Multidisciplinary approach of teaching Environmental Education 

What were trying to do is bring together as many professors as we can in all different disciplines to

work on projects from a very integrated standpoint, said Dr. Frank Bailey, associate professor of 

biology.

That means the project might bring together not only other scientists, but academics from the worlds of 

history, economics, education and other fields to bring their experience to bear on the assessment of 

the results. This is an approach that attracts funding.

Weve been together for less than a year, and we have about $60,000 in funding already, both internal

and external, said Dr. John DiVincenzo, professor of chemistry.

The professors agree that the reason more scientists havent taken this approach is the work it takes to

get scientists and non-scientists using jargon that all of them can understand at the same time.

You have to learn the language that the other people speak, Bailey said. Weve had some fun with it,

actually. You might think thats not an issue, to put sociologists and economists in a room with a bunch

of biologists, and everybody tries to talk about what theyd like to see happen. Its more different than

you think, and its kind of a struggle sometimes to get that started. But weve had a lot of positive

feedback.

You get a room of people who are very highly educated from different arenas, and one word might be

different for every single person in that room, added Dr. Ryan Otter, assistant professor of biology.

The word pollution is different to me than it is even to John or Frank, and all three of us are trained as

either biologists or chemists or a mix of both.

However, the rewards can be large-scale grants from government agencies or private foundations.

Youre starting to see more requests for proposals from organizations like EPA (Environmental

Protection Agency) and NSF (National Science Foundation) that want the holistic picture, DiVincenzo

said. They dont want to look at just the impact of a chemical in the soil and water. They also want to

know, If we remove that chemical, whats the economic impact?

The MTSU trio admits that some academics can associate with colleagues outside their areas of 

expertise for the sole purpose of landing a grant, but never see each other again after the project is

finished. Otter insisted CLEAR will be different.

Were working together and were going to have a track record of working together for multiple

projects on multiple, different aspects, he said. As we go up for very highly competitive grants at the

top level, our track record should speak for itself.

The ultimate beneficiaries will be the students, both undergraduate and graduate, who will work with

Otter, Bailey, DiVincenzo and company.

 

This will open the door for a lot more of them, Bailey asserted. They can get this perspective of what

its like to design a project, work with somebody off campus, collect the samples, cradle to grave, all the

way through, and finish the project and write it up.

The starting point for CLEAR is the study of watersheds, specifically the waters and streams of the

nearby town of Smyrna, Tenn. The scientists also are communicating with the Tennessee Duck River

Development Agency and the Harpeth River Watershed Association. In addition, Dr. Angela Mertig,

professor of sociology, and Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, a biology professor who works with MTSUs Center

for Environmental Education, have a grant to study watersheds from sociological and educational

perspectives.

The opportunity that comes along with it cant be surpassed, Otter said. I really dont know if many

people are willing to jump off that bridge and go for a truly multidisciplinary group like weve put

together, but I see nothing but opportunity.

Published Date: 23/12/2008