Motivation to Teach Social Action:
I am interested in this course development program because I want to deepen my ability to connect classroom learning with social action. My teaching focuses on issues of justice, and I see this as an opportunity to develop concrete strategies that empower students to engage critically with real-world challenges and see themselves as agents of change.
Course Description:
This course examines the intersections of environmental issues with questions of equity, rights, and justice. Students explore how environmental burdens and benefits are distributed across lines of race, class, gender, and geography, and how communities mobilize to confront environmental harm. Readings and discussions highlight case studies from both the Global South and the Global North, showing how environmental struggles are deeply tied to histories of colonialism, economic inequality, and systemic discrimination. The course emphasizes critical analysis of policies and movements, while also creating space for students to reflect on their own responsibilities in shaping more just and sustainable futures.
Taught By:
Divya Gupta
Assistant Professor
Environmental Studies
Binghamton University
Read profile here.