The environmental studies capstone course (Envir St 600) is a required component for students completing our major. Priority is given to students declared in the environmental studies major.
Fall 2026 Capstone Courses
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Envir St 600 Section 001 (Meets with History 600): Nature & Development: Americas
Professor Liz Hennessy
1:20–3:15pm Wednesday
The history of the Americas has been shaped by the interplay of nature and development — from the watery Aztec city of Tenochtitlan to the sugar cane fields Bad Bunny depicted in his recent Super Bowl halftime performance. This course asks how the environment, natural resources, and natural commodities have shaped economies and societies throughout the Americas, from pre-Columbian times through the colonial era and independence struggles, to contestations over appropriate use of natural resources in the twentieth century and today.
How has the production of sugar cane and other commodities shaped ongoing processes of colonialism and linkages between Latin American nations and other world regions? What does it mean to give legal rights to nature? From Patagonian ecotourism to the drug trade, how do the ways in which we imagine the nature of the Americas matter for local development?
We will explore these questions together, spending the first half of the semester working through several case studies before students choose their own topic — perhaps a particular place, technology, or commodity — for a 20-30 page historiographical research paper. Students will also present together on what they’ve learned in class for the Nelson Institute Capstone Showcase. Reading knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese helpful but not required.
To enroll in the course through Envir St 600: Please email Prof. Hennessy (elizabeth.hennessy@wisc.edu) with “Americas capstone” in the subject line and include: your year in school; major or certificate program and which department you want to enroll through (Envir St); student ID number; and a brief explanation of why you want to take this capstone and how your academic career has thus far prepared you.
Envir St 600 Section 002: Invasive Species Monitoring and Management
Cooper Rosin
2:25–4:55pm Thursday
A central goal of the UW–Madison Arboretum is to conserve and restore native species and ecosystems. One of the major challenges to achieving this goal is the persistent and widespread presence of non-native invasive species. Understanding the long-term effectiveness of invasive species management is critical for the Arboretum to develop realistic restoration targets and use resources efficiently.
Monitoring the occurrence and abundance of key species is a straightforward way to understand if management is having its intended impact. In this course, we will work with the Arboretum to advance the scientific monitoring of invasive species impacts, and assist land care staff in developing appropriate management strategies.
This course will include field work at the UW–Madison Arboretum (conducted during normal class hours), which will require walking and some physical work over potentially uneven terrain.
Envir St 600 Section 003: Art and the Environment
Professor Tim Portlock
2–4 p.m. Tuesday
In this capstone course, students will create art projects that address the environment as the primary subject matter. Students are welcome to incorporate relevant research from outside the class. Through readings, visiting artist speakers, and discussion students will be introduced to the history of art and the environment and several creative strategies that might be adapted to making their environmental art projects.
There will be an emphasis on how the artworks speak to the public and how. The chosen medium for the art projects is up to the student. As this is an art capstone course many of the class sessions will be for creative feedback on work in progress. This course will culminate in an art exhibition.
Envir St 600 Section 004: Community Compatibility of Renewable Energy Technologies
Gabriel Shapiro
1:20–3:15 p.m. Monday
Renewable energy transitions are happening across the US, at the larger scale of utilities and institutions, and at smaller scales, in residential and community settings. People participate in energy transitions when they adopt distributed energy resources (DERs) and demand-side responses including:
- Rooftop, backyard and community solar
- Small-scale wind turbines
- Weatherproofing and other efficiency measures
- Home batteries
- Electric vehicles
- Heat pumps and other electric appliances
In this course, students will explore this type of technology, to understand the political and economic forces shaping adoption pathways at the community level.