Making a Difference: ENVST 3365 Community-Engaged Learning Projects

Students taking Environmental Justice (ENVST 3365) took part in impactful Community-Engaged Learning projects this semester! From helping reclaim cultural knowledge to pushing for voter participation, these projects made a real difference in both local communities and beyond. Read on to dive into a few of the projects!

Ethnobotany Research: Reclaiming Cultural Knowledge with the Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation

A group of ENVST 3365 students participated in an ethnobotany research project that seeks to help the Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation (NWBSN) reclaim cultural knowledge that was lost through colonization. How? They've been digging through the Marriott Library archives to find records on native plants that can play a key role in restoring the Bear River Massacre site near Preston, ID. This community-based participatory research is conducted in partnership with the NWBSN, the Marriott Library, and University of Utah researchers, Dr. Danielle Endres and PhD Candidate Jessie Chaplin.

Molly Olsen, one of the students involved, shared, “The goal is to replant native species in these areas to promote better environmental health that also shares the tribe’s culture, history, and also helps heal the land. We’re looking at these plants as food sources and also trying to help remember a lot of the culture around these plants and their medicinal uses. A lot of that information has been lost over the years, so we’re trying to help refine it so it can become common knowledge again. Our big field trip is a restoration project, which involves replanting a lot of native plant life around the Bear River.”

Digging into Sustainability and Justice at the Nuh Eevaat Garden 

Other students teamed up with Edible Campus Gardens at the Nuh Eevaat Garden to investigate how different soil mixtures affect both the environment and the communities around them. These students investigated the best soil mixture for starting seeds and asked bigger questions like: What’s the environmental impact of ingredient extraction, and how does it play into sustainability and justice? This hands-on project took learning from the classroom straight to the garden, where they tested, researched, and learned more about how small changes can lead to big impacts.

Voter Engagement: Students Are Making Their Voices Heard!

In October, a group of students made it their mission to help increase voter registration and provide information about local initiatves. From tabling at various campus buildings to spreading the word about Utah’s upcoming ballot initiatives, these students were all about increasing voter participation. Kelly Dolan, one of the students behind the push, said, "It's giving me hope and optimism to hear how many students have already registered to vote!" 

These projects are just a glimpse into the power of environmental justice in action. By engaging with their communities and learning through hands-on experiences, ENVST 3365 students are making a tangible impact, both environmentally and socially. We can’t wait to see what these students do next!