John S. Farnsworth

John S. Farnsworth is a Senior Lecturer Emeritus in the Department of Environmental Studies & Sciences at Santa Clara University’s College of Arts and Sciences. His teaching and research focus on community-driven environmental inquiry, blending rhetoric, natural history, and ecological advocacy. He holds an MFA from Antioch University, an MLA from Stanford University, and a PhD from the University of Stirling.

Education:

• MFA, Antioch University
• MLA, Stanford University
• PhD, University of Stirling

Research & Teaching: Dr. Farnsworth’s work bridges environmental rhetoric and literary natural history, with a focus on Baja California’s ecosystems. Recent projects include studies on the California condor’s historical range and citizen science initiatives like SCU Gone Wild and the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory’s Hawkwatch team. He teaches courses such as ENVS 1A/2A: Analyzing Green Rhetoric, ENVS 11A/12A: Nature and Imagination, and ENVS 142: Writing Natural History.

Publications: His 2010 works span environmental rhetoric critiques, institutional sustainability analyses, and regional ecological writing. Notable outputs include a book chapter on climate-neutral campuses and a forward to a historical text on Mexican California.

Labs & Teams: Active in citizen science through SCU Gone Wild and the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, emphasizing hands-on environmental stewardship.