JACKSON HOLE, WYOMINGWork with community members to build informed, collaborative solutions to real-world environmental and sustainability challenges.
Travel to Jackson Hole and spend an entire month in-residence at the beautiful Murie Ranch, historic home to conservation legends, in Grand Teton National Park. After learning important project development and collaboration capacities in the spring, students will work in interdisciplinary teams to implement real-world environmental and sustainability projects of relevance to Jackson Hole stakeholders. Students will collaborate with each other and learn from both experienced faculty mentors and non-profit, business, resource management, and/or agency mentors to make a meaningful difference in this unique social-ecological community.
OVERVIEW Environmental Solutions provides a fast-paced opportunity to engage in a team-, place-, and project- based field experience with opportunity to explore the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Students will develop interdisciplinary skills, engage community stakeholders, and implement real-world solutions to local challenges. See summaries of previous projects below.
Program Director: Dr. Rachael Budowle | Program Support: Nicole Gautier
DATES & CREDITS Environmental Solutions is offered every other year. The program includes the following required components:
spring semester prep course: ENR 4890/5890 Tps: Environmental Solutions (1 cr.)
mid-May to mid-June in-residence experience: ENR 4900/5900 Environmental Assessment (3 cr.)
Upcoming programs: 2022, 2024, 2026
REQUIREMENTS & ADMISSION Program admission is dependent upon application and a possible interview. Open to all UW students with junior, senior, or graduate standing, or consent of Program Director*. Preference given to students enrolled in Haub School programs.
*Additional requirements may apply.
PROGRAM FEE Includes all transportation to/from Grand Teton National Park and during the program, instruction and mentorship from faculty and project sponsors, accommodations in Grand Teton National Park at the historic cabins of the Murie Ranch, and all supplies and equipment.
Program Fee 2022: TBD (est. $3000-$3500/student; depends on number of participants)
Program Dates 2022: TBD May 16 - Jun. 13
Note: UW tuition and fees for spring semester and summer credits are not included in the program fee.
Oliva and Annaliese are our first Environmental Solutions fellows. Building from the Environmental Solutions field course (clickable link in profile), fellowships provide a paid opportunity for exceptional students/recent grads who completed the course or other project-based, community-engaged Haub School courses. Olivia and Annaliese are working with Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling (TCISWR) to reduce and divert bear spray, propane, and isobutane containers in Teton County, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Due to the influx of tourism in the parks, these canisters are used at a high volume and bear spray, specifically, is often purchased and not used at all. However, these substances must be disposed of as hazardous waste — a process that is expensive and requires infrastructure Teton County doesn’t currently have in place. Olivia and Annaliese are investigating ways to increase rental and reuse programs in the community outreach and education, and potential recycling technology that is compatible with the canisters.
2022 Update
We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2022 travel.
Rolling Admissions. All plans are subject to change.
Please contact Program Director Rachael Budowle - rbudowle@uwyo.edu.
University of Wyoming
Bim Kendall House
804 E Fremont St
Laramie, WY 82072
Phone: (307) 766-5080
Fax: (307) 766-5099
Email: haub.school@uwyo.edu
