Students' Real-World Projects Impact Environmental Decisions Beyond the Classroom.
A capstone course in geosciences had students work together on a real project for an outside client. The course focused on environmental impact assessments (EIA) and divided into thirds: legal aspects, methodology, and the project itself. Students managed all aspects of the project, with the instructor as a consultant. The project was a significant part of their final grade. Students found the course engaging and challenging, and their findings often influenced the client's decisions. This approach provided hands-on learning, engagement, and professional skill development.