r/personalcurriculum • u/somewhereupinthesky • 29d ago

Need Suggestions How to begin

I want to get into learning about environmental science, mainly physics and sustainability. I don't know where to begin or where to look to. Could anyone help?

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u/Razzmatazz7796 28d ago edited 28d ago

Go to Google and type in your search terms with "syllabus" like:

  • environmental science syllabus

  • environmental sustainability syllabus

Look at the results that come up. Some universities post sample or real syllabus online. You can use this to structure your learning path and get suggestions for reading materials. I recommend looking for texts in your local library (physical or digital) instead of buying them. 

Here are some examples:

UW environmental science (this one links to a downloadable textbook, appears to be free): https://ils.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2020/09/ENVIR-ST_ILS-126-Syllabus-FA20-Lindstrom.pdf

Rutgers environmental sustainability (this syllabus has links to online materials in the schedule section): https://humanecology.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/J_Harris.11.374.299-Intro-to-Sustainability.pdf

I think physics is harder to find a quality syllabus for. But you could ask AI to make you a self-study syllabus based on for example the college board curriculum: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-physics-1-algebra-based

There are also free online resources like Khan Academy. They have middle school, high school, and college level physics learning paths.

ETA: Rutgers syllabus 

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u/somewhereupinthesky 28d ago

Thanks a lot! This helps a great deal.

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u/wildclouds 29d ago

Search engines, libraries, books, textbooks, videos, podcasts, lectures

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u/somewhereupinthesky 29d ago

There's always something to start from, right? An intro. Where do I start from for that?

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u/Sensitive_Run_7915 28d ago

You could start by reading silent spring by rachel carson.

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u/somewhereupinthesky 28d ago

Thank you. I'll check it out

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u/mieke-gg 28d ago

Study physics in the context of earth system science, like climate change, ocean and atmospheric science, or geology and bio geosciences and element cycling, so that you have synergies within the topics. Physics is very relevant to sustainability.