Conference Posters - Teaching and Pedagogy:
2013, April. Presented illustrated paper “Teaching Political Ecology: Engaging with Place.” Association of American Geographers Conference. Los Angeles, CA.
Abstract: Human-environment issues occur in and take “place.” How can teachers engage learners with the concept of place and its connection to human-environment issues? Engaging learners in place-based education, both within and outside the classroom, provides an opportunity to engage and empower learners by grounding human-environment geography concepts such as political ecology in localized contexts relevant to learners’ experiences. In his essay, “The Best of Both Worlds: A Critical Pedagogy of Place,” Gruenewald argues for a blending of place-based pedagogies that address “the wellbeing of the social and ecological places people actually inhabit” with critical pedagogies that “challenge the assumptions, practices, and outcomes taken for granted in dominant culture and in conventional education” (2003: 3). This illustrated paper documents the author’s attempt to incorporate a critical place-based pedagogy into an upper division seminar on political ecology.
Reference: Gruenewald D. A. 2003. “The Best of Both Worlds: A Critical Pedagogy of Place,” in Educational Researcher. 32(4): 3-12.
Abstract: Human-environment issues occur in and take “place.” How can teachers engage learners with the concept of place and its connection to human-environment issues? Engaging learners in place-based education, both within and outside the classroom, provides an opportunity to engage and empower learners by grounding human-environment geography concepts such as political ecology in localized contexts relevant to learners’ experiences. In his essay, “The Best of Both Worlds: A Critical Pedagogy of Place,” Gruenewald argues for a blending of place-based pedagogies that address “the wellbeing of the social and ecological places people actually inhabit” with critical pedagogies that “challenge the assumptions, practices, and outcomes taken for granted in dominant culture and in conventional education” (2003: 3). This illustrated paper documents the author’s attempt to incorporate a critical place-based pedagogy into an upper division seminar on political ecology.
Reference: Gruenewald D. A. 2003. “The Best of Both Worlds: A Critical Pedagogy of Place,” in Educational Researcher. 32(4): 3-12.
2012, March. Presented poster “Translating Community Forestry and Renewable Energy in Nepal into 6th Grade Science: Learning the Intersection of Environment and Energy.” Presented at National AAAS/NSF GK-12 Conference at NSF Headquarters, Arlington, VA. Poster was 1 of 32 presented that were selected from 125 submissions.
2012, March. Co-presented poster “CarbonEARTH: Teaching Energy and Environment in Central Pennsylvania.” National AAAS/NSF GK-12 Conference. Washington, DC.
Conference Posters - Research:
2010. Presented poster, "'Flesh and Nail': Community Forestry and Biogas in Nepal." Graduate Student Symposium. Penn State University. University Park, PA.
Abstract: This project explores the convergence of biogas and community forestry in Nepal, two programs which have proven successful independently and are replicated in other countries. To do this, the study seeks to answer: How are biogas and community forestry connected across scale and what implications does this have for our understanding of “environmentality”, or how and why people come to think and act in new ways in relation to the environment?
Abstract: This project explores the convergence of biogas and community forestry in Nepal, two programs which have proven successful independently and are replicated in other countries. To do this, the study seeks to answer: How are biogas and community forestry connected across scale and what implications does this have for our understanding of “environmentality”, or how and why people come to think and act in new ways in relation to the environment?
2006. Presented poster "Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) as a Farmland Fertilizer: Local Responses to State Regulations." Graduate Student Symposium. Penn State University. University Park, PA.
Abstract: Sewage sludge is the solid waste produced from the treatment of commercial, industrial, and municipal wastewater and is often applied to land for beneficial purposes. However, the land application of this substance is an intensely debated issue among its supporters and opponents. Supporters argue that biosolids land application is a sound recycling practice and is beneficial environmentally and financially. Opponents argue that it is detrimental to human health, quality of life, and water quality. Concerned residents of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, organized CROPS (Coalition of Residents Organized for Political Self-expression) in response to these issues. This research explores the contentious nature surrounding the use of sewage sludge fertilizer by tracing how corporate controlled sewage sludge land application has become an issue for local control and democratic expression in Franklin County.
Abstract: Sewage sludge is the solid waste produced from the treatment of commercial, industrial, and municipal wastewater and is often applied to land for beneficial purposes. However, the land application of this substance is an intensely debated issue among its supporters and opponents. Supporters argue that biosolids land application is a sound recycling practice and is beneficial environmentally and financially. Opponents argue that it is detrimental to human health, quality of life, and water quality. Concerned residents of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, organized CROPS (Coalition of Residents Organized for Political Self-expression) in response to these issues. This research explores the contentious nature surrounding the use of sewage sludge fertilizer by tracing how corporate controlled sewage sludge land application has become an issue for local control and democratic expression in Franklin County.