Through engagement with a rich collection of historical case studies relevant to environmental decision-making, students will learn foundational principles of effective communication crucial for achieving positive social-environmental outcomes. Many communications principles have been stress-tested over time and remain guideposts for creating sound strategies. Others have been overtaken or re-engineered by the demands of a new media ecosystem. The implications of, technology, globalization, AI's growing role in communications, and the increased prevalence of stakeholder "rights" have all conspired to making the achievement of policy goals even more complex and challenging. Environmental policies and regulation have resided at the center of controversy and conflict for over a century. The list of contentious issues is daunting. Is it always "all or nothing" or a "zero sum" game, with only winners and losers? Or, when we think of a "balance" between the divergent needs and wants of affected parties, is that just code for the "half a loaf" strategy -- one where every side must give something up, even when right or science or principle is on one's side? Additionally, the growing relevance of environmental justice also looms large in policymaking discussions. The current political polarization makes navigating environmental issues that much more difficult. Controversy attracts advocates and critics who increasingly understand and utilize the power of effective communications, particularly new and pervasive communications platforms. Information, misinformation, and disinformation all travel the information highway, and sadly, disinformation travels the fastest - generating actions and reactions along the way. The lines blur between fact and fiction, between news and entertainment, and between investigative journalism and conspiracy theories. The 2026 off-year Congressional elections will have brought both new opportunities and new challenges for environmental policies in 2027 and beyond. The course will also consider a broad range of cases that offer salient historical perspectives and insights from the past century of environmental discourse. Learning Outcomes: This course is designed to be both instructive and mind-stretching - all to enhance a student's ability to think through challenging and varied scenarios. Hone students' strategic communications skills in activities requiring both written and spoken communication, including better command of the powerful use of language and rhetoric - helping students to create persuasive arguments usable in a variety of settings. Build historical knowledge of environmental leaders and movements to provide context to current environmental issues. Build and enhance student strategic thinking skills: rigorous understanding of context, clarity of objective-setting, risk analysis, choice-making and frame-breaking, alongside reflections of human and organizational behavior. Define methods to better understand adversaries as well as allies, and the range of stakeholders' interests. While this is not a course in political science, American government, or in public speaking, the engaged student will gain insights into those areas as well. All of these elements are central to this course -- intertwined and essential for moving policies forward in the public square.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Through engagement with a rich collection of historical case studies relevant to environmental decision-making, students will learn foundational principles of effective communication crucial for achieving positive social-environmental outcomes. Many communications principles have been stress-tested over time and remain guideposts for creating sound strategies. Others have been overtaken or re-engineered by the demands of a new media ecosystem. The implications of, technology, globalization, AI's growing role in communications, and the increased prevalence of stakeholder "rights" have all conspired to making the achievement of policy goals even more complex and challenging. Environmental policies and regulation have resided at the center of controversy and conflict for over a century. The list of contentious issues is daunting. Is it always "all or nothing" or a "zero sum" game, with only winners and losers? Or, when we think of a "balance" between the divergent needs and wants of affected parties, is that just code for the "half a loaf" strategy -- one where every side must give something up, even when right or science or principle is on one's side? Additionally, the growing relevance of environmental justice also looms large in policymaking discussions. The current political polarization makes navigating environmental issues that much more difficult. Controversy attracts advocates and critics who increasingly understand and utilize the power of effective communications, particularly new and pervasive communications platforms. Information, misinformation, and disinformation all travel the information highway, and sadly, disinformation travels the fastest - generating actions and reactions along the way. The lines blur between fact and fiction, between news and entertainment, and between investigative journalism and conspiracy theories. The 2026 off-year Congressional elections will have brought both new opportunities and new challenges for environmental policies in 2027 and beyond. The course will also consider a broad range of cases that offer salient historical perspectives and insights from the past century of environmental discourse. Learning Outcomes: This course is designed to be both instructive and mind-stretching - all to enhance a student's ability to think through challenging and varied scenarios. Hone students' strategic communications skills in activities requiring both written and spoken communication, including better command of the powerful use of language and rhetoric - helping students to create persuasive arguments usable in a variety of settings. Build historical knowledge of environmental leaders and movements to provide context to current environmental issues. Build and enhance student strategic thinking skills: rigorous understanding of context, clarity of objective-setting, risk analysis, choice-making and frame-breaking, alongside reflections of human and organizational behavior. Define methods to better understand adversaries as well as allies, and the range of stakeholders' interests. While this is not a course in political science, American government, or in public speaking, the engaged student will gain insights into those areas as well. All of these elements are central to this course -- intertwined and essential for moving policies forward in the public square.
Offered in Winter 2027 at Stanford University.