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Education
An educational component that is not recommended for the Rivers and Estuaries Center on the Hudson’s initial program structure is degree granting at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The rational is that many such programs already exist and the center does not want to become a competitor. However, joint programs with participating university members will provide programmatic flexibility and the opportunity for students to expand their research experience through direct involvement with ongoing projects and access to the latest instrumentation and facilities. Undergraduates will participate in projects linked to courses at their home institutions as well as through extensive summer and cooperative programs. The proximity of core facilities to partner institutions will facilitate this involvement of undergraduates. Synergy will also exist between the Upper Hudson Satellite Center and graduate degree programs. The location of an Upper Hudson Satellite Center in Troy will provide M.S. and Ph.D. students with direct access to Rensselaer faculty and staff, as well as extensive research facilities at the Upper Hudson Satellite Center and at Rensselaer. Existing graduate programs at Rensselaer include Environmental Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.), Environmental Management and Policy (MBA), Hydrogeology (M.S.), Biology (M.S., Ph.D.), Chemistry (M.S., Ph.D.), Geology (M.S., Ph.D.) and Ecological Economics (Ph.D). Extensive experience in the use of information and distance-learning technologies to enhance education will enlarge the influence of the Upper Hudson Satellite Center on undergraduate programs, as well as support the development of K-12 educational materials, and outreach and interaction with K-12 students.
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The
Rivers and Estuaries Center on the Hudson Strategic plan calls
for “education for a broad audience”as well as informal
and formal education”. The goal of these programs is “to
develop and deliver unique and innovative training and materials
in the environmental sciences at the interface between disciplines
and between science and society”. As the Center proposes
to embrace the philosophy of an interdisciplinary approach to research
and teaching, Rensselaer is well positioned to lead the way at
an Upper Hudson Center. Rensselaer has received national recognition
for its groundbreaking and multidisciplinary work in education
and has been the recipient of the Hesburgh Award for Faculty Development,
the Boeing Outstanding Educator Award, and the first Pew Leadership
Award for the Renewal of Undergraduate Education. Additionally,
two of Rensselaer’s current educational and research initiatives,
in particular, the DFWI and the NASA Center for Studies on the
Origins of Life, were designed specifically to use the power of
interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental issues and
provide interactive training. Rensselaer has established new degree
programs in the environmental sciences for which new interdisciplinary
courses have been developed. Many of the new courses being developed
continue Rensselaer’s nationally recognized efforts in education
to reflect the need for learning venues that are interdisciplinary,
interactive and enhanced by technology. Our experience in education
and training would directly benefit the Upper Hudson Satellite
Center.