Students in design thinking class begin multi-semester project for Ducks Unlimited

November 23, 2021 (Volume 45, Number 7)
Article by Michele Coffill

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Darien Ripple's class took a field trip to a Coopersville farm, owned by Dan Schwallier, that has a wetland and learned about mixed-used farming.

Photo Credit: courtesy photo

People may not consider farmers and design thinkers as two similar-minded populations, yet a Grand Valley faculty member is bringing the two groups together in a multi-semester project focused on preserving wetlands.

Darien Ripple, assistant professor of integrative, religious and intercultural studies, has partnered with the national nonprofit organization Ducks Unlimited to focus on the role wetland habitats play in agricultural sustainability. 

Ripple said three teams of students in his Fall Semester "Design Thinking to Meet Real World Needs" course are brainstorming ideas and creating project briefs aimed at engaging more farmers to create wetlands and healthy ecosystems on their farms.

He said farmers who have infield wetlands usually find that acreage difficult to plant and harvest. Ducks Unlimited and other entities could agree to provide incentives to farmers who turn over portions of their acreage to wetlands.

Conservationists and biologists from Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other organizations have met virtually with students to discuss sustainable agricultural practices. 

The class took a field trip to a Coopersville farm, owned by Dan Schwallier, that has a wetland and learned about mixed-used farming. They were joined by John Coluccy, director of conservation planning for Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Chapter; Kali Rush, regional biologist for Ducks Unlimited; and Gib King, biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who maintains the wetland.

"Right now we are in the human-centered part of design thinking, gathering information and learning best practices," Ripple said. "Next semester, students will work with Ducks Unlimited to develop education plans and communication priorities that will strengthen relationships with farmers and local agricultural communities."  

Ducks Unlimited commits 80 percent of its proceeds to its conversation mission. 

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