EarthDiverse > ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY COURSES

Environment and Biodiversity Courses

TERM 4 COURSES BEGIN THE WEEK OF MON 21 OCTOBER 2024.

ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY COURSES: There are no new courses on offer in this category during the 2024 Term 3 period (August-September). However, have a look at our previous courses.

• ENV120: Understanding Global Climate Change with Shifra Gassner, MA. Climate is complex. This course provides participants with the background necessary to make sense of the news and understand the science behind the climate change debate. This course begins on Friday 17 February 2023, 2:00-3:30pm New Zealand Time (or US Pacific: Thu 16 Feb 5:00-6:30pm, US Central: Thu 16 Feb 7:00-8:30pm, US Eastern: Fri 16 Feb 8:00-9:30pm).

• ENV200: Climate Café discussion group with Nona Morris and Hannah Huggan. This 3 session Climate Café discussion group is a weekly get together for people who are thinking about the climate crisis. This kaupapa was inspired by the need to build community through connection, mutual vulnerability, and shared experience. The information about and experiences around the climate crisis can feel despairing, lonely, and isolating. By bringing people together where climate issues can be discussed in a safe environment, we can help build a community that focuses on the way forward with a positive and transformative mindset. Come join us for these discussions.

• ENV204: Practical Native Forest Restoration with Nathan Smith and Briar Taylor-Smith of Tītoki Landcare

• ENV210: Ecological Restoration: Wetlands, 4 bi-weekly evening talks that took place in May and June 2022, co-organised by Go Eco and EarthDiverse. These are the video recordings of the original sessions, now available for free viewing or by koha donation. There are many people working hard in our community to restore the wellbeing of our environment and community. All of this work involves restoring relationships in some way and enhancing the web of life. Come along and listen to four amazing speakers who will reflect on their restoration work. 

• ENV211: Ecological Restoration: Restoring Relationships, 4 bi-weekly evening talks May through July, beginning Wed 25 May 2022. Organised by Go Eco and EarthDiverse. There are many people working hard in our community to restore the wellbeing of our environment and community. All of this work involves restoring relationships in some way and enhancing the web of life. Come along and listen to four amazing speakers who will reflect on their restoration work. 

• ENV215: “Ecological Restoration: Building relationships with, and supporting the aspirations of, Mana Whenua in restoration”  Honouring Te Tiriti includes understanding and supporting whānau and hapū mana motuhake. Restoration groups are natural allies for mana whenua aspirations. The four speakers in this series will each share their perspectives on how this can be achieved. Environmental restoration groups can be effective allies and work to support mana whenua aspirations, and our speakers will address how to work with local hapū to help build lasting Te Tiriti-based relationships. This seminar series takes place on Wednesday nights for 4 sessions, meeting biweekly, beginning Wed 10 August 2022, 7:30-8:30pm.

• ENV216: “Ecological Restoration and Mental Health”  In this ongoing series on Ecological Restoration jointly organised by Go Eco and EarthDiverse, our guest speakers share their perspectives on the relationship between ecological restoration and
mental health. This seminar series takes place on Wednesday nights for 4 bi-weekly sessions, beginning Wed 26 October 2022, 7:30-8:30pm.

New Environment, Natural History and Biodiversity courses will continue to be introduced throughout 2023!

Photos by George Lusty.

Environment, Natural History and Biodiversity Courses:

• ENV101: “The Origins of Life and Evolution” with Jaber Abbaszadeh

In this introductory science course, we’ll travel back in time and think about the birth of our planet and the pre-life chemical interactions that gave rise to life. Then, we’ll touch on basic concepts in biology and evolution. This course is suitable to high school students and older.

Next Offered: to be determined

• ENV108: “A Social History of Birds: Our Fascination with Life on the Wing” with Michael Burton-Smith

For centuries, we have been fascinated by the lives of birds. Starting in antiquity and ending in the present day, this course explores how humans around the globe have fallen in love with, studied, and changed the world of our feathered friends, and how they, in turn, have changed us.  We will look at birds in religion, myth and the arts, the rise of the natural historians, conservationists and bird-watchers, the role of birds in 20th century statehood, and finally the history of avian domestication.

This course is a part of our Junior Lecturer series.

NEXT OFFERED: to be determined

• ENV120: “Understanding Global Climate Change” with Shifra Gassner, MA

Climate is complex. This course provides participants with the background necessary to make sense of the news and to understand the science behind the climate change debate. We’ll also discuss how climate change deniers and conspiracy theorists use facts to undermine the truth of our current situation here on Planet Earth.

