Blair McLaughlin

Recent and Upcoming Courses

• Ecology

  How do living things exist together? Ecology is the study of the relationships of living things to each other and their environment. With an emphasis on plants, this course will provide a broad introduction to the field of ecology, and explore broader socio-ecological perspectives including conservation/restoration ecology and the effects of global change. We will use a combination of primary scientific literature, popular science media, environmental literature, and textbook resources. Students will conduct their own greenhouse experiments and write up their results in the format of a scientific paper, learning basic ecological study design, data collection, and data analysis and visualization in R programming language. We will explore local field sites, venture on multiple field trips and conduct in depth observations of a campus ecological community. Walking in variable terrain and weather will be required. This course has no prerequisites. Keywords: ecology, environmental conservation

• Advanced Ecology Practicum

  This course is an opportunity for students conducting (or wishing to conduct) ecological or environmental research to explore more advanced questions on how to develop a research question, experimental design, data analysis and communication of results. Classes will workshop student projects at various stages of progression, and explore related topics of interest in the literature and local field sites. This course will focus on developing a community around advanced-level work in ecology and environmental science. The course format will be workshop/seminar style and will require substantial independent work on the part of students. Prerequisites include an ecology or environmental biology or environmental science course or permission of instructor. Keywords: ecology, environmental conservation, environmental science

• Ecological Soundscapes

  This course will explore the bridge between music and ecology drawing from the fields of ecological sound art, eco-musicology, acoustic ecology and soundscape ecology. Using primary literature, mixed media and deep listening, we will address the ways that sound functions in the ecological environment, and the ways sound and music can be used to represent ecological and conservation issues. We will consider how the landscape is organized and transformed by sound, how noise pollution and changes in soundscapes are impacting ecosystems, organisms and human health, and how sound art and soundscape composition can enhance understanding of the natural environment and address environmental problems. Students will conduct their own field recordings and create their own compositions, engage in listening and discussion sessions and participate in field trips on local sound environments. For final projects students may choose to focus on creative or ecological science-based work. Prerequisites: a strong interest in music and ecology. Walking in variable terrain and weather may be required.

• Special Projects

• Soundscapes

  Soundscapes will explore the emerging field of eco-musicology -- bridging music and sound studies with ecology. Using primary literature, mixed media and deep listening, the course will address the ways that sound functions in the ecological environment, and the ways sound and music can be used to represent ecological phenomena. We will consider how the landscape is organized and transformed by sound, how noise pollution is impacting ecosystems and how music can enhance understanding of the environment. Students will work with Hampshire Library Media Labs to conduct their own field recordings and create their own compositions. Prerequisites: a strong interest in music and ecology. Walking in variable terrain and weather may be required.