This course will focus on three interrelated types of writing that occupy an increasingly important and influential place in our culture. We will read some classics of the genre, including selections from Silent Spring and the Sand County Almanac, along with fixtures like Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma and new, high-profile articles and books from gifted science and environmental writers working today. We will analyze the conventions that make up the the genre, the research process behind the writing, and what the writers–who are only rarely scientists themselves–bring to the table.

The course is also meant to provide an opportunity to develop your own creative or journalistic skills in this genre. If you are interested in science journalism or in content writing, this is an excellent opportunity to work in-depth to hone your research and writing skills–and leave the class with a writing sample in hand.