Environmental Biology Schedule -- Fall 2008

This schedule is for planning purposes and is subject to change, please review periodically to ensure you are up-to-date!




Assignments
1 8/27 Wens Introduction to Environmental Biology - syllabus, clickers, etc. Note: Readings are to be completed for this date's lecture. When I just indicate ''Chp'' it is from the Environment text. Supplementary readings are made available here.

Assignments
are assigned on the date listed here and are due on the date indicated, usually one week after being assigned.
2 8/29 Fri What is Environmental Science,  Survey taken
Chp 1

9/1 Mon
LABOR DAY NO CLASS
3 9/3 Wens How does science work? Chp 2 and 3
4 9/5 Fri Survey results; Visualizing large numbers Plates 1-5
5
9/8 Mon Ecological Footprints Look at and complete both of these: Footprint calculator 1 and Footprint Calculator II.

Assignment 1: Ecological Footprint assigned today, due next week
6
9/10 Wens Human Population and Environment Chap 7; Human Populations Handout
7
9/12 Fri Human Pop. cont. Chp7; NY Times 1st article ("The most populous nation faces a population crisis" by J. Kahn, 30 May 2004)
8
9/15 Mon Human Pop. cont.
Footprint Assignment DUE;

9
9/17 Wens Ecological Footprints Discussion Be prepared to discuss your footprint . . .
10
9/19 Fri
Review
Chaps 1-3, 7, Readings & Handout and Assignment
11
9/22 Mon Exam 1
STUDY!
12
9/24 Wens Ecosystems
Chap 5
13
9/26 Fri Ecosystems cont.
Chp 5 
14
9/29 Mon Evolution and Biodiversity; Exam 1 Overview overview of the details for evolution
15
10/1 Wens Ecology and Evolution
Chp 5; Reading TBA
16
10/3 Fri
Evolution and Biodiversity Chp 15; Handout available online
17
10/6 Mon Biodiversity Processes and Patterns, Ecosystems
Handout (above); Chp 6
18
10/8 Wens More on  Footprints - what the numbers mean

19
10/10 Fri Biodiversity wrapup, Exam notes

20
10/13 Mon Exam 2
STUDY!  Lectures, Chapters 5, 6, 15 and Evolution and Biodiversity Handouts (see above). Don't forget the footprint assignment.
21
10/15 Wens
Human Health and Toxins Rachel Carson and Silent Spring, Points to Ponder

DDT Assignment (available here)


10/16 -10/19 Fall Break

22
10/20 Mon
Human Health and Toxins cont.
Chp 4; Selections from Sources
22
10/22 Wens
Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution Chp 8;
NY Times Article: "Clear Skies No More for Millions as Pollution Rule Expands," Jennifer Lee