Plant Biology: SL:NatureBasedClimateSolutions

Explores the scale of global change while focusing on ways plants can be used to mitigate and adapt to the future climate while enhancing native plant biodiversity. Students will gain practical skills by engaging with community partners and contributing to nature-based climate solutions projects in the local Burlington community. Prerequisites: BIOL 1450, BCOR 1450, or PBIO 1040.

Instructor will email class w/meeting location. Prereqs enforced by the system: BIOL 1450 or BCOR 1450 or PBIO 1040 Open to Degree and PACE Students

Students in this course will engage in activities that address native plant diversity as a nature-based climate solution with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development (Jacoby, 1996). This service-learning course provides students with opportunities to integrate knowledge and skills related to native plant diversity and ecology. Students collaborate with local community partners on a variety of ongoing nature-based climate solutions projects in the Burlington area. Students will be involved in a combined learning on campus in-person in the classroom and greenhouse as well as working on an off-campus with community partnerships and projects. There will be field work required mostly in April.

Students who successfully complete the course will be able to (1) Explain the ways in which native plant diversity is a nature-based solution that contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation; (2) Apply science to action by participating in the creation of nature-based solutions in various local community projects; (3) Share knowledge of nature-based solutions in community spaces; (4) Understand their value and potential for positively influencing the environment with nature-based strategies. Note that registered students are expected to dedicate one non-class weekend day to a service-learning project in late April.

Students will be evaluated on the following assessments: critical reflection of the primary literature, reading quizzes, two scaffolded semester projects, experiential learning activities in the greenhouse and local community projects, collaborative group project using native plant diversity as a nature-based solution. The deliverable will be informed through consultation and structured activities involving community partners. Full participation in class meetings is required.