Do you have a passion for mountains?
Imagine a series of university undergraduate courses dedicated to nothing but mountains. Courses that include the study of glaciers, snow, and rock; of plants, animals, and whole ecosystems; of mountain culture, literature, and history. Now imagine taking such a course in a remote backcountry setting in the Canadian Rockies, or high in the European Alps, where your pencil case is supplemented with a backpack, a rope, and an ice axe.
University of Alberta students will soon have something to yodel about.
Beginning in 2014, the University of Alberta is launching three courses in interdisciplinary mountain studies: a field-skills course in the Rockies (PAC 184), a study abroad course in the Austrian Alps (INTD 281), and an interdisciplinary mountain studies course (INTD 280), team-taught by a glaciologist, a physiologist, a biologist, and a historian. The courses are open to all UAlberta students. They are designed for beginners. And none have prerequisites.
The development of the courses has been driven by members of UAlberta's Canadian Mountain Studies Initiative (www.mountains.ualberta.ca), which includes dozens of professors from faculties across campus. "The idea behind the new courses," says Zac Robinson, an alpine historian in Physical Education and Recreation, "was that there was a huge desire for learning across the disciplines - and we want to get students out of the classroom and into the mountains." Faculty of Arts professor Stephen Slemon agrees: "There is a huge world of wilderness out there in the Rockies. We are so lucky to live so close to such fabulous mountains. I could climb for several lifetimes and not even begin to scratch the surface of what's out there."
The need for interdisciplinary teaching and research, particularly in the field of Mountain Studies, has never been more important. "In the past decade, there has been increased attention on the conservation and sustainable development of mountain regions around the world," says CMSI member David Hik, professor in Biological Science. "We need to expand our understanding of these sensitive areas to solve complex environmental problems."
It begins with teaching. Dean Kerry Mummery, Physical Education and Recreation, sees the courses as the bedrock for future developments at the UAlberta. "To me, this is an exciting first step towards the formation of an internationally-recognized institute focusing on the mountains," says Mummery. "We are superbly positioned to bring students, faculty members, and the community together to vastly enrich the global understanding of mountain practices, places and peoples."
Members of the mountain community beyond the university are excited. "I only wish the CMSI started 30 years ago, as I certainly would have been enrolled in its courses!" says Cyril Shokoples, an Edmonton-based mountain guide and past president of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Shokoples is developing much of the skills curriculum of the courses. "Just imagine learning about the biology, geology, climatology, and history of a region from experts one week, and then gaining the field skills necessary to safely summit a high peak in the next. It is the perfect blend of academics and practical application!"
If you would like more information about the initiative and its undergraduate course offerings, please visit: www.mountains.ualberta.ca.