The Urban Environmental Laboratory: A Step in the Right Direction

Abstract

With the opening of the Urban Environmental Laboratory (UEL), integrated environmental education took on a new meaning at Brown University. The centerpiece of the environmental studies program, this structure is an experiment in urban self-reliance which serves two purposes. Displaying both advanced conservation technologies and environmentally sound living strategies, the UEL affords students the opportunity to explore what they are learning first hand, and serves as a model for community residents interested in employing these measures in their own homes. In this manner, the UEL is an exciting and creative addition to the field of environmental education, benefiting both those in academia and the general public.