School of Environment, Arts and Society

School of Environment, Arts and Society About Florida International University Outreach and Engagement Florida International University (FIU) is Miami-Dade County s first public, four-year research SEAS mission extends far beyond the university. Faculty, staff and students work with university. With more than 46,000 students, 1,000+ full-time faculty members, and more than the community to understand, address and overcome challenges while providing enriching programs. The school is continually developing exciting new partnerships and progams to 155,000 alumni, FIU is recognized as one of the 25 largest universities in the country based achieve these goals. A Marine Education and Research Center in the Florida Keys and a World on enrollment. FIU offers more than 200 bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs in Center for Tropical Botany are currently being developed with our partners. Using research conducted in the school, SEAS engages in outreach initiatives to better our world, including mangrove restoration projects along Biscayne Bay, hosting teach-ins on the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and other issues of global importance and marine science its colleges and schools. Recently, the university has achieved several notable milestones, Phone: 305-919-6000 Fax: 305-919-5964 E-mail: seas@fiu.edu http://seas.fiu.edu For more information about online programs offered by the, visit http://cas.fiu.edu. including the establishment of South Florida s only public College of Medicine, and the accreditation of its College of Law. initiatives that serve the world s oceans. SEAS has developed innovative and exciting educational experiences for K-12 students used About the in and out of the classroom worldwide. SEAS features a nationally recognized Agroecology As the heart of a leading public research university, the plays a vital Program that trains high-school and university students in sustainable agriculture and the Florida International University Biscayne Bay Campus 3000 NE 151st Street, Suite 300 North Miami, FL 33181 Florida Coastal Everglades Schoolyard program that provides projects and lessons for K-12 role in the intellectual, cultural and civic life of local, national and international communities. The students. SEAS EcoAcademy brings 6-14 year-old students to FIU every summer. college provides an educational foundation that prepares FIU students to be successful and Recognizing the impact of the humanities in shaping our perceptions and responses to the world engaged citizens in a global society. For general information, visit www.fiu.edu Florida International University is an Equal Opportunity/Access Employer and Institution. around us, SEAS supports numerous public lecture series and events. These include the Creative Writing Program s Lawrence A. Sanders award for Fiction, the Center for Humanities in an Urban Environment lecture series, and a large collection of environmental art installations on the Biscayne Bay Campus. Building for the Future SEAS is planning for a showcase teaching and research facility that meets the growing demand for space while employing cutting-edge sustainable design features. The building will also employ the latest technologies for renewable energy generation and water conservation. The Printed using certified paper from well-managed forests and vegetable-based inks. #CGP-EGC/PR-1001 SEAS building will include office and research space for faculty and students, distance-learning among students, faculty and staff. 12055_SEAS_SEASBroch.indd 1 12055_2/12 classrooms, as well as collaboration and study areas to facilitate cross-disciplinary interactions 2/17/12 5:35 PM

Solving today s global environmental challenges requires understanding the complex interactions between people and nature and ensuring that we effectively communicate issues and solutions to the public. SEAS is a leader in understanding and overcoming environmental challenges and training students to be tomorrow s innovative problem-solvers. -Michael Heithaus, Executive Director

The mission of the is to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the planet and its societies through inspirational teaching and stimulating creative works, as well as providing students, faculty and the community access to groundbreaking research and global community engagement. About the School By bringing together the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, the School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) at Florida International University is transforming the way we conduct research, educate our students and engage the community. Because the world s environmental problems are no longer just about the environment, our revolutionary approach to education will ensure today s students become innovative leaders of the 21st century by providing the communication, research and critical thinking skills needed to make a difference in our local and global communities. An integral part of the, SEAS is one of three mission-based schools designed to enhance the experiences for our students and increase collaboration among disciplines. This includes collaborations with its sister schools, the School of International and Public Affairs and the School of Integrated Science and Humanity, as well as other colleges and centers at FIU and with businesses, community organizations, and the government. SEAS fulfills part of the university s greater global mission to be a major international education center that fosters mutual understandings throughout the world.

