This course considers how the visual and material world of "nature" has been reshaped by industrial practices, ideologies, and institutions, particularly in nineteenth- and twentieth-century America. Topics include land-use patterns; the changing shape of cities and farms; the redesign of water systems; the construction of roads, dams, bridges, irrigation systems; the creation of national parks; ideas about wilderness; and the role of nature in an industrial world. From small farms to suburbia, Walden Pond to Yosemite, we will ask how technological and natural forces have interacted, and whether there is a place for nature in a technological world.
Acknowledgement
This class is based on one originally designed and taught by Prof. Deborah Fitzgerald. Her Fall 2004 version can be viewed by following the link under Archived Courses on the right side of this page.

National Air and Space Museum presents a program focused on how we seek to preserve the meaning of a person's life and legacy, particularly that of Sally Ride.

Introduces a simple test to determine when a bag is in need of replacing with Sara Rivers-Cofield, Curator of Federal Collections at the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. The MAC Lab requires collections to utilized standard polyethylene bags for storing artifacts, which have a limited lifespan so use this information as a guide to when those bags have reached the end of their life. The Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab) standards and guidelines for preparing artifact collections and their associated records, for permanent curation at the lab can be found at https://jefpat.maryland.gov/Documents/mac-lab/technical-update-no1-collections-and-conservation-standards.pdf

The MAC Lab is a state-of-the-art archaeological research, conservation, and curation facility located at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, the State Museum of Archaeology. The MAC Lab serves as the primary repository for archaeological collections recovered from land-based and underwater projects conducted by state and federal agencies throughout Maryland.

This resource is part of Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum’s open educational resources project to provide history, ecology, archaeology, and conservation resources related to our 560 acre public park. JPPM is a part of the Maryland Historical Trust under the Maryland Department of Planning.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"The surface of Mars is dotted with unusual pits How these pits formed is a mystery New research suggests some pits were shaped by sand and lava As winds swept across the Martian landscape large sand dunes formed The dunes were later surrounded by lava After the lava cooled, the sand blew away, leaving behind dune-shaped pits If the theory is correct there’s a lot these so-called ghost dunes could tell us about the ancient Martian environment They may even be a good starting point to look for signs of early extraterrestrial life M.D. Day and D.C. Catling. Dune Casts Preserved by Partial Burial: The First Identification of Ghost Dune Pits on Mars..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"EnvironmentalDNA capture is helping researchers do the seemingly impossible: track the numerous plants and animals that call natural waters home. But fishing for so-called eDNA can be precarious work. Each step of the process, from water sampling to DNA detection, is a point of entry for contaminants or of loss for sample material. Now, a new standard could be in the making. Self-preserving and partially biodegradable, this new filtration system eliminates data-compromising steps from eDNA capture while ensuring long-term sample preservation and generating less plastic waste. In standard eDNA collection, a motorized or hand-powered pump is used to force a water sample through a DNA-capturing membrane. The filter housing is then opened and, using sterilized forceps, the membrane is carefully transferred to a vial. Finally, ethanol is added to preserve the captured eDNA while its transported to a lab for sequencing or PCR detection..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.