AGOG
506 – Spring 2009
Environmental Studies
Instructor: Dr. M. Calef Phone: 591-8563
Office: AS 208 Email: mcalef@albany.edu
Office
Hours: Tu/Th 1-2:30 pm and by
appointment
Class meeting
time: Tuesday & Thursday 2:45-4:05
pm in AS-121, 3 credit hours
Class website: http://www.albany.edu/~mc969295/EnviStud.html
or go to albany.edu/gp and navigate to Faculty and my
name
Course
book:
R. T. Wright ‘Environmental Science’ 10th edition, 2007 by Pearson,
Prentice Hall, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-230265-4
Scope
of the course:
This class focuses on the relationship
between humans and the environment and includes scientific/ecological
background, as well as political, social, and historical perspectives. While
the environment is necessary to supply humans with needed resources, we have to
strive towards a sustainable balance between what the environment can supply
without long-term damage while meeting the needs of a growing world population
into the future. The course is divided into six major sections covering
ecosystem basics, the human population, renewable resources, energy, pollution
and prevention, and sustainability.
Grading:
The grade is based on a midterm (30%), a non-comprehensive final (30%),
a presentation/paper (30%), and homework/attendance (10%). The final exam is
Monday, May 11 10:30am – 12:30pm.
Tentative Class Schedule
|
Month |
Date |
Lecture Topic |
Chapter |
|
January |
22 |
Introduction |
1 |
|
Ecosystems:
Basic Units of the Natural World |
|||
|
January |
27 |
Ecosystems: what they are |
2 |
|
January |
29 |
Ecosystems: how they work |
3 |
|
February |
3 |
Ecosystems: how they change |
4 |
|
The
Human Population |
|||
|
February |
5 |
The human population |
5 |
|
February |
10 |
Population and development |
6 |
|
Renewable
Resources |
|||
|
February |
12 |
Water: hydrologic cycle and
human use |
7 |
|
February |
17&19 |
***
Winter Break *** |
|
|
February |
24 |
Soil: foundation for land
ecosystems |
8 |
|
February |
26 |
The production and distribution
of food |
9 |
|
March |
3 |
Wild
species and biodiversity |
10 |
|
March |
5 |
Ecosystem
capital: use and restoration |
11 |
|
March |
10 |
Midterm |
1-11 |
|
Energy |
|||
|
March |
12 |
Energy from fossil fuel |
12 |
|
March |
17 |
Energy from nuclear power |
13 |
|
March |
19 |
Renewable energy |
14 |
|
Pollution
and Prevention |
|||
|
March |
24 |
Environmental hazards and human
health |
15 |
|
March |
26 |
Pests and pest control |
16 |
|
March |
31 |
Water pollution and its
prevention |
17 |
|
April |
2 |
Municipal solid waste: disposal
and recovery |
18 |
|
April |
7 |
Hazardous chemicals: pollution
and prevention |
19 |
|
April |
9 |
*** Spring Break *** |
|
|
April |
14 |
The atmosphere: climate,
climate change, ozone depletion |
20 |
|
April |
16 |
Atmospheric pollution |
21 |
|
Towards
a Sustainable Future |
|||
|
April |
21 |
Economics, public policy, and
the environment |
22 |
|
April |
23 |
Sustainable communities and
lifestyles |
23 |
|
April |
28 |
To be determined… |
|
|
April |
30 |
Presentations |
|
|
May |
5 |
Presentations |
|