Developing an environmental justice graduate course for ecology students: Insights from interactions with interfaith and activist community members

Conversations among individuals with worldviews seen as potentially contradictory may yield new insights on shared experiences and environmental concern. A graduate seminar course designed to explore the ways in which ecologists may be able to contribute to efforts towards environmental justice provided opportunity for graduate students to engage with religious and environmental activist community members. Students valued the unique opportunity to dialog with community members and recognized elements of shared values. Will these educational experiences contribute to increased willingness to work collaboratively with religious and other community members to address environmental issues?