The 114th academic year's College of Science microcredit course "From Soundscapes to River Sounds: Embarking on a Sensory Environmental Journey" has come to a successful conclusion! Two STEAM-integrated micro-courses led students to rediscover the cities and rivers we live in through the power of listening and walking.
In the course "The Sound of Place: Environmental Sound and Urban Landscapes", students began with the principles of sound, then ventured into the campus and surrounding neighborhoods. They used recording and digital tools to capture soundscapes, from bird calls and traffic flow to the chatter of crowds. Step by step, they learned how to distinguish environmental information from "background noise" and transformed their experiences into observations and analyses. This process prompted a rethinking of the role of "listening" in environmental education.
The course "Endless Flow: River Ecology and Environmental Conservation" collaborated with Green Bookstore to guide students on a field trip along the Zhongyonghe Green River and Wazhanggou. From the source and riverside vegetation to man-made structures, students solved puzzles and conducted on-site records. They gained an understanding of the historical changes and ecological pressures on urban water environments and discussed the connection between daily actions and river conservation. Many students shared that it was the first time they felt "rivers are not just landscapes; they are living systems with memories that tell stories."
Through these two 0.5-credit micro-courses, students not only received a transcript but also gained a new set of ears and eyes—learning to hear the joys, sorrows, and moods of the environment through everyday sounds and river sounds, while contemplating what they could do for the city and rivers.
The results of the course are now displayed in a poster exhibition. We welcome teachers and students to visit the 3rd floor corridor of the Public Integrity Building at the Bo'ai Campus, stop by, and listen to the stories of the city and rivers with us.