COURSE DESCRIPTION & TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

COURSE DESCRIPTION & TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
HUMAN SYSTEMS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BIOREGION
The Human Systems in the Pacific Northwest Bioregion Program for Keio University students at the
University of Washington (UW) has been created through collaboration between the University of
Washington (UW) Program on the Environment (PoE) and International Outreach Programs (IOP). It is
an intensive three-week course designed to introduce students from a wide range of academic and
professional interests to issues and challenges encountered in an urbanizing area with plentiful natural
resources. The Pacific Northwest Bioregion is a place of tremendous natural beauty with a human
settlement history of thousands of years. However, urban development in the region has only occurred
over the last 150 years. We are therefore perfectly situated as a ‘natural laboratory’ for studying and
solving problems regarding the protection and use of natural resources, as well as social conflicts in an
urban setting. Through first-hand experience, the Keio students will better understand pressures on
natural resources in the Pacific Northwest and the impact of urbanization on the environment, improve
their abilities to function using the English language, and broaden their horizons through a wide variety
of valuable cultural and professional experiences. To accomplish these goals, students will learn from
PoE instructors and guest teachers, work side by side with peer student assistants, and obtain
communication skills from IOP instructors. These components are the core of our program:
1. HUMANS IN THE ENVIRONMENT taught by UW PoE Instructor
The state of Washington on the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States provides a dynamic and
beautiful setting to study ecological and environmental issues. The Puget Sound Region’s lush forests,
multiple bodies of water and stunning mountain vistas will immerse students in an environment through
which program concepts can be realized first-hand.
This course will offer a comprehensive overview of selected topics related to the human impact on the
environment. The two major themes of the program are 1) pressures on and conservation of natural
resources, and 2) urbanization and the environment. The course is designed with the purpose of
providing basic concepts, scientific principles, critical thinking, as well as different approaches to
synthesis and characterization of the issues presented. The diverse ecology of the Pacific Northwest will
serve as the setting for this investigation, with the intent that the skills acquired can be transferred to the
environmental issues and challenges of other locales. In addition to the PoE instructor the course will be
taught by a variety of local experts from different fields of study. The course will also include in a visit
to the UW Friday Harbor Lab Research Facilities (FHL) on the San Juan Islands for lectures, seminars,
and hands-on experiences. Student experiences in the course will include:
Visiting field sites to experience design and tools of ongoing ecological research
Viewing environmental issues in urbanizing areas from the perspectives of different disciplines
(including ecology, economics, geography, and urban planning)
Comparing environmental patterns and processes from forest ecosystems to island communities
to downtown Seattle
2. DISCUSSION AND PROJECT PREPARATION led by UW PoE Peer Student Assistants
Keio University students will work extensively with University of Washington Students who will be
participating in the Human Systems in the Pacific Northwest Bioregion Program as their graduation
project. They will lead discussions of the lectures and field activities, participate in all program
activities, and assist Keio students with their program projects. Individuals will work with their

Keio and UW peers to develop their projects on specific topics related to overarching themes and
will have the opportunity to present their research to the larger group.
3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR HUMAN SYSTEMS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
BIOREGION PROGRAM taught by UW English Language Specialist
This course will include the following components:
Analysis and discussion of journal and newspaper articles related to the course lectures
Oral presentation skills
Strategies for effective discussion leading
Participation in question and answer sessions
Conversational fluency practiced in professional and networking contexts
Effective research skills for preparing the program final project
WEEK ONE
Day 1
Saturday, August 20
Day 2
Sunday, August 21
Day 3
Monday, August 22
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Keio Students Arrive in Seattle
Transfer to the UW Research Facility at Pack Forest near Mount
Rainier National Park
Check into Pack Forest Cabins
Program Orientation
Introduction to Pacific Northwest ecology and environmental
issues
Ecology walk in Old Growth Forest
Welcome Reception
Elements of the Pacific Northwest Bioregion
Class with Program on the Environment Professor
Visit Mount Rainier National Park
Field lecture with professor: Challenges of conservation of wild
and pristine lands
Afternoon lecture: Science, politics and public interest
Pack Forest optional recreational activities
What is Urban Ecology?
Depart Pack Forest for University of Washington Campus
Check into University of Washington Dormitories
Class: Introduction to Urban Issues and environmental concerns
Discussion and project preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Day 4
Tuesday, August 23
Urban Ecology in the Puget Sound
Communication skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Workshop with Professor: Urban issues and environmental
concerns
Class with Professor: Urban issues and environmental concerns
Discussion and project preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Day 5
Examining Cultural Diversity in the Pacific Northwest

