July 11-18, 2010

“We protect nature not for nature's sake but for our own sake because it's the infrastructure of our communities, and if we want to meet the obligations of our civilization and our culture which are to create communities for our children that provide them with the same opportunities for dignity and enrichment as the communities that our parents gave us, we've got to start by protecting the air that we breathe, the water that we drink, the landscapes that enrich us. We're not protecting nature for nature's sake. We're protecting it because it enriches us.” –Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

'Washington, D.C., is our nation's capital and truly one of the most exciting cities in the world. It is at the foot of power for global democracy and offers to its residents and visitors cultural learning opportunities that touch nearly every facet of life in North America and beyond. Unfortunately, D.C. also holds the dubious distinction of playing host to the Anacostia River, one of the most polluted rivers in the United States.

Students participating in the Environmental Science program will get a firsthand look at how environmental policy decisions directly impact the surrounding community. Each participant will spend one week exploring environmental science and policy from three unique perspectives: the business side, the political side, and the social side. Students will participate in talks given by professionals and educators who are actively working in the environmental science and policy fields. Guest lecturers from the Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, foundations, and advocacy organizations will offer their perspectives on all sides of important environmental topics. After each talk, students have the opportunity to engage in roundtable discussion, forcing them to think critically about the multiple factors involved in making decisions that are best for the environment and the community that surrounds it.

In addition to roundtables, each student will spend several days per week in the field doing hands-on environmental service work on the Anacostia River.

Finally, each student will spend time examining all of the evidence that accompanies both sides of proposed legislation that is pending before the Congress of the United States. After honing their critical thinking skills, students will be asked to make a judgment on pending legislation, and then will be guided through the process of lobbying their own member of Congress on the issue.

2010 Tuition:
$1,900 includes tuition, room, and board.

Program Application.pdf
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information, please contact scsspecialprograms@georgetown.edu

Sample Day

*Program Sample Days are tentative