Exeter’s primary contribution to climate action is through climate education. The academic program has evolved over the years to meet the needs of a 21st-century education. We will continue to enhance our curriculum so that our students understand the principles of sustainability and the impacts of and potential solutions to climate change.
It’s built into the curriculum
Our curriculum cultivates an appreciation for the natural world. Students study climate change in every introductory science course — from the physics of feedback cycles to the chemistry of solar panels. As our awareness of environmental issues has increased, our teachers have risen to the challenge, developing numerous advanced courses, such as Ecology and Earth and the Climate Crisis. They’ve also created courses, such as Green Umbrella Learning Lab, to foster problem-solving and social innovation.
Our advanced STEM courses serve as an important foundation for our students, developing the skills critical to tackling climate change and other sustainability challenges. Our humanities classes provide opportunities to study the relationship between humans and the natural world. These courses delve into the political, economic, social and ethical aspects of climate change, including the disproportionate burdens felt by vulnerable populations, and seek to inspire our students to be difference-makers in the face of these challenges.
Featured Courses
EPS450
Earth and the Climate Crisis
This course will study the complex interconnected systems (e.g., lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere)of our planet Earth.
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BIO470
Human Populations & Resource Consumption
In this course students consider human impact on the environment.
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CHE450
Chemistry of the Environment
This course investigates the chemical principles that underlie current environmental issues.
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Experiential Study
Our curricular work is supported and supplemented by experiential opportunities in the Seacoast area as well as several Global Initiatives programs that have a strong focus on environmental issues and sustainability, including partnerships with The Island School in the Bahamas and The Mountain School in Vermont.
Climate Action Day
Exeter students and faculty created Climate Action Day, a school-wide, day-long event devoted to climate and sustainability-related workshops, service projects and activism. Workshops have ranged from environmental law to oyster farming to sustainable business practices.
Education for Educators
Exeter hosts a weeklong professional conference, in partnership with the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, to establish a community of teachers working in the environmental humanities.
Green Umbrella Learning Lab (GULL)
The Green Umbrella Learning Lab (GULL) course allows students passionate about sustainability the opportunity to enact “big changes” by doing real work in sustainability to help Exeter meet its Sustainability Master Plan and carbon reduction goals. Students work in close proximity with their instructors and with the Green Umbrella Advisory Board to research, design, and implement relevant campus sustainability projects that benefit our community.
Check out recent projects produced by GULL students.
