Group Set To Ponder Ecology Major

A University-wide Committee on Environmental Studies, authorized yesterday by President Neil L. Rudenstine, may establish an undergraduate concentration in environmental studies, Rotch Professor of Atmospheric Science Michael B. McElroy said yesterday.

McElroy, who will chair the committee, said he and Kennedy School professor William Clark, the committee's vice-chair, are currently planning possible requirements and course offerings for such a concentration.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences could approve the concentration as soon as April or May, according to McElroy.

"I think the concentration's got a very good chance," he said. "I would hope that this thing would be off and running byearly next year...by the fall."

McElroy said he hopes that other graduateschool faculties will assist in developing coursesfor an undergraduate concentration.

For instance, a Divinity School professor couldteach a course on environmental ethics, and a LawSchool professor could teach one on issues of lawand environment, he said.

The College as Center

Although some courses in the concentrationmight be offered at the various graduate schools,McElroy said he would like professors from thoseschools to come to the Yard to teach.

"That's my objective...which would be to try tomake the College and this part of the campus thecenter of the activity," he said.

The development of the concentration is onlyone of the projects that the Committee onEnvironmental Studies will undertake. Rudenstinecreated the body as a part of an avowed effort tocoordinate the work of Harvard's 10 faculties,according to McElroy.

"The focus [of the committee] will be toattempt to bring together the strengths of thevarious schools," McElroy said.

Four Goals

McElory said the committee has four goals:first, to coordinate and provide information aboutenvironmental studies, and second, to work onrecommendations made by a Kennedy School facultycommittee.

Third, the committee hopes to create newprograms--including a concentration--if sufficientfunds are available, and finally, it plans to workto improve coordination with MIT.

One of McElroy's personal goals is to bring anational political figure to campus near the endof this year to speak about the environment withstudents and faculty.

The ideal public figure, McElroy said, would be"somebody who's been strongly involved in theenvironment and has strong political views on whatshould be done. "He said that he has alreadyissued such an invitation but that the person hasnot yet accepted.

McElroy said he will provide Rudenstine with alist of potential committee members inapproximately two weeks. Eight or nine facultymembers from across the University, includingMcElroy and Clark, will serve on the committee,McElroy said.

McElroy said he and Clark plan to consult withfaculty at all of Harvard's schools whiledeveloping the list.

"If you wanted to pick an issue that will forcethe schools to talk, this is it," McElroy said.

"I hope," he added with a chuckle

McElroy said he hopes that other graduateschool faculties will assist in developing coursesfor an undergraduate concentration.

For instance, a Divinity School professor couldteach a course on environmental ethics, and a LawSchool professor could teach one on issues of lawand environment, he said.

The College as Center

Although some courses in the concentrationmight be offered at the various graduate schools,McElroy said he would like professors from thoseschools to come to the Yard to teach.

"That's my objective...which would be to try tomake the College and this part of the campus thecenter of the activity," he said.

The development of the concentration is onlyone of the projects that the Committee onEnvironmental Studies will undertake. Rudenstinecreated the body as a part of an avowed effort tocoordinate the work of Harvard's 10 faculties,according to McElroy.

"The focus [of the committee] will be toattempt to bring together the strengths of thevarious schools," McElroy said.

Four Goals

McElory said the committee has four goals:first, to coordinate and provide information aboutenvironmental studies, and second, to work onrecommendations made by a Kennedy School facultycommittee.

Third, the committee hopes to create newprograms--including a concentration--if sufficientfunds are available, and finally, it plans to workto improve coordination with MIT.

One of McElroy's personal goals is to bring anational political figure to campus near the endof this year to speak about the environment withstudents and faculty.

The ideal public figure, McElroy said, would be"somebody who's been strongly involved in theenvironment and has strong political views on whatshould be done. "He said that he has alreadyissued such an invitation but that the person hasnot yet accepted.

McElroy said he will provide Rudenstine with alist of potential committee members inapproximately two weeks. Eight or nine facultymembers from across the University, includingMcElroy and Clark, will serve on the committee,McElroy said.

McElroy said he and Clark plan to consult withfaculty at all of Harvard's schools whiledeveloping the list.

"If you wanted to pick an issue that will forcethe schools to talk, this is it," McElroy said.

"I hope," he added with a chuckle