Departments Biological Sciences The Department of Biological Sciences is research intensive with funding in grants and contracts worth $10 million annually. The department offers diverse courses in fields including ecology, cellular and molecular biology, physiology and biodiversity studies. The curriculum arms students with the critical thinking, research and communication skills required for graduate and professional studies and careers in public, private and non-profit organizations. For information, visit http://biology.fiu.edu. Earth and Environment The Department of Earth and Environment brings together faculty and students working in the geosciences and environmental sciences with those investigating economics, management, policy and social sciences. The department is committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skill sets needed to find sustainable solutions to the environmental problems of the 21st century. A variety of courses in earth sciences, meteorology, hydrogeology and ecology are offered. Hands-on field and laboratory training prepares students for further graduate study and technical work in environmental fields. For information, visit http://casgroup.fiu.edu/earthandenvironment. English The Department of English gives students access to distinguished faculty who have earned national and international recognition for their linguistic and literary accomplishments. The department offers courses in creative writing, literature, writing, rhetoric and linguistics. The department also houses the film studies, exile studies, and professional and public writing undergraduate certificate programs. English faculty and staff encourage students to embrace the power of language written and spoken to enrich their lives and create real change in the world. For information, visit http://english.fiu.edu.

Academic Programs Agroecology In South Florida, natural, agricultural and urban areas are in close proximity. The Agroecology program educates students and the community about sustainable agriculture, urban food systems and their relationship to natural ecosystems. The program offers specialized courses in agriculture and resource management, hands-on field training, internships and scholarships. For information, visit http://agroecology.fiu.edu/. Creative Writing Operating with the simple philosophy of giving talented writers the tools to connect with their intended audiences, the Creative Writing program has been recognized as one of the best in the nation. Publications by faculty have earned New York Times best-seller status, New York Times Notable Book of the Year honors, the Iowa Short Fiction Award and the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, to name a few. For information, visit http://creativewriting.fiu.edu. Liberal Studies The Liberal Studies program offers a multi-disciplinary approach to education that can meet the educational interests and goals of each individual student. Students can design their own program incorporating knowledge and concepts from the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and the arts. This program transcends the limits of scholarship within a single discipline, allowing students to develop critical thinking skills across multiple disciplines. For information, visit http://liberalstudies.fiu.edu. Marine Sciences With access to the diverse coastal ecosystems of South Florida and the Caribbean, the Marine Science program strives for excellence in research, teaching and public outreach that will improve the growth and conservation of our precious marine resources. The program is housed in the Department of Biological Sciences and offers an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology that prepares students for a variety of careers and graduate study. For information, visit http://marine.fiu.edu.

Centers and Programs Center for Humanities in an Urban Environment The mission of the Center for Humanities in an Urban Environment (CHUE) is to engage the greater South Florida community in conversations on the humanities. To that end, it promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of the humanities through activities, including lectures by distinguished scholars, workshops and exhibits. For information, visit http://casgroup.fiu.edu/fiuhumanities. Global Water for Sustainability Program Global Waters for Sustainability Program (GLOWS) promotes the integrated management of water resources and aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Currently, GLOWS is managing a portfolio of $70 million, including clean water projects in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, the Republic of Georgia and a four-nation project in West Africa. For information, visit http://glows.fiu.edu. Southeast Environmental Research Center The Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) is dedicated to environmental research, education and restoration in the threatened environments of South Florida, the southeastern United States and the Caribbean Basin. For information, visit http://serc.fiu.edu. Florida Coastal Everglades Program The Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) Program is part of the National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network. The FCE LTER studies how hydrology, climate and human activities interact with ecosystem and population dynamics in the Everglades. The FCE Schoolyard LTER program provides hands-on Everglades research experiences for South Florida students and teachers and develops curricula for use throughout the public school system. For information, visit http://fcelter.fiu.edu. WaterSCAPES WaterSCAPES (Science of Coupled Aquatic Processes in Ecosystems from Space) is a NASA Group 4 University Research Center based at FIU. The WaterSCAPES Center focuses on research and education activities that involve the interaction of water cycling, climate and vegetation in ecosystems to answer the fundamental question: How is the Earth changing and what are the consequences for life on Earth? For information, visit http:web.eng.fiu.edu/ waterscapes.