Ethnobiology, the study of biota and human-environment relationships (www.ethnobiology.org), was taught for the first time last semester at UNT (Arch 4620.019/5620.019). An important part of the course was a concentration on the "ethnobiology of us." During the class, students read several books that reflect on environmental issues, traditional ecological knowledge, and biocultural conservation. One of the books was The Forest Unseen. Authored by David Haskell, a professor of biology at Sewanee, University of the South, the book tells the story of Haskell's visits to a forested area in eastern Tennessee. Haskell describes his observations and close attention to the natural world around him, a spot he refers to as a mandala. In addition to reading the book, students met Haskell when he visited with the class during a Skype conference call. Following Haskell's lead, students were challenged to simply "unplug" from the travails of daily life and record their narrative experiences of nature. Essays related to this challenge are published as a blog at Mean Green Mandala. The following excerpt encapsulates this unique student experience:

"Today's world is so unfocused on the natural element that we depend upon, that we often forget that it is there. But by walking out our own front doors and looking at the nature that exists even in our human-centric cities, we can begin to think about and understand the natural world in a context that makes sense to us. Most people would never think of spending one hour and fifteen minutes, let alone a year, staring at a small area in their front yard. But by doing so, the natural world unveils itself, causing stirrings and questions to arise." Andrea Cloutier, UNT Anthropology student in Suburban Forest: Oasis in the Midst of Human Chaos.

The structure of the mandala assignment is laid out in this blogpost by the course professor, Dr. Steve Wolverton. In the fall semester of 2014, UNT Geography will begin offering an Ethnobiology Certificate for undergraduates. Once the certificate hits the UNT catalog, we will add its description and requirements to our webpage. For more information, contact Dr. Wolverton at wolverton@unt.edu.