Environment, Technology, and Economy

The Environment, Technology, and Economy (ETE) program explores the pursuit of global sustainability and the relationships among the natural and built environments, technological advances, and various economic sectors including energy, industry, and agriculture. Through small classes and by living together in Centreville Hall, ETE students have the opportunity to make friends and discover new ways of thinking about themselves and the environment around them.

Living and Learning

"At the beginning, I thought Scholars would be something where I went to class once a week and a field trip once a semester. Little did I know, ETE would become part of my life both academically and socially... Sharing a dorm and a classroom with the same people is a great way to transition from home to college." Jessica Ennis, Journalism/Government and Politics double major.

"I came to this huge university from a small high school and was a bit overwhelmed at first. The Scholars program helped to make the big university small. The small class size and one-on-one student-faculty interaction helped my adjustment. It was easy to make friends in an environment when we all had the same projects, group assignment, etc." Katie Ignaffo, Animal Sciences major.

"[ETE changed the way I think]... When I first entered Environment, Technology & Economy I didn't stop to examine all sides… In one assignment, my group decided to examine the problem of dam removal. Ordinarily, my opinion would be to just remove the dam, since that action would greatly benefit the environment. I tended to ignore the possible economic effects on a community… Having to research various stakeholders and their opinions made a huge impact on me. Looking at issues from various viewpoints will be helpful in my engineering career… A good project manager needs to see issues from various viewpoints in order to make the best and most informed decisions on projects…" Cassandra Vose, Civil and Environmental Engineering major

Field Trips

"My favorite Scholars experience was canoeing on the Anacostia. We raced with the other boats and picked up trash along the way! The ETE program was useful because I got to know my academic advisor, which helped me feel at ease talking with her about my college career. Also, colloquium made me feel more comfortable about public speaking...[This] was a great introduction to college..." Stephanie Ecklin, Environmental Science and Policy major.

"My most memorable field trip was visiting the Phillip Merrill Environmental Center… First, I learned that the compacted dirt/gravel parking lot prevented runoff into the Chesapeake. Runoff was an issue we discussed in class, and it was very effective to see a tangible example of a solution for this problem. The open and airy feeling of the building allowed for minimal light/electricity usage. Perhaps the most surprising thing was they used composting toilets to reduce water usage and create a source of fertilizer. They just made me realize that there are many steps that can be taken to reduce negative impact on the environment. Simply adding recycling bins is a good start, but much more can be done." Daniel Park, Biology major.

"The most effective activity that I participated in… was the tour of the National Building Museum… When I toured the "green" house, I was amazed at how effective some of the engineering changes were in saving energy... I know that I may not be able to make a difference as an entry-level engineer. However, later in my career, I may be able to influence my company to use some of these energy saving tactics." Mike Gianturco, Engineering major.

Class discussions

"One thing that I really liked about the ETE classes was that they were treated like an open discussion. Students could say what they were thinking and voice their ideas without rejection. The teacher made it easy to have strong opinions... I am a very reserved individual and have a hard time voicing my opinion and speaking up in class. But in Scholars, I felt very comfortable and was able to open up more. I enjoyed listening to what other students had to say." Elizabeth Neighbors, Kinesiology major.

"I never realized that sustainability could be applied to such a range of interests! For example, architects can conserve materials and energy by desiging buildings in that manner; farmers can practice sustainable agriculture by implementing low-till techniques; and government majors can approach sustainability from the policy perspective." Donna Pahl, Plant Sciences major.

"I really appreciate the fact that ETE is filled with people of different majors. There were engineers, history majors, business majors, biology majors, and even a few education majors. Because of the variety of subjects people were studying, we got different perspectives on everything we discussed." Laura Moulding, Education major.

"My participation in ETE... has taught me to look differently at issues in my personal life as well as in other classes. When I approach questions, I don't just look at the logical or moral sides, but also the environmental impact." Seye Iwarere, Engineering major.

Internships and career development

"When the internship requirement for completion of the ETE program was first discussed, the idea of applying for internships to start building my resume hadn’t even occurred to me. Being required to write a resume and find an internship helped me to maximize the work experience I gained over the course of my education and ultimately helped me gain the experience I needed to get a full time job after graduating." Zawadi Rucks, Environmental Science and Policy major.

"I am glad my first internship was so early in my college career. My experience gave me confidence and professional development that I can apply at a more advanced level. My internship solidified my dream of working in the field of marine biology... I feel proud of what I accomplished -- the connections I made, the things I learned and the experience I gained." Jen Weber, Biological Sciences major.

"My participation in the ETE program contributed greatly to my overall experience at Maryland because it guided me through the process of choosing a major and finding my interests. The internship requirement encouraged me to find a summer job that I loved and that combined my interest in environmental studies with my love of photography." Kate Klausner, History major.

"I was always conscious of the environment, but my awareness and analysis of it has increased immensely. I now look at nature from a more holistic perspective, in which everything is related. I realize even more deeply that an impact to one part of the system ultimately affects the entire system." Kelly Peddicord, pre-Nursing major.

"The faculty realizes that not every student in the program is an environmental science student. We read and discuss a variety of issues over the course of the program so I think that each student can relate." Kerry Martens, Animal Sciences major.

"On the Old Rag Hike, I was not sure if I would be able to make it all the way to the top, but I pushed myself, persevered, and was able to reach the top… I felt extremely accomplished and decided that in the future I would not put a mental limit on what I was capable of… I would recommend this trip to any Scholars student, but especially those who may be lacking in confidence in their physical abilities or doubting their connections with nature." Mariel Rissmiller, Business major.

"I have noticed small but important changes in my lifestyle as result of taking ETE classes... Now I do my best to always turn off lights when I leave a room, and turn off my computer when I won't be using it for awhile. I take shorter showers, and I shut off the water when I brush my teeth. These are small things, but they are important things... ETE has altered my career goals, too, because I can now see myself doing some kind of engineering that has to do with the environment, or preservation." Michael Bednarczyk, Engineering major.

In summary...

"Scholars is the best way that I could have spent my first two years at Maryland!" Miranda Evrard, Environmental Science and Policy major.