Southwest Environmental Justice Initiative

- How can I use WiserEarth as an academic tool?
As a member of WiserEarth, you can create a group specifically for your class. Students can also create profiles of their own and explore the areas of focus, organizations, events, jobs and people on WiserEarth. On your classes’ group site it is possible to start discussion topics, create class wiki documents, add resources, and explore the WiserEarth network created by your class. It is also possible to affiliate your class with other class groups that are exploring similar subjects across the globe.

- How can I help my students integrate academic projects with real world experience on WiserEarth?
With over 100,000 organizations hooked in to the WiserEarth network, faculty can encourage students to investigate on the ground efforts related to their issues of interest. A group discussion forum can bring these issues into the classroom and help you keep track of student’s ideas. Once students have made connections with groups and individuals on WiserEarth, they have opened the door to a realm of hands on experiences.

- Can WiserEarth help me connect with other faculty?
As WiserEarth continues to grow, faculty from around the globe will be able to communicate about local issues relevant to their research and academic learning. Imagine faculty from 20 different countries united in a discussion forum to talk about biological diversity or ecological economics! WiserEarth helps academics share their unique perspectives and provides tools to pass these perspectives on to students.

- What tools does WiserEarth offer to help me organize other events and groups I am involved with on campus?
The great thing about WiserEarth is that all of the on-campus organizations you are involved with can create WiserEarth profiles, form groups, and link with others working towards the same objective. A group linked with your organization can be a great way to communicate with members and share pre & post event materials. Connecting events with other organizations, groups, and individuals is also a great way to get the word out.

- What do I have to offer WiserEarth?
As experts in your field, faculty are tremendously valuable to the WiserEarth community. Because WiserEarth is an open source site, faculty can help ensure organizations and groups are posting the most cutting edge and up to date information on WiserEarth. Sharing knowledge over a free site is one of the key uses of WiserEarth, therefore having experts on hand who are willing to review posted information is a crucial part WiserEarth's success.