Environmental Science and Communication: An Interdisciplinary Venue for Teaching

To provide a more integrated learning experience, two professors at the college level in Biology and Professional Writing modeled their interdisciplinary project on the K-12 EIC (Environment as an Integrating Context) program. Over a succession of four semesters, their project involved students in Environmental Science and Technical Communication. Addressing the statewide issue of mercury levels in South Carolina's freshwater fish, the project required students to research secondary information, develop an audience analysis of South Carolinians in terms of their fishing and fish consumption habits, design and produce multiple documents, develop audience analyses of potential readers, conduct formal review cycles with editorial recommendations, and present their research at a scientific meeting. The project culminated with the production of useable brochures that warn of the dangerous levels of mercury in freshwater fish. The brochures were presented to the local Department of Health and Environmental Control for their use and distribution.