New Course Explores Indiana Dunes

Creators of Science of the Indiana Dunes, a new course being offered at Valparaiso University in the spring, are hoping to build upon students’ curiosity of their local landscape to promote an interest in science.

“This course will be unique to Valparaiso University and will take advantage of our local environment and scientific heritage in a way that courses at other universities cannot,” says Laurie Eberhardt, associate professor of biology at VU.

The class examines the interaction between ecology, biogeography, atmosphere, water and geology, and explores how change shapes the environment.

Case studies will cover environmental issues in the region, with scientific concepts introduced in the context of the local issue. Examples of possible topics are: the history of science in dunes; the dirty truth of dirty snow; ozone action days; how humans have altered the natural landscape of the dunes; the cost of the perfect lawn; and wetlands.