Owen Grumbling's nature writers course feature on the Green Outdoors
WCSH6's Bill Green featured a UNE nature writers course in his weekly segment, The Green Outdoors, on Oct. 4, 2010. Each week students in "The Nature Writers" course, taught by Owen Grumbling, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Studies, read American and British texts before heading outside to experience an environment similar to the one they've been studying. They then write in their journals or in a more formal format. The course encourages students to think about the natural world and the work they do in their sciences classes in the context of the long history of writers who have used their words and experiences to inspire others. In the WCSH6 segment the students were studying the writings of American author Edward Abbey, noted for his advocacy of environmental issues and author of the Down the River. Other field labs for that course include a hike up Mt. Agamenticus, an exploration of blueberry barrens and even a day of apple picking. Those interviewed in the segment included Grumbling and environmental studies and science students Janel Harrington, Elia Del Molino, and Hannah Goodnow.