Wednesday, August 24
Day 6
Thursday, August 25
Day 7
Friday, August 26
Day 8
Saturday, August 27
Day 9
Sunday, August 28
WEEK TWO
Day 10
Monday, August 29
Day 11
Tuesday, August 30
Day 12
Wednesday, August 31
Day 13
Thursday, September1
Day 14
Communication skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Workshop with Professor: Urban issues and environmental
concerns
Class with Professor: Urban issues and environmental concerns
Discussion and project preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Using Ecological Design in the Seattle Area
Communication skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Site visits: SEA streets installation, Olympic Sculpture Park,
Buster Simpson art installations, Waterfront redevelopment
plans.
Discussion and project preparation with UW Peer Assistants.
Urban Ecology in the Puget Sound
Communication skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Workshop with Professor: Urban issues and environmental
concerns
Class with Professor: Urban issues and environmental concerns
Discussion and project preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Weekend
Dinner near Safeco Field
Baseball Game at Safeco Field: Seattle Mariners versus Chicago
White Sox
Weekend
Optional sightseeing trip to Victoria, Canada by ferry boat from
Seattle
Marine Conservation, Fisheries, and Aquaculture
Communication skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Workshop with Professor: Marine Conservation, fisheries,
aquaculture
Class with Professor: Marine Conservation, fisheries, aquaculture
Discussion and project preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Depart UW Campus for UW Friday Harbor Research
Facilities on San J uan Island
Arrive at Anacortes, Washington to take ferry to San Juan Island
Tour of Friday Harbor Research Facilities
Dorm Check-in
Field lecture: Marine science and protection
Marine Research and Protection
Excursion on Friday Harbor Lab’s RV Centennial Research Ship
Seminar: Marine Protection Issues
Field lab and lecture: Marine research and protection
Field lecture at low tide in tide pools near Friday Harbor Facilities
Depart Friday Harbor Labs
Return to UW Campus
Discussion and project preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Discovering Landscape Patterns and Processes

Friday, September 2
Communication Skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Workshop with Professor: Discovering Landscape Patterns and
Processes
Class with Professor: Discovering Landscape Patterns and
Processes
Discussion and Project Preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Day 15
Saturday, September 3
WEEK THREE
Day 16
Sunday, September 4
Day 17
Monday, September 5
Day 18
Tuesday, September 6
Day 19
Wednesday, September 7
Day 20
Thursday, September 8
Weekend
Depart UW Campus for Seattle Center
Attend Seattle’s famous Bumbershoot Music Festival with UW
student activity leaders
Weekend
Free
Labor Day Holiday
Free
Assessing the Past and Future of Bainbridge Island
Depart UW campus for Bainbridge Island by ferry
Field Lecture: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) superfund
toxic waste clean up and proposed land use as public park
Field Lecture: Japanese American Internment Memorial on
former toxic waste site by members of the Japanese
American
community
Field Lecture at Islandwood: Non-governmental public recreation
and educational organizations
Conserving Biodiversity in the face of Urban Pressures
Communication Skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Workshop with Professor: Biodiversity and the Urban Populace
Class with Professor: Biodiversity and the Urban Populace
Discussion and Project Preparation with UW Peer Assistants
Conserving Biodiversity in the face of Urban Pressures
Communication Skills for Humans in the Environment with
English Language Specialist
Workshop with Professor: Biodiversity and the Urban Populace
Final Presentations by Keio students
Day 21
Friday, September 9
Day 22
Saturday, September 10
Program Wrap-up
Final Presentations by Keio students
Program debriefing and evaluations
Closing ceremony
Depart
Check out of UW Dormitories
Transport to Seatac airport by charter bus