In this course, we examine the ideals of environmentalism from its origins in the late 18th century to the present. Topics include the romantic critique of industrialization, forest management and sustainability, wilderness preservation, animal rights, radical environmentalism, and environmental justice.
Students enrolled in this course are eligible for the Dr. Rowland Marshall History of Science and Technology Prize in Ecology and Environment. An award will go to the student with the best research essay written in Engineering the Planet: the Anthropocene Era, from Prehistory to Today’s Global Crisis, Ecology and Religion, and Environmentalism: origins, ideals and critique each year. The prize value is between $800 and $1,000.
