NRES 315: Course Launch

Welcome to NRES 315

This course examines the human actions, social processes, and social-ecological relationships that shape fish and wildlife management.

Today is a brief launch. Wednesday is our full Chapter 1 session.

The recurring course question

Fish and wildlife management decisions involve people, habitats, and species.

Across the semester, we will ask:

What decision is being made, what evidence matters, who is affected, and which tradeoffs must be addressed?

How our weeks work

How the course is assessed

• Reading quizzes — 25%: short, individual preparation checks; the lowest one score is dropped.
• Weekly group applications — 75%: fifteen in-class applications; the lowest one score is dropped.
• Each application score is 80% shared reasoning and 20% individual contribution accountability.

Your Week 1 checklist

1. Find the Week 1 module in Canvas.
2. Read Chapter 1.
3. Complete the individual quiz by Sunday, August 30, at 11:59 p.m., before Week 02 Monday class.
4. Come Wednesday ready to discuss one management question from the chapter.
5. Come Friday ready for the first graded Chesapeake Bay application.

A question to carry into Wednesday

Chapter 1 argues that biology and ecology are essential—but cannot independently determine:

• which goals should be pursued;
• which tradeoffs are acceptable; or
• who should participate.

Write down one fish or wildlife decision for which you think one of those questions would matter.

Wednesday begins Chapter 1 in full

Bring your Chapter 1 question back on Wednesday.

We will work through values and actions, people–habitats–species, research and participation, and the everyday work of human dimensions.