A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY ON THE MAINE COAST marine research in the caribbean > students collaborated with the Buccoo Reef Trust in Tobago to create a sustainable development plan for the island's fragile coral reef environment. College of the Atlantic world changing > 2005-2006 sarah drummond '05 hometown Woodland, Colorado high school Home Schooled > life after COA Watson Fellowship: "Inquiring Eyes: Natural History Artists and Island Exploration," travel to London, Argentina, Chile, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka to follow the paths and the work of the great naturalist illustrators who accompanied early exploratory voyages in the era before photography. > classes taken at COA > internship Field biology research assistant on Great Duck Island. Studied 3D Design Studio herring gull chick development and growth rates; designed a Animal Behavior study analyzing the effects of researcher-induced disturbance Art of the Puppet on gull colonies. Biology I > senior project Chemistry I "Parallel Worlds: Four Seabirds of Great Duck Island," a multi- Conservation Biology and Policy media exhibit in the college's George B. Dorr Museum of Constructing Visual Narratives Natural History examining the leach's storm petrel, herring gull, black guillemot and common eider. "I wanted the exhibit Creation and Management of Protected to give the viewer a sense of being in, or surrounded by the Areas: An International Perspective world of these species." Ecology: Natural History Ecology and Literature of the Sea "I can never decide whether this is an artist who Evolutionary Ecology is fascinated by science or a scientist who does art, Field Ecology and Data Analysis but we all benefit from the outcome." That's COA From Native Empires to Nation States professor of Zoology John Anderson, referring to Human Ecology Core Course Sarah, who worked with him during her internship Independent Study: Nature on Great Duck Island. Drawing - Invertebrate Images "John's approach is very 'hands-off," and he's Independent Study: Portraits in Oil always been very supportive of my interdisciplinary interests. He lets his students design and carry out Island Life their own work with minimal input. As a learning Mammalogy technique this is highly effective. I made a lot of Marine Mammal Biology mistakes, but I gained a great deal from the process Museum Experience: Exhibit Development, and learned to think proactively." Design, and Construction For Sarah, COA's interdisciplinary approach and Ornithology emphasis on self-directed learning has been a per- Painting the Figure fect fit. "COA was the only college I applied to. I Primitive Art went to school only part-time after 5th grade, and River Conservation did home schooling in high school. I was very used River Ecology to planning what I wanted to do and being very self Renaissance Art directed, so this was a great place to continue." Technique, Skill and Vision: During her four years at COA, Sarah has Problems in Advanced Painting served as a resident advisor, participated in a Theatre Workshop number of theatrical productions, and spent a The History of Life lot of time drawing. "I can't remember a time when I didn't draw. Once I started to draw from Topics in Physiological Ecology life, I realized I could see in ways I didn't know Tropical Marine Ecology before, in ways most people never do." Winter Ecology > what we do, how it's different, and why it matters. Look at the world around you. If what you see A curriculum with a conscience makes you worried, or sad, or frustrated, keep The students, faculty, and staff at College of the reading. If it doesn't, stop now because we don't Atlantic all believe that a healthier, cleaner, more want to waste your time. COA engages students sane, just, and peaceful world is possible. Our who are passionate in their conviction that posi- interdisciplinary curriculum embodies this con- tive change for a better world is possible. COA's viction: a glance at our course catalog illustrates unique human ecology curriculum gives students that a COA education really is different. the tools and hands-on experience to embark on In fact, it's different in ways you may not sus- a journey of real and relevant learning: life pect. You'll have to work harder. Field research changing, world changing. takes time, and there will be data to analyze, There are no pre-defined majors at COA. The reports to write, presentations to make, all in arts, sciences, and humanities are integrated to addition to your regular class work and reading encourage students to cross boundaries, chal- for each course. lenge assumptions, and discover new synergies. COA is a community of learners, and you'll Your course of study will be self-directed, indi- learn as much outside the classroom as in it. vidualized, and diverse. You'll be encouraged to express your opinions, You'll be both challenged and supported; but you'll be expected to defend them in com- you'll learn that the right questions are more munity dialogue. The contradictions and chal- important than the right answers. You'll learn lenges you encounter will bring you new the how as well as the what. Perhaps most perspectives. You'll see the world in a different importantly, you'll learn to utilize your education light, and you'll be empowered to make it a in the pursuit of your passions. better place. > 1 <