ENTS 398/Senior Capstone Project

I. Capstone projects: General Instructions.

a. Philosophy: The ENTS senior Capstone project is a substantive learning experience that should round out and cap each students program of study in the ENTS concentration. The Capstone project is not a “second comps;” however, it should be large enough to comprise a term-long project. Beginning 2005/06, the Capstone proposal is to be submitted in a term prior to the actual work on the project. This is to emphasize the importance of the proposal stage and to ensure a more carefully planned project.

b. Cooperative projects are strongly encouraged over individual endeavors. ENTS is a community of learners and by the time Concentrators reach the senior year, they have skills in a particular field (the major), as well as interests that can be combined. Even when students have a strong preference towards individual work, they can often arrange to contribute to a common project. Cooperative work also allows larger and more complex projects than a student could undertake alone.

c. Service learning/academic civic engagement projects are also encouraged. ENTS faculty and Northfield organizations are good sources of information for larger, community projects that can be undertaken by a group.

d. Projects must include a public presentation. Normally, this presentation will be a public talk and/or exhibition at Carleton or in the Northfield community. The ENTS Educational Associate can assist with arrangements for places, times and refreshments. As a general policy, presentations should be scheduled before the tenth week of the term. In many cases, it makes sense to combine ENTS Capstone presentations in a single event.

e. Projects must be archived, preferably electronically, so the archives can be accessed via the ENTS web page. Students are responsible for working with the ENTS Educational Associate to make sure their projects can be archived in a thorough and accessible form.

f. The ENTS faculty encourage internships as part of the ENTS concentration. However, an internship is not a senior capstone project. You can work on a project related to the subject of your internship(s), but the capstone project must be different.

At Carleton:

• Composting waste food from the dining halls
• Work with Candace Lautt on developing a service learning database
• Environmental audit of the College
• History of the Arb
• Organize and host a forum on an environmental issue
• Quantify energy use for the Northfield School District and/or Northfield and identify methods for conservation

In Northfield:

• Investigate and advise the town on stream buffers as they develop management plans for their "environmentally sensitive" areas
• Look at issues of traffic and transportation in the North West section of town as this area begins to be heavily developed
• Develop environmental curriculum or lesson plans for use in the local schools

Field Science:

• Develop an Environmental Restoration Site Plan for the Maltby Family Nature Preserve or other feasible wilderness area