals will be provided during the stay in Iowa, but some meals will be on your own at your own expense.
Instructor(s): Robert Costanza
Location and Class Time:
MaxEnrollment: 10 Current Enrollment: 4
Notes: Location: Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (http://www.iastate.edu/about/) offered in partnership with UVM through the ISU sustainable agriculture prgrm (http://www.sust.ag.iastate.edu/gpsa/) *** To accommodate logistical planning needs for this travel crse, stdnts must register by Aug 14, 2009
