UC Irvine’s Humanities Core is introducing a new thematic cycle for 2025-2028, titled “Environment | Encounter | Entanglement,” aimed at exploring the intersection of humanities and environmental issues. Over 700 first-year students will participate, engaging with the concept that ecological crises involve complex human actions and social structures.
Rebecca Davis, Director of Humanities Core, emphasizes that resolving environmental crises requires collaboration among humanists, scientists, and artists. The program aims to provide students critical thinking and communication skills while addressing fundamental human experiences through various artistic and literary mediums.
The new theme challenges conventional environmental thought using three key terms: “Encounter” reflects historical complexities, particularly concerning colonialism; “Entanglement” signifies the interconnectedness of nature and culture; and “Environment” is critiqued as a mutable concept shaped by societal narratives.
The curriculum spans a year, starting with “Entangled Narratives,” tracing the evolution of environmental understanding through literature from medieval to contemporary works. It then shifts to “Exploitation and Reclamation,” focusing on environmental injustice and art, before concluding with “Crisis and Community,” analyzing responses to ecological crises through various cultural lenses.
Supportive programming will complement the curriculum, fostering connections across campus. The initiative aims to empower students to recognize and address environmental challenges, merging the humanities with pressing global concerns such as the climate crisis and environmental racism. Ultimately, the goal is to equip students with the tools to contribute positively to future ecological issues.
