Resource Description

What factors lead to a natural disaster? What causes a famine? Why do cities flood? According to a recent article in The Atlantic, Houston's flooding during the 2017 Hurricane Harvey was primarily caused by impervious pavement which prevents the absorption of water into the land. This example illustrates how nature and society are interlinked, which is the main focus of Geography 30, Penn State's introductory course to nature-society geography. In addition to examining the linkages between human development and natural hazards, this course will also explore human society's connection to food systems, climate change, urbanization and biodiversity. The course will also cover topics of ethics and decision making in order to help students evaluate the tradeoffs of these interconnections. Learn more

Resource Description

The saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Think of what video can do to bring a subject to life! In May 2023, a group of 20 Penn State students from multiple campuses joined Kaitlin Farnan, a business instructor at Penn State Altoona, and Annie Taylor, the senior assistant dean for distance learning in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, on a trip to New Zealand and Australia to learn about sustainable business practices. The itinerary included 31 hands-on experiences encompassing site visits, interviews, and service-learning projects. These experiences included visits to farms, nature preserves, eco-tourism companies, foundations, and government agencies. Students engaged with representatives from diverse businesses including the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Whale Watch Kiakoura, Katmandu Outdoor, Remix Plastic, the Skybury Cafe, and Greenspace Community Vertical Farming. They heard about the New Zealand Film Industry from one of its pioneers, and visited numerous other locations to see, and hear about, sustainability practices in action.

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