The University of Vermont has a new
Graduate Certificate in Ecological Design!
CERTIFICATE of GRADUATE STUDY in ECOLOGICAL DESIGN
Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, The University of Vermont
Co-Directors:
Dr. John Todd, Gund Institute of Ecological Economics Fellow, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Dr. Robert Costanza, Director, Gund Institute of Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Diane Elliott Gayer, AIA, Director, Vermont Design Institute; RSENR Adjunct Assistant Professor
Summer 2008
ENSC 285 - Ecological Design Practicum
Instructor: Marc Companion (former Education Coordinator at Ocean Arks)
Dates: June 23-28, 2008
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm daily
Location: Room 207, Votey Building
University of Vermont Campus
Course Description:
Learn the fundamentals of how to design and build living systems for a variety of applications, whether a constructed wetland for greywater and wastewater treatment, a backyard pond or a biologically-diverse ecosystem in your classroom for hands-on learning. This interdisciplinary course
will cover the practical aspects of taking a project from start to finish. We will study the essentials of biology and biochemistry, basic engineering principles and design calculations, and the selection of both living and man-made system components. We'll also examine solar architecture and strategies for bringing ecosystems into green buildings to improve indoor air quality and regulate indoor climate. Field trips will demonstrate the design principles discussed in the course.
For more information and to register, visit
http://www.uvm.edu/~summer/courses/course.php?course_CE.php&term=200806&crn=60548
University of Vermont Department of Continuing Education and
Yestermorrow Design/Build School
Team Up for Hands-On Summer Learning in the Sustainable Design/Build Process
Grab hold of these experiential leaning opportunities, gain design and building skills, learn how to
reduce your impact on the earth, all while you earn credits.
Home Design/Build: May 11-23, July 6-18 or August 17-29 – 3 credits
Through hands-on construction projects, studio sessions, lectures, slide shows, house tours, and discussion, the Home Design/Build course provides individuals with the fundamental skills and resources necessary for creating their dream home -- be it new construction or renovation. This course is also a good introduction for those interested in pursuing an architecture or building career. Students will learn.
Permaculture Design Certification: June 8-20 – 3 credits
This course covers the core Permaculture Design curriculum including applications of Permaculture in diverse settings, and techniques for meeting human needs that harmonize with ecological patterns. Permaculture design benefits community leaders and professionals in the fields of architecture, planning, ecology and education.
Community Design/Build: August 3-15 – 3 credits
Guided by Jersey Devil co-founder Steve Badanes, students will engage in a hands-on process of designing and building a full-scale public project. Past projects have included public playground structures, village green bandshells, park pavilions, and bus stops. Students will explore how this community-based, consensus approach to a project can build a sense of community as it creates a work of architecture.
Sustainable Treehouse Design and Construction: May 4-11 – 2 credits
Building a sustainable tree house is among the most interesting, exhilarating and enlightening projects imaginable. Moreover, it is emblematic of everything we hope to achieve in sustainable architecture: How do we build in a natural setting without despoiling the very nature that supports us?
Ecological Planning, Design and Construction: June 22-27 – 2 credits
So what is green design? This course will explore the broad range of issues of what is variously called ecological, green, environmental, and sustainable design. Through lectures, seminars, field trips and a design charette we will develop a framework for understanding the issues and making value-based design decisions.
Strawbale Design/Build: August 10-15 – 2 credits
Have you always wondered about strawbale construction? With their combination of insulation and thermal mass, plastered strawbale walls can be perfect for cold - and even wet - climates if they are designed and built according to a set of time tested principles. This course balances sessions in the classroom and on site so you will learn to think your way through a bale house while gaining a feel for the nature of straw, clay and lime as building materials.
Intro to Cob Building: August 17-23 – 2 credits
Building with earth is an affordable, safe and ecologically sound method of construction. During this course you will learn how to begin building your own earthen home. Cob is a combination of clay sediment, sand, and straw mixed together with water and hand formed into walls.
Green Roof and Wall Design and Installation: June 1-8 – 2 credits
Green roofs and walls are gaining popularity for several reasons. They are super efficient at insulating a home. They also minimize our ecological footprint by retaining and filtering water before it reaches our rivers and streams. In this course, we will explore intensive and extensive green roof and green wall systems.
Solar Design: July 19-20 – 1 credit
This workshop will present the basic design, theory and methods required to maximize the solar potential of your present or future home. Day one will use lectures, slide shows and tours to show how to use passive design for home heating, cooling and day lighting. Day two will cover the basics of photovoltaics for home power.
Biofuels: May 2-4 or August 1-3 – 1 credit
This workshop enables students to begin replacing fossil fuel with renewable fuel in a variety of applications. The heart of this intensive course is the hands-on adaptation of diesel engines to operate on straight vegetable oil.
Landscape Design: May 30-June 1 – 1 credit
Students will design a landscape that draws inspiration from the natural world, accommodates their needs, and is aesthetically pleasing. Students will learn how to analyze a site considering soils, slopes, sun and shadow, access and circulation, drainage, etc. Site development, building placement, and materials will also be covered.
Green Building Materials: June 21-22 – 1 credit
This is an intensive two day workshop explaining the benefits and limitations of green building materials. This course will examine green materials choices for nearly all aspects of the home including: roofing, cabinets and flooring, siding, wall coverings, wall systems, framing, plumbing and more.
All courses will take place at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School campus in Warren, VT, approximately 50 minutes from UVM.
