Current courses
SAFS733: Advanced topics in SAFS, a capstone course
In this course, upper-level SAFS undergraduates (juniors and seniors) engage with their peers in critical, student-led discussion of both instructor-chosen and student-selected works (papers, books, videos, etc.) relating to agricultural and food systems sustainability across scales, local to global. With these discussions providing context, students pursue individual, semester-long projects aimed at practically addressing specific issues of personal interest. The individual projects culminate in a final deliverable as well as a presentation to the class and invited guests (e.g. SAFS faculty, project collaborators, etc.). The course aims to improve critical reading, writing, discussion, and presentation skills; build cohort cohesiveness; and challenge SAFS students to examine their beliefs and working assumptions about agricultural and food systems sustainability. The course is Writing Intensive (WI); for seniors, it fulfills the capstone requirement for the major.
BIOL933: Design, Analysis, and Interpretation of Experiments
Through an in-depth consideration of common general linear models used in the analysis of variance, this course is intended to challenge graduate students to reflect upon the process of experimental thinking itself while equipping them with the skills necessary to design and execute experiments that address the research questions of most interest to them. Problem sets will provide students the opportunity to internalize the concepts covered in lectures. Computer lab sessions will provide instruction in the use of R to complete problem sets. Open office hours will provide an informal venue for students to discuss the course material with each other and the instructor. Finally, optional presentations will provide students the opportunity to receive critical feedback on the experimental designs of their individual graduate research projects.
Past courses
SAFS733: Farm Studio, a capstone course
The Farm Studio is an opportunity for graduating SAFS (Sustainable Agriculture and Food System) majors to engage with the agricultural community beyond campus by serving as a team of sustainability consultants to a local farm. Through a process of open and critical dialogue, supplemented by readings, guest lectures, case studies, farm visits, targeted data collection, and reporting, we utilize design methodologies to systematically explore the central questions: "Is this a sustainable operation?" and "How might it be enhanced?" We also consider how such questions posed at the farm-scale intersect with sustainability goals and constraints at regional, national, and global scales. As a capstone for the major, this course is designed to encourage reflection among SAFS students as they consider their transition from undergraduates to their future, individual roles in our food system.
A sincere thank you to our collaborating farms:
2013 - Stout Oak Farm, Brentwood, NH
2014 - Coppal House Farm, Lee, NH
2015 - Brandmoore Farm, Rollinsford, NH
