Geography G315 (Environmental Conservation) Spring Semester, 2005
Instructor: Dr. S. IsiorhoOffice: SB 236 Phone: 481-6254
MW (4:30-5:45 p.m., SB 209)
Office Hours M & W (3:00 - 3:55 p.m.) 
E-mail  isiorho@ipfw.edu


Course Description: This course deals with the environmental impact of global population growth, natural resources utilization, and pollution. Current problems relating to energy consumption, farming practices, water use, resource development and deforestation will be examined from geologic and ecological perspectives. Strategies designed to avert predicted global catastrophe will be examined to determine success potential. Students should be able to use the internet as a resource.

Textbook: NONE
You may use any of these textbooks as resources
Environmental Science by Karen Arm 2nd ed. 
Environmental Science by Turk and Turk. 4th ed.
Introduction to Environmental Studies by Turk. 3rd ed.
Living in the Environment by G. Miller. 4th ed.
Environmental Science by Chiras. 2nd ed.
The Environment by ReVelle and ReVelle. 3rd ed.
Environment by Raven & Berg 3rd Edition

Note: You may purchase any of the above listed textbooks.  You should use other sources, including the internet.

Field trip: A one half day trip (a Saturday to be determined) is required
(Possible dates March 18, 25, & April 1).  This  will depend on the weather.

Grading: Class participation (10%), readings/reports (25%), two exams (25%), class (group) project (0%), a Term project (30%) (10 typed pages due April 19) and presentation of project results (April 21, 26 & 28) will account for 10% of the final grade. You must use PowerPoint or any other electronic media approved by your instructor for your presentation. No final exam.

(Grading scale 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D)

"If you have or acquire a disability and would like to find out what special services and accommodations may be available to you, contact Services for Students with Disabilities in WU 118 & 218 (481-6657, voice/TTY)"


Tentative Schedule:

Humans in the Environment
(Changing Environment; Environmental Problems) Part One
( Aral Sea Example or the wandering Lake in China)
A crowded World
(Understanding Population (demographic studies site) growth & Problems of Overpopulation) Part Three
Water Editorial for class discussion. Is Poverty the main Problem? (The hunger project website )

Exam I ...Take home...should be available Feb. 2, 2006 and the answers are due Feb. 9, 2006.

The search for Energy 
(Fossil Fuels, Nuclear energy, renewable energy and conservation) Part Four

The Energy Resources Program (Facts..coal, oil/gas,environment & health, publications, etc.)
Alternative energy website .  Birds are caught in the middle (altermnative enegry proves deadly for birds FoxNews.com ) Dec. 23, 2003
US Dept of Energy website


Our Precious resources 
(water, soils, minerals...) Part Five  

'Making water work harder' ( Http://www.StevensPublishing .... click on Nov 01', then look for the article)
Environmental Protection Magazine is also a good resource for environmental news/articles. Use it to search for articles.

Exam II is now available and is due March 16, 2006.
Note:  field trip. I will need weekly (once a week) update concerning your research project.   Presentation starts on April 25.

Environmental Concerns
(air pollution, global atmospheric changes, water pollution, pesticides, solid/hazardous wastes) Part Six Landslides Worldwatch Institue   What about car tires? (click on Dec 01' and then 'Waste tire recycling: Where the rubber meets the road and then 'full text')   Brown Field Primer (Oct. 01')
CNN on Missouri River                        USGS Water Science for Schools website
NASA Natural Hazards web site. You must visit this site:)
        Cost benefit analysis for pollution prevention
The above topics may be covered by March 17, leaving you with approximately five weeks to work on your project.

Emphasis will be on human impact on the environment.


Your Project Report is due 6:00 p.m. April 18, 2006.
Your report must follow this format.
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Methods or Approach
Results or data
Discussions
Conclusion(s)
Acknowledgement  (if any)
References

Spring Break:  March 6 - 11

Reading Assignments  (Most articles are in PDF format)
Reading assignment is an intergral part of this course. For it to be another resource, you should choose any three articles (refereed article) apart from those listed below to review. The articles should be related to your proposed class project. Write a one-page summary for each article along with a copy of each article. Each summary must include your view of the article. All together, you should have a total of eight pages for the reading assignments.

1. Write one page report per article on any two given articles. Reports are due before class January 31, 2006 through WebCT email.
    a ) The Underfed and Overfed by G. Gardner and B. Halweil. World Watch July/August 2000, p 24-35
    b ) How Economist Have Misjudged Global Warming by R. U. Ayres. World Watch Sept/Oct. 2001, p 12-25
    c ) Population and Consumption.What we know, What we need to know by R. W. Kates. Environment 01/02
            20th Edition. Article 6, p44-51
    d ) Crossing the Threshold: Early signs of an environmental awakening by L. R. Brown. in  Environment 01/02
            20th Edition. Article 4, p30-39 (World Watch March/April 1999)

2. Write one page report per article on any two of the given articles. Send your reports to me by email before class time on Feb. 16, 2006.
    a ) The energy we overlook by R. U. Ayres, World Watch Nov/Dec 2001, p 30-39.
    b ) Relating agriculture land uses to in-stream stormwater quality by McFarland and Hauck, 1999.
         Journal of Environmental Quality 1999, 28:836-844
    c ) Golf and groundwater quality
    d) Responding to Global challenge Plan B: Rescuing a Planet under Stress & a Civilization in Trouble by
              Lester Brown. (2003)
    e)  Rising to the Challenge    What can we do?

3. Write a half page review of one article per continent (total of one page), from Africa & Australia using this
                 webpage      Due by email March 16, 2006  before class time.

4. Write a one page report each on any three articles (hard copies of articles must be submitted to me in class) you are selecting for your literature review for your proposed class project. Due March 23, 2006.

Use the bulletin board for posting questions,aswering questions posted on the bulletin and sharing any other features related to the class on the Discussion board of WebCT
 Bulletin Board

Let me know if any link is no longer hot (linkable)
New Additions  ( Check this  section periodically as I will be adding some interesting links, relevant to this class)
 Sand Dune becoming a National Preserve
Carrying Capacity article in Journal of Africa Today (vol 48, no 1 Spring 2001)
White House and wetland             Geology/Soil and drought ( Congo River )
            Constructed wetland                   IKE (Improving Kids' Environment)
Cholera a sign of Endevelopment UN/CDC       Earth from Space ( several images)
Population & Energy (2001 paper) 
Soil Erosion


Landslide after heavy rain in Peru ( S. America).
Updated November 12, 2005

Power Point Slides for the class