How does technology augment or alter our access to and understanding of nature? In what ways do different media forms—such as reading, photography, sound, and moving images—inform our experiences of the natural world? How can we use digital tools and platforms to build a more inclusive, community-based approach to science? What does it mean to be a “naturalist” today? This coordinated studies program invites students to examine these questions while developing a personal natural history practice utilizing different media technologies and identification tools. Students will explore ecosystems through a mix of virtual and in-person experiences and engage in hands-on labs and fieldwork to learn about plant biology, ecology, and identification. Weekly contributions of native plant observations using technologies like macro-lenses and time-lapse recording will enrich their understanding of NW flora and their contributions to local ecosystems.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4 - Introductory Botany
4 - Introduction to Media Studies
Registration
Academic Details
Botany, natural history, media arts
Required $40 fee covers field and media supplies