NEXT OFFERED:  2023 Term 1 (February-April). Zoom only.

• ENV200: “Climate Café” with Hannah Huggan and Nona Morris

NEW COURSE (3 weekly sessions) offered Fridays 12:00-1:00pm beginning 25 November, 2 December and 9 December 2022!

The Climate Café is a weekly get together for people who are thinking about the climate crisis. This kaupapa was inspired by the need to build community through connection, mutual vulnerability, and shared experience. The information about and experiences around the climate crisis can feel despairing, lonely, and isolating. By bringing people together where climate issues can be discussed in a safe environment, we can build a community that focuses on the way forward with a positive and transformative mindset.

NEXT OFFERED:  3 weekly one hour discussions, offered offered on Fridays 12:00-1:00pm on 25 November, 2 December and 9 December 2022. This course is an in-person discussion group only.

• ENV203: “Native Forest Restoration” – Theory

If you want to find out more about how to restore your local piece of native forest, then this course is for you. This series of 8 classes explores the background and methodology of native forest restoration in the Hamilton and Waikato areas. Local plants, animals, environmental zones and forest restoration methods will be discussed. There will be a field trip including theoretical and practical experience.

LAST OFFERED: 2021 Terms 3 & 4

NEXT OFFERED:

• ENV204: “Practical Native Forest Restoration” with Nathan Smith and Briar Taylor-Smith of Tītoki Landcare

THIS COURSE WILL BE OFFERED AGAIN IN A FUTURE TERM

If you want to gain more practical skills on how to restore your local piece of native forest, then this course is for you. This series of 8 excursions explores the background and methodology of native forest restoration in specific Hamilton gullies. Local plants, animals, environmental zones and forest restoration methods will be discussed. There will be eight field trips including theoretical and practical experience.

This course meets on Fridays from 1:00 to 2:00pm for eight consecutive weeks. The first class meets Friday 21 October and the last class meets Friday 9 December 2022.

• ENV210: “Wetland Restoration Seminar”

PRERECORDED VIDEO SESSIONS, ALWAYS AVAILABLE! This popular seminar series that originally took place in May and June 2022 is now available for free or on a koha basis at anytime!

Click HERE to gain access to the 4 prerecorded videos for this course

Our new Environmental Restoration seminar series focusing this Term on Wetlands originally took place on Wednesday nights for four sessions, meeting biweekly in May and June 2022 with the following topics:

Click on this course will allow you to signup to watch these videos for free or on a koha (pay what you want) basis.

• ENV211: “Ecological Restoration: Restoring Relationships”, 4 bi-weekly evening talks beginning 25 May and ending on 6 July. Organised by Go Eco and EarthDiverse. There are many people working hard in our community to restore the wellbeing of our environment and community. All of this work involves restoring relationships in some way and enhancing the web of life. Come along and listen to four amazing speakers who will reflect on their restoration work. 

  • Wed 25 May: Restoring Lakes with Deniz Ozkundakci
  • Wed 8 June: Restoring Mauri with Kimai Hiram
  • Wed 22 June: Restoring Gullies with Lynnette Rogers & Bruce MacKay
  • Wed 6 July: Restoring Tui with Ellen Webb

• HIS212: “Feathers on the Frontline: The Legacy of Birds in the First World War”

This course will take a fresh perspective on one of the largest and most wide-reaching conflicts of human history: the First World War. We will look at how birds and birdwatchers were shaped by this conflict, how human-bird relationships changed, and how the legacy of certain species lives on today. We’ll read letters from birders at Gallipoli and the Somme, explore the relationship between femininity and ornithology during the war, look at how our feathered friends helped shape the course of the war, and so much more!

OFFERED AGAIN: This course will be repeated in 2023.

• ENV215: “Ecological Restoration: Building relationships with, and supporting the aspirations of, Mana Whenua in restoration” co-organised by Go Eco and EarthDiverse.

PRERECORDED VIDEO SESSIONS, ALWAYS AVAILABLE! This popular seminar series that originally took place in August and September 2022 is now available for free or on a koha basis at anytime!

