As weather cools and the days become shorter, the changes in seasons experienced on Elon’s campus prompt conversations on how the community as a whole experiences environmental change.
Cooler weather, falling leaves and cloudier skies lend itself to conversations on change, both in seasons and the understanding of nature. Assistant Professor of History Emma Moesswilde has been engaging in conversation about seasons all semester with her first-year Core 1100 class.
This section of Core 1100 “examines the global experience through the lens of seasons, a meteorological and cultural phenomenon which has shaped how humans interact with each other and the natural world over many centuries.” With a professional background in environmental history and continued research into seasonal variation, Moesswilde has incorporated complex discussions of how we understand seasonal change into Elon coursework to “develop skills of communication and metacognition,” particularly for first-years.
Class conversations range from discussing physical climate variations to understanding what exactly a season is. Professor Moesswilde remarks that it is particularly enjoyable
“Students are able to observe seasonal change in real time (from the squished caterpillars on the sidewalk, to the changing menus in the dining hall, holiday celebrations at Numen Lumen, and the specific back-to-school energy they experienced during move-in) as they experience the environmental and cultural realities of autumn at Elon,” said Moesswilde.
By frequently holding class outside, students experience environmental changes over time while being provided with a class environment that encourages deep reflection on seasonal change and its connection to individual and global issues.
In conversations with students, Moesswilde is also able to think through her own research questions in real time. As an environmental historian, she focuses on the relationships between people and the natural world throughout human history. To better understand the publications she is actively working on, Moesswilde has fostered a lively, engaging classroom environment that prompts students to reflect deeply on today’s climate. In particular, she remarks that
“In today’s climate crisis, seasonal disruption (hotter summers, unseasonable precipitation, more extreme hurricane seasons) is also one of the most immediate ways that people feel and understand the consequences of climate change,” she said.
By thinking through these ideas in the classroom, students have been provided a space to process and discuss real world experiences (such as apparent seasonal changes on campus) in the context of larger social issues while also giving Moesswilde the ability to process the real-world implications of her own research.
Sustainability-related courses and research connect to the Academics Goal in Elon University’s Sustainability Master Plan 2025. Learn more about the Sustainability Master Plan 2025.