Fall Discovery Seminar in Multidisciplinary Problem Solving
Yardi Scholars will be welcomed into the program through a fall quarter Discovery Seminar for first- year students. Centered on an environmental theme or set of themes (e.g., climate and wildfire, sustainable water resources in California, food system sustainability), the seminar will introduce students to the various disciplines that contribute to environmental solutions through issue-based learning. Students will explore how each discipline thinks about change and makes change (i.e.,
what questions do the different disciplines ask and how do they approach the challenge?). Students will also explore where they fit into the field of environmental justice and which challenges resonate with them. The seminar will feature guest speakers from key disciplines in the life and physical sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities from the campus and community.
Winter Field Retreat
Yardi Scholars will participate together in a field retreat experience on an ongoing, annual basis. The first portion of the annual fall retreat will be reserved for the incoming cohort. As the program grows, the entire Yardi Scholars community will be invited to participate in the second half of the retreat. The outdoor, immersive experience will offer students the opportunity to explore and discover. It provides a unique environment for students to connect with each other and the Yardi program faculty in a deeper way than is possible through the classroom experience. Yardi Scholars can engage in more in-depth discussions with their peers and instructors and bond as a group. Students will also have opportunities to meet experts conducting research at the field site hosting the retreat. The UC Natural Reserve System provides several potential place-based learning opportunities at sites like the Valentine Reserve, Santa Cruz Island, or KSN Rancho Marino.
