GEO/ENV 128a       ·       Introduction to Environmental Studies       ·       Winter 2000

Time and Place: 8:00 - 8:50am MWF CEC 102 (Shen Auditorium)
Instructor: Roger G. Olson
Office: Science 018    Telephone: x6295    E-mail alias: rogero
Office Hours: 9:00–11:30am M, 1:30 – 4:00pm WR, or by appointment.
           Note: I’ll be at St.Elizabeth’s in Lafayette after 1pm each Monday.

TEXT

Enger/Smith, Environmental Science, 7th/ed., McGraw-Hill, 2000

Web site for textbook: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/environmentalscience/enger7e/

This course is intended to give you a thorough overview of environmental issues, both scientific and social. After you complete this course successfully, you should be "environmentally literate" and be able to give an informed statement about any environmental topic.

Even though it is cross-listed as a geology course, environmental science is truly interdisciplinary and includes aspects of biology, chemistry, geology, economics, politics, and ethics. You can’t give a cogent argument about an environmental issue without having an idea of the science involved - in my opinion this is one of the main problems with political rhetoric. This course is intended to give you appropriate background to take further courses or to teach environmental issues.

Your course grade will be based on the following criteria: Two examinations, an oral presentation of either a research paper or a lesson plan for the education majors, and a comprehensive final exam. These criteria will be weighted in the following manner:

• Hour Examinations:     50%
• Oral Presentation:        20%
• Comprehensive Final:  30%
• Attendance:  Affects borderline grades... (up to +/- 2%)

• Examinations will contain material from both reading assignments and lectures.
• Oral presentations will be given during the last three weeks of the semester. You must collect at least two outside references and submit this list to me when you do your presentation. Education majors may present a lesson plan on the topic of their choice, but should also have at least two references. This reference list will count towards your presentation grade. You should let me know your topic before midterm break!
• The comprehensive final exam also covers both reading assignments and lectures and will be given at 8am on Monday May 1, 2000.
• The final exam will include questions from your colleagues’ oral presentations.

You are expected to attend class as per college catalog guidelines (p. 45). However, attendance in this course is especially important since participation is essential to benefit fully. I will take attendance at every class session. Poor attendance will negatively affect your grade in borderline cases (up to a 2% deduction in the final grade).

I. Week of January 10

      Introduction (Chapters 1, 2, & 20)

          ·   Interrelationship of natural science, politics, & ethics

          ·   Environmental policy and decision making

          ·   Contrasting views on environmental issues

II. Weeks of January 17, 24, 31, February 7

      Scientific principles and concepts (Chapters 3 - 5)

          ·   Matter and energy

          ·   Ecosystems: components and responses

III. Weeks of January 31, February 7

      Populations, human and otherwise (Chapters 6 & 7)

          ·   Dynamics of population growth and distribution

          ·   Human population issues

EXAM 1 (W Feb. 16???)

IV. Weeks of February 14, 21 & 28

      Energy resources and solutions (Chapters 8 – 10)

          ·   Nuclear power: pros & cons

V. Weeks of February 28, March 13 & 20

      Human impact on the environment (Chapters 11 - 15)

          ·   Land-use planning, soil, agriculture, pest management

          ·   Water use and pollution

VI. Weeks of March 27, April 3 & 10

      Pollution & Policy (Chapters 16 - 19)

          ·   Risk and cost-benefit analysis

          ·   Air pollution

          ·   Waste and hazardous waste

VII. Weeks of April 10, 17 & 24

      Oral presentations - maximum of fifteen minutes each

 COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM Monday May 1 at 8am