Applying knowledge learned in the classroom to help solve real-world environmental problems
This graduate-level course provided opportunities for students to apply what they learn about environmental law and the natural and built environment in the classroom to solve critical environmental problems for governmental, corporate and public-interest clients.
This included learning/applying skills in problem identification, analysis of viewpoints and motivations of all relevant actors, policy development (taking these viewpoints/motivations into account) and communicating the need for and content of policy. Students worked in teams on a group project and also tackled individual projects. The course instructor was Laurie Fowler with assistance from professors across campus depending on the subject matter of that semester’s projects.
The fall course (JURI 5290) was limited to eight law students; the spring class (ECOL 8720) was interdisciplinary and often subscribed to by students in ecology, forestry, anthropology, economics, environmental design, environmental planning, and engineering as well as law.
Past practicum students drafted laws subsequently enacted by the Georgia legislature and cities and counties in the area of greenspace protection, transferable development and conservation subdivisions and watershed protection.