Experiential introduction to broad food, energy, water (FEW) nexus topics, focusing on how integration across the biological, physical, social, behavioral, computer and engineering sciences will be critical in solving FEW systems challenges. Students will gain a strong foundational understanding of FEW issues from molecular to societal levels through active learning, field trips, hands-on activities, and the launch of team-based interdisciplinary projects.
Terms Offered
Spring 2026
Course Details
This course offers an experiential introduction to key topics at the intersection of food, energy, and water (FEW) systems, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary integration across the biological, physical, social, behavioral, computational, and engineering sciences. Students will explore FEW challenges from molecular to societal levels and across local to global contexts, gaining a broad systems-level understanding of these interconnected issues. Course sessions will incorporate active learning strategies, including interactive lectures, discussions, hands-on activities, field trips, and guest speakers from diverse disciplines. Students will also engage in collaborative brainstorming and initial development of interdisciplinary team projects aimed at addressing real-world FEW challenges, which will be continued in the MIEH 691 course in the fall. This course is a requirement for the Global STEWARDS Program and only open to Global STEWARDS fellows at this time. Students must commit to taking MIEH 690 in the spring semester followed by MIEH 691 in the fall, and commit to the year-long interdisciplinary group-project with their classmates.
Credits: 2
This is a Global Classrooms Connections course.
Cultural Connection
Israel, Nepal and Tanzania.
General Education Credits
None
School/College
School of Public Health
Prerequisites & Restrictions
Permission of instructor; and must be in UMD Global STEWARDS Fellows.
Faculty Highlight
Suhana Chattopadhyay
Suhana Chattopadhyay is an Assistant Research Professor at the Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health. She serves as the Program Manager for the Global FEWture Alliance and the UMD Global STEWARDS National Science Foundation NRT program. She is also a researcher with the CONSERVE Center of Excellence, which investigates transformative on‐farm treatment solutions that enable the safe use of nontraditional irrigation water, and the Maryland Safe Drinking WATER Study which characterizes the drinking water quality in Maryland's underserved communities.
Faculty Highlight
Rianna Murray
Dr. Rianna Murray is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Global, Environmental and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland. She leads a UMD Grand Challenges project, the Maryland Safe Drinking WATER Study, which investigates microbial and chemical water quality in homes across Maryland. She also co-leads another UMD Grand Challenges project, the Global FEWture Alliance, an interdisciplinary, international team that develops holistic solutions that focus on all areas of the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus. Dr. Murray is the Director of Graduate Studies for the Environmental Health Sciences MPH, MS and PhD programs at the School of Public Health. Dr. Murray is actively involved in mentoring graduate students and training the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers through the UMD Global STEWARDS program, a fellowship program formerly funded by the National Science Foundation. She is also a researcher with the CONSERVE Center of Excellence which investigates solutions that enable the safe agricultural use of recycled water. Dr. Murray earned a BS with a double major in biochemistry and chemistry from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad & Tobago, and a Master of Public Health and Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Tuition & Scholarship
Course costs should be calculated based on the university’s standard tuition and fees for undergraduate students and graduate students.
Students enrolled in winter and summer Global Classrooms courses may be eligible for the International Education Scholarship.
Cancellation and Refunds
Spring and Fall Global Classrooms courses follow UMD's Schedule Adjustment policies.
Questions & Contact Info
For more course information contact Dr. Rianna Murray at rmurray@umd.edu, and Dr. Suhana Chattopadhyay at suhanac@umd.edu.
For general questions, please contact the Global Classrooms team at globalclassrooms@umd.edu.