The Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy is the nexus for a flexible undergraduate program, and, as of fall 2010, graduate program, that allows students to dynamically explore both environmental science and policy. The program presents topics in the context of problem-oriented learning, and gives students the opportunity for substantial field experience.
The University of Miami created the interdisciplinary Abess Center to achieve two central goals:
- Educate the next generation of environmental scientists, policy makers, managers, and planners with a grounding in the fundamentals of the natural sciences, social science, and public policy.
- Bring faculty from various schools and departments in the University together with external scientists, policy makers, and planners to facilitate research concerning environmental problems involving both science and policy dimensions.
PHILOSOPHY
In this new century, we need to find ways to meet human demands, while protecting and restoring the natural environment that sustains us. As science increasingly demonstrates the complex interconnectedness of all the elements of natural systems, environmental decisions must take into account potential ecosystem-wide effects to be truly effective. Policy decisions will have to be made in the face of scientific uncertainty about key causal linkages in natural systems, often relying on untested technologies, and that subsequent scientific and technological advances may call for significant revisions in policy approaches. Environmental scientists and nonscientist policy-makers, managers, and planners must communicate with each other in new and better ways as development and environmental policy decisions are made.
The goal of the undergraduate program in Ecosystem Science and Policy (ECS) is to educate the next generation of environmental leaders. The ECS program provides students with a broad background in environmental issues from a variety of perspectives, along with in-depth education in an area of specialization. This preparation will give students both the theoretical background and technical skills to pursue an environmental career, including teaching and research as well as for careers in government and private industries concerned with the environment.
The Abess Center's Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy program is accepting applications as of November 17, 2009, and will begin in fall 2010. Please see Graduate Program link for more information.
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