Analyzing our Impact on Nature
Environmental biology focuses on the interaction between human impacts on the environment and biological systems. An environmental biologist investigates the impacts of actions, pollutants, and conditions on wild communities.
Students read and analyze papers from the primary literature. They then design, carry out and report on original research projects, developing skills as practicing scientists. In labs and discussions, students come to know the discipline by posing problems that are meaningful to them, solving problems through observation and experimentation, and presenting their findings to their classmates and professors.
Faculty
Benjamin R. Grady
Associate Professor of Biology, Director of Environmental Studies Program
Mark Kainz
Professor of Biology, Patricia and Philip McCullough Class of 1969 Professor in Biology
| Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Biology | |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | ENV 120 Environmental Studies, BIO 122 Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity and 247 General Ecology |
| Elective Courses | 11 additional credits in biology courses approved by the department |
| Additional Requirements | Students majoring in environmental studies or biology may not minor in environmental biology. Courses taken through the SEA or SES programs may be used to fulfill certain requirements for the major and minor. |
Career Tracks
Environmental biology can become a path to careers in research and development, health care, the biomedical sciences, organismal/ecological biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, conservation, communication, science education, the legal field, technical and pharmaceutical sales, and public policy. Alumni of our program are actively pursuing doctoral degrees in biostatistics, ecological chemistry and botany, marine biology, microbiology and neuroscience at major research universities across the country. Others are pursuing a variety of medical degrees in fields such as veterinary medicine, pharmacology, genetic counseling and radiation oncology.
Unique Opportunities
The 130-acre Ceresco Prairie Conservancy is a sustainability partnership between the Department of Natural Resources and Ripon College to restore this tract of land to its native prairie, oak savannah and wetlands habitat. Students assist in reseeding the prairie, harvesting seeds and battling invasive species. It includes public hiking and mountain bike trails and an environmental classroom. Students in botany, ecology and animal biology courses carry on research projects on various plants and animals.
Research opportunities and internships, in collaboration with Ripon College professors and major institutions across the country, in areas such as Eastern bluebirds behavior, zebrafish, plant viruses, genetics and rotifers.
The Oak Ridge Science Semester enables students to join ongoing investigations at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee in research areas as diverse as astrophysics, cell biology, DNA sequencing, genetic mutagenesis, parallel computing, robotics, toxicology and more.
Sam Sondalle ’11, a biology and chemistry double major, developed a special interest in the developmental biology of animals. He spent two of his undergraduate summers on research projects funded by a National Science Foundation REU award. Sam also had the opportunity to travel to Spain — twice — as part of Ripon’s Maymester (now Liberal Arts in Focus) trips. He is a co-author of an article published in Nature in May 2011. He now is studying in a combined M.D. and Ph.D. program at Yale University.
Sam Sondalle ’11
biology and chemistry double major
Biology major Amber Rico ’11 spent two academic years and one summer studying virus replication with Associate Professor of Biology Mark Kainz. The summer leading up to her senior year was spent conducting research at Texas A&M University. Now, she is working on a Ph.D. at Colorado State University, with a special interest in the molecular basis of infectious disease.
Amber Rico ’11
Biology major
ADVISING
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.
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Become the extraordinary individual you are meant to be at Ripon.