The Environmental Studies (ES) Program at Colby is one of the oldest and most distinguished in the country. Our students and faculty are active locally, nationally, and internationally in studying and helping to address environmental challenges.
ES is one of the fastest growing programs at Colby and we offer a diverse, interdisciplinary, and project-based curriculum. Our gateway course (ES118) and senior capstone courses (ES493/494) are national models.
Books and articles authored by Colby ES faculty are respected internationally. We have received major funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and many other sources to support our initiatives. Our program has won awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Maine, and others in recognition of our commitment to environmental sustainability and how we enable our students to engage with environmental challenges at Colby, in Maine, and around the world.
Recent examples of our student-led initiatives include establishing an organic garden, developing a climate change action plan for the campus and the local community, and raising awareness at the state and federal levels about the dangers of using hazardous chemicals in personal care products and children’s toys.
Browse the Environmental Studies Program Collections:
Historical Ecology Atlas of New England
Honors Theses in Environmental Studies