Students of the Louisiana Scholars’ College are required to enroll in and complete three semesters of Science Seminar.

The class, one section of which is currently instructed by Instructor Bart Bartels, has students read and respond to diverse course materials. This semester, students are reading Bjorn Lomborg’s “Cool It” and Bill McKibben’s “Eaarth,” both books pertaining to climate change.

These books are written by authors with different viewpoints, NSU junior Melissa Polizzi says: one denies climate change while the other is a climate change activist. These opposing viewpoints spark discussion in class, and as such, the first portion of each session is devoted to discussion on the books.

“I appreciate being able to learn about how economics play a part in climate change and what policies would be most cost effective and environmentally friendly,” Polizzi says. “I enjoy learning about climate change from both views.”

Sophomore Aron Stephens also enjoys the class.

“I find the class very intellectually stimulating,” Stephens said. “I think that it is important to address these issues, because students have potential to aid in the repairing of these damages.”

Polizzi suggests the class could have an impact on not just Scholars’ College students but the entire community if it were to be more widely offered through the university and included a service component.

“With students being educated on the issues of climate change, we could integrate service learning into the community in order to make a more green university and city,” Polizzi says. “We could even expand outside of our community and work toward environmental justice and green legislation for all of Louisiana.”