Click HERE to gain access to the 4 prerecorded videos for this course

Honouring Te Tiriti includes understanding and supporting whānau and hapū mana motuhake. Restoration groups are natural allies for mana whenua aspirations. The four speakers in this series will each share their perspectives on how this can be achieved. Environmental restoration groups can be effective allies and work to support mana whenua aspirations, and our speakers will address how to work with local hapū to help build lasting Te Tiriti-based relationships. This seminar series includes live recordings and PDF presentations from 4 sessions that took place on Wednesday nights in August and September 2022.

• ENV216: “Ecological Restoration and Mental Health” co-organised by Go Eco and EarthDiverse.

PRERECORDED VIDEO SESSIONS: ALWAYS AVAILABLE! 

This live seminar series looks at the relationship between Ecological restoration and mental health. Four Guest Speakers will share their experiences over the course of October-December 2022. We offer this live seminar series free-of-cost, but a donation of any amount would be greatly appreciated. A Suggested Donation of $45 will cover the costs of providing this series of talks, but any donation can help defray our costs. This seminar series takes place on Wednesday nights for 4 sessions, meeting biweekly, beginning Wed 26 October 2022, 7:30-8:30pm.

• ENV304: “Astronomy: The New Zealand Night Sky” with Ian Transom

This course is coming soon.

More courses ranging from Astronomy to Zoology coming soon!

General Information:

For more detailed information on each series or course, when offered, class times and locations, and course fees and registration) click on the appropriate links to courses listed above.

If the course you are interested in is not currently being taught, rest assured that it will be again in the future as we continuously add new courses and rotate previously taught courses. Please contact us if you are an experienced teacher and wish to teach a short course in environment, natural history and biodiversity in the future.

SOME NOTES ON OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COURSE OFFERINGS:

  • All classes are taught from an objective point of view. These are courses about Aotearoa New Zealand Natural History, designed to increase our understanding of the wonderful biodiversity that surrounds us..
  • Any Term can be taken independently of the others, and there are no prerequisites for any of our Term courses.
  • All classes encourage questions and group discussion. There are no assignments, required readings, quizzes, tests or exams.
  • PDF copies of each class presentation are emailed to all participants the next day so that you are free to focus on class content rather than taking notes. You are most welcome to come, sit back, relax, take part in your learning and enjoy the discussions!
  • Course fees include a short tea/coffee/snack break in the middle of each session.
  • Some courses in this series include field trips and excursions. Please check the course page for details.
  • There are no refunds for missed classes.
  • Guests of registered participants are welcome to attend a single class at no charge.
  • Certificates of Completion for any particular Term Course or Series are available for Professional Development purposes upon request at the end of each Term or Series.

2024 TERM DATES & CLASS LOCATIONS:

  • Term 1: begins the week on Mon 19 Feb, and ends Fri 12 Apr 2024
  • Term 2: begins the week of Mon 6 May, and ends Fri 28 Jun 2024
  • Term 3: begins the week of Mon 29 Jul, and ends Fri 20 Sep 2024
  • Term 4: begins the week of Mon 21 Oct, and ends Fri 13 Dec 2024

LOCATION: All in-person classes are held at the EarthDiverse Centre located at 401 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton (located just 3 shops north of the Hamilton Central Bus Station, above Copier World) (entrance is located on the left side of the building, see map below). Those looking for parking for our evening classes can park just in front of the building in any of the available car parks. Daytime parking can be found in our dedicated car parks, or free 2-hour on-street daytime parking can be found just in front on Anglesea Street.

TERM COST PER COURSE:

HAMILTON & DISTANCE-LEARNING COURSES (8-week Terms):

  • Waged: NZ$200 per person per term (includes GST + online registration fee)
  • Unwaged/Student/Senior: NZ$175 per person per term (includes GST + online registration fee)

DISTANCE-LEARNING:

In addition to our regular in-person classes offered in Hamilton, we offer ‘Distance Learning’ options for all of our courses. These on-line live-streaming distance-learning options are offered via free Zoom software. Distance-learning options have been added for those living outside the Waikato or for those unable to attend our in-person classes in Hamilton. If you are a Distance-Learner you have the option of joining our regular live classroom sessions via Zoom at the regularly scheduled class time, or you can watch a video-recording of the Zoom classroom session at your leisure and study at your own pace.

Your instructor will send you instructions once you have registered for your course.

TO REGISTER:

Select the appropriate course link above, which will take you to the page for that particular course. Read the details for that course, and if you’d like to register, click on the blue “Register” button which will take you to Registration and Payment pages where you can securely enter in your payment details. A receipt will automatically be generated for you.

Environment, Natural History and Biodiversity courses:

Other courses you may be interested in: