Anthropocene Now: Utah Snow, Climate Change & Social Resilience
Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is reshaping Utah’s snowfall patterns now, with profound consequences for recreation, water resources, and local communities. This Praxis Lab examined the Wasatch Front as a case study for global climate transformation, comparing Utah’s changing snowpack with trends in the Himalayas, Alps, and Andes.
Through interdisciplinary research and community engagement, students explored the science and politics of climate change, resilience strategies, and the socioeconomic impacts of shifting snowfall. Their participatory research project aimed to influence public policy and raise awareness about climate change’s immediate effects on Utah.
Instructors:
Court Strong, PhD
Jeffrey M. McCarthy, PhD
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Margaret P. Battin, PhD
Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD
This Praxis Lab examined the history, science, and ethical implications of pandemics, from the Black Plague to COVID-19. Students analyzed how diseases spread, the social and political responses to outbreaks, and the ethical considerations of public health interventions.
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Margaret P. Battin, PhD
This Praxis Lab explored the evolving landscape of death and dying in the modern world, examining the shift from infectious disease mortality to prolonged battles with degenerative illnesses like cancer, heart failure, and dementia.
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Roberto Garcia
This Praxis Lab examined the deep connections between education, incarceration, and justice in the United States, a country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. Students explored the historical and systemic forces that have expanded the carceral state, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.