Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems 

Current Scholars who are interested in continuing must reapply for the coming year.

Background

The Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems (HDES) program facilitates interaction of faculty and graduate students engaged in scholarship and instruction related to humans and the environment. The HDES program currently includes 16 Scholars and over 40 faculty from eleven departments and six colleges including Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Applied Health Studies, and Fine and Applied Arts.

HDES Scholars are part of an interdisciplinary community devoted to the study of connections between people and environments, both built and natural. HDES Scholars generally undertake programs of study in the social sciences and humanities that connect across disciplinary boundaries and bridge gaps between theory and practice regarding environmental scholarship. Degrees are awarded through participating departments with the HDES program, thus strengthening the students' professional formation. Interaction among Scholars and participating faculty is structured through the HDES Research Seminar that is required of all HDES Scholars (Thursday afternoons 3:30-5:00 p.m.).

In addition to joining this community of scholars, students may be awarded a stipend for one or two semesters. Stipends are intended to support research and scholarship consistent with the goals of the HDES program. The award of a stipend is based on merit and need. The availability of a match from the student's department or other sources is helpful, but such a match is not an absolute requirement.

Applications are due in the office of the HDES Steering Committee Chair, Michael Krassa, by March 31, 2008. Applicants will be notified of admittance as Scholars by April 30, 2008. Preference will be given to applicants whose career and research interests involve human and social aspects of environmental studies.

Criteria to evaluate applications

Several criteria are used to assess the merits of applicants and their suitability to be selected as an HDES Scholar. The criteria are:

• Commitment to research related to human dimensions of environmental systems

• Capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary forums on broadly-defined individual, social, and cultural aspects of environmental problems (both natural and built)

• Extent of past and present experience with environmentally-related research

• Potential for scholarly contribution on topics that explore relationships between people, community, and environment

• For continuing Scholars, consideration will be given to their past contributions to the HDES seminar and extent of progress toward their degree.  

Application procedures  

Application materials should be sent electronically to Michael Krassa at Krassa@uiuc.edu. All materials except the letter from the faculty advisor should be sent in one file and in the order listed below.

• The application cover sheet (attached).

• A statement of career goals that clearly identifies a link to HDES. The statement should be less than one-page and depict connections between your research or artistic interests and anticipated career path.

• A one-page abstract of research or artistic proposal that includes: (a) a conceptual framework for the merits of your proposal (related to HDES) and (b) some sense of what you plan to accomplish during the coming academic year with respect to your proposal.

• A brief letter from the UIUC faculty advisor should be sent directly from the advisor to Michael Krassa. The letter should state that the faculty member sponsors the applicant for admission to the program and, if applicable, indicate the source and availability of matching funds. In addition, this letter should mention any interdisciplinary research teams or activities in which the student will be participating.

For continuing HDES Scholars, applications also should include the following:

• A complete list of courses and grades for the last 2 years (or the last semester if this is your first year at UIUC)

• A progress report, no longer than one page, describing your accomplishments during the 2007-2008 academic year. 

Application to the program will be reviewed and a decision made by the Steering Committee. Those accepted for scholarship will have appointments from August 2008 continuing through May 2009. Applications should be emailed to Michael Krassa on or before March 31, 2008 at Krassa@uiuc.edu. Applications made after this date may not be considered.

Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems Steering Committee:

• Ashwini Chhatre, Geography

• Pradeep Dhillon, Educational Policy Studies

• Courtney Flint, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies

• Tony Endress, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies

• Michael Krassa, Political Science

• Rebecca McBride, Krannert Center

• Carla Santos, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

• Mahir Saul, Anthropology

• Rob Olshansky, Urban and Regional Planning

• Bill Stewart, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

• Bill Sullivan, Environmental Council

Support for HDES Scholars program comes from the generous contributions of the Environmental Council; the Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism; and the Colleges of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences; Liberal Arts and Sciences; Fine and Applied Arts; and Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.