On-site lodging is available.
For more information, go to: http://www.uvm.edu/~summer/yestermorrow.php
SNEC 6th Annual Workshop
The Synergetics Collaborative (SNEC) is conducting a workshop this summer on: Geodesic Structures
When: 11-14 July 2008
Where: SUNY campus, Oswego, New York
Fee: $300.00 (Food and housing not included)
Limited participants 30
Workshop Registration deadline: 1 June, 2008 (See 2008 Summer Workshop
registration form at www.synergeticists.org)
Design solution entry deadline: 27 June 2008 (See 2008 Summer Workshop Design solution poster and entry form
www.synergeticists.org/snec.announce.meeting.2008.07.html)
Workshop guides are:
Thomas Zung: partner of Buckminster Fuller, Sadao and Zung Architects. Blair F. Wolfram: Founder of Dome Inc.
John Belt: Department of Technology SUNY Oswego.
Joseph D. Clinton: President of Clinton International Design Consultants.
Topics to be covered in the workshop include:
• History of geodesic structures.
• History of Fuller, Sadao and Zung Architectural Projects.
• Introduction to light and commercial geodesic structures.
• Definitions and geodesic topology and geometry.
• Form finding and analysis design tools as applied to geodesic structures.
• Commercial construction methods and techniques
Open discussions, photo displays, patents and architectural detail parts exhibit, and participant’s Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science Solution displays will be woven through the four days of the workshop.
The last day of the workshop will be devoted to building a dome(s) to commemorate R.Buckminster Fuller’s birthday.
Natural Resources NR 288/385c
Course Description:
This is a problem based, cross-disciplinary design course. The goals of the course are to research existing conditions, determine needs, integrate the redesign of place and systems in allignment with ecological design principles , and affect policy, in relation to the study problem. The course draws on local talent and networks for the background research and existing conditions study. A high priority is given to applicability of design solutions to affect change. The course is based on small group, self-directed learning and design solutions to problems that have been defined as critical issues. Past studio problems have included designs for UVM student housing, Burlington's Moran plant, an agroecopark for Shelburne Farms, and a re-design of the Burlington waterfront. The problem component may vary year to year, but the research and design-thinking remains a consistent process.
Ecol Design & Living Technol - 92760 - NR 288 - A
John Todd
Associated Term: Fall 2008
Levels: Continuing Education, Certificate, Graduate, Medical Student, Student, Undergraduate
Main Campus Campus
Lecture Schedule Type
3.000 Credits
View Catalog Entry
Registration Availability
Capacity Actual Remaining
Seats 60 50 10
Cross List Courses:
NR 385
Restrictions:
May not be enrolled in one of the following Levels:
Continuing Education
May not be enrolled as the following Classification(s):
First Year
Sophomore
Adv Eco Design & Living Tech - 92767 - NR 385 - B
Associated Term: Fall 2008
Levels: Continuing Education, Certificate, Graduate, Medical Student, Student, Undergraduate
Main Campus Campus
Lecture Schedule Type
3.000 Credits
View Catalog Entry
Registration Availability
Capacity Actual Remaining
Seats 15 1 14
Cross List Courses:
NR 288
Restrictions:
May not be enrolled in one of the following Levels:
Continuing Education
Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges:
Graduate College
SL:Greening Aiken:Art&Arc Std - 93223 - NR 285 - Z4
Students in the Art and Architecture Studio will have the opportunity to participate in design proposals which explore the common boundary of art, ecology, design in what are called "Ecoventions," or art that restores damaged habitats, allows water infiltration, and enchances living environments. These art interventions build awareness of the "green" features being designed into the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources' George D. Aiken Center. Students will learn and develop critical thinking in the following areas: the growing field of environmental art, the fundamentals of ecological design as related to human spatial needs and site specific requirements, an understanding of the relationship between form and function, and design parameters which include aesthetics, biophilic, mechanical, and living systems criteria.
Associated Term: Fall 2008
Registration Dates: Feb 01, 2008 to Sep 15, 2008
Instructors: Cameron Davis, Diane Elliott Gayer
3.000 Credits
View Catalog Entry
Scheduled Meeting Times
Time Days Where Where Date Range Instructors
3:35 pm - 6:35 pm W UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS SOUTH 27 Sep 02, 2008 - Dec 11, 2008 Cameron Davis , Diane E. Gayer
Sections Found
SL:Greening Aiken:Art&Arc Std - 93185 - ENVS 195 - Z5
Students in the Art and Architecture Studio will have the opportunity to participate in design proposals which explore the common boundary of art, ecology, design in what are called "Ecoventions," or art that restores damaged habitats, allows water infiltration, and enchances living environments. These art interventions build awareness of the "green" features being designed into the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources' George D. Aiken Center. Students will learn and develop critical thinking in the following areas: the growing field of environmental art, the fundamentals of ecological design as related to human spatial needs and site specific requirements, an understanding of the relationship between form and function, and design parameters which include aesthetics, biophilic, mechanical, and living systems criteria.
Associated Term: Fall 2008
Registration Dates: Feb 01, 2008 to Sep 15, 2008
Instructors: Cameron Davis, Diane Elliott Gayer
3.000 Credits
View Catalog Entry
Scheduled Meeting Times
Time Days Where Where Date Range Instructors
3:35 pm - 6:35 pm W UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS SOUTH 27 Sep 02, 2008 - Dec 11, 2008 Cameron Davis , Diane E. Gayer