G315Syllabus2002

Geography G315 (Environmental Conservation) Spring Semester, 2012

Instructor: Dr. S. Isiorho Office: SB 236 Phone: 481-6254

RT (4:30-5:45 p.m., SB 209)

Office Hours T (3:00 - 3:55 p.m.) Walk in welcome

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. Class participation through debate is strongly encouraged. Students should be able to use the internet as a resource.
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Objectives: Provide students with a basic understanding of geological foundations of environmental science.
                      Provide an understanding of environmental issues at local, regional, and global scales.
                      Improve student's skills in analyzing data pertaining to environmental issues and in drawing informed conclusions regarding issues.
                      Discuss and debate issues in environmental conservation that are relevant to the state of Indiana.

Textbook: NONE
You may use any of these textbooks or more recent editions 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.

NOTE: ALL CORRESPONDENCE MUST BE THROUGH BLACKBOARD EMAIL.

Field trip: A one half day trip (a Saturday to be determined) is required
(March 31). Please reserve these days for the half day field trip.

Exams & Grading:
There will be two exams, worth 5 & 10 % (total of 15% of your course grade).
Lab session will constitute 15% of final grade.
Group project (10%) /reading assignments 10%.
A term research project (30 % of course grade) (10 double space typed page report due April 19) and "professional" presentation of project results (April 24 & 26) will account for 10 % of final grade. You must use powerpoint or any other electronic media approved by your instructor for your presentation). Your power point must be submitted by April 20, 2012 for grading (5% of your course grade).
No final exam. Class participation will account for 5% of course grade.
(Grading scale > 89 % = A; 80-89 % = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D).

Code of Student Rights, Responsibility, and Conduct:

     Students are strongly advised to know the “Code of Students Rights, Responsibility, and Conduct” that can be found in the “Student Handbook and
    Planner” that is published each fall semester. Students are expected to read and understand the “Code” as it relates to cheating, plagiarizing, and aiding
    and abetting others to cheat or plagiarize. Students caught cheating or plagiarizing on tests, reports or projects will receive a zero for that portion of
     the course.

Students with Disabilities:

    Students that need assistance or special arrangements should contact the “Services for Students with Disabilities” office as soon as possible to make
    arrangements for special needs. Students who obtain the necessary documentation attesting to their need and submit it to the professor will be
    accommodated. SSD is located in WB113. Their telephone number is (260) 481-6658.

Laboratories/field exercises are essential to the course. Students should develop skills in assessing and determining geologic implications of environmental issues.

Class Project: Students will work in teams to evaluate the influence of geology in the location of IPFW campus. The class project will examine the relationship between surface water and groundwater. The class will also examine how our activities and actions are infleunced by geology (location, location, location).

Field Trips: There will be a minimum of two and a maximum of five field trips during this course and all students are required to go on all trips. The class will visit wetlands and dunes on campus. We will also have a 'virtual' field trip of Allen County. Field trips will be on Thursdays during class time and reports are due the following day by 4:00 pm through the assignment drop box in Blackbard. All reports should be sent in pdf format.

Term Research Project: Students will be required to research (not book/article or library research) on a topic relating to this course. The student may choose any suitable topic, but must get the Instructor's approval before starting on the project. An example of a potential project to address the question: What impact if any have constructions had on the IPFW environment?

I strongly encourage students to choose a research topic before Spring Break (March 5, 2012). Students should consult with the instructor weekly concerning their projects and students should submit rough drafts before the final copy is turned in April 19 (481-6657, voice/TTY)”

Tentative Schedule:

1. Principles & Concepts
Humans in the Environment
(Changing Environment; Environmental Problems)
(Aral Sea Example or the wandering Lake in China)
Different views on climate change "On Truth, Fact, Values, Climate Change debate... topic.

2. A crowded World (Population)
(Understanding Population (demographic studies site) growth & Problems of Overpopulation) Part Three

Water for class discussion. Is Poverty the main Problem? (The hunger project website)

Sustainability and carrying capacity

Sustainability overpopulation and Water

The world population @ 7 billion 2011

UNESCO Water site

Exam One ...Take home...will be available Feb 2, 2012 and the answers (sent through Blackboard assignment drop box) are due Feb 9, 2012.

3. The search for Energy
(Fossil Fuels, Nuclear energy, renewable energy and conservation)

The Energy Resources Program (Facts...coal, oil/gas,environment & health, publications, etc.)

Alternative energy website.

Birds are caught in the middle () Dec. 23, 2003

US Dept of Energy website

4. Our Precious resources
(water, soils, minerals...)

'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.
Green Lawn..any problem with that?

Exam II will be made available about a week before it's due (April 5, 2012), but due April 5.

5. Environmental Concerns
(air pollution, global atmospheric changes, water pollution, pesticides, solid/hazardous wastes)
Part Six Landslides Worldwatch Institue (click on Dec 01' and then 'Waste tire recycling: Where the rubber meets the road and then 'full text')

USGS Water Science for Schools website

NASA Natural Hazards web site. You must visit this site:)

Water and health 2004-05 Per Gleick

Waterborne diseases outbreaks in the United States problem Set using Table 13 ....... due March 29, 2012. (5%)

Cost benefit analysis for pollution prevention

On Truth, Fact, Values, Climate Change, and Doughnuts

Climate change another view?

The above topics may be covered by March 22, leaving you with approximately four weeks to work on your project.

Emphasis will be on human impact on the environment.

Your Project Report is due 6:00 p.m. through Blackboard assignment drop box, April 19, 2012.

Your report must follow this format.
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Methods or Approach
Results or data
Discussions
Conclusion(s)
Acknowledgement (if any)
References

Note:
I will need ~4-weekly (once a week) updates concerning your research project.
Presentation starts on April 19.

Spring Break: March 5-9

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 two articles (refereed articles) apart from those listed below to review. The articles should be related to your proposed class project. Write a one-page double space summary for each article along with an e-copy of each article. Each summary must include a paragraph of your personal view of the article. All together, you should have a total of seven pages for the reading assignments. Note: the articles may be discussed in class.

NOTE: All reports, including tests must be submitted through Blackboard assignment drop box and always have your name and topic as part of the name of your file (e.g. isiorhoreportwtg)…not following this simple rule will cost you points.

1. Write one page report per article on any two given articles. Summit your reports before class Jan 21, 2012 through Blackboard assignment drop box.
    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. Summit your reports before class time on February 16, 2012 through Blackboard assignment drop box.
    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 one page review of "Entering a New World" by Lester Brown. Due through Blackboard assignment drop box by March 16, 2012 before class time.

4. Write a one page report each on any two peer reviewed articles (e-copies must be submitted along with your report) you are selecting for your literature review for your proposed class project. Due March 22, 2012.

Bonus paper...a one page report on Drinking-Water Nitrate and Health Recent Findings and Research Needs....Another site for the same article ..due March 29, 2012.

Class article review...to be given or link will be provided through Blackboard

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 Blackboard

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

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).
Environmental Conservation journal website      Global Environmental Conservation Panda      UMass Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation
Environemtal Conservations organizations

Human appropriation for freshwater supply

Global population and Water: access and sustainability

Socioeconomic Baseline Data

Basic Math Skills required from Columbia Univeristy

Teflon found in drinking water Jan. 12, 2006

Hurricanes and our coastlines GulfCoast ecosystem

Groundwater Foundation Membership

Biomes and other Ecological Zones .... maybe useful for one of your test questions.

Global climate pattern Animations Functions of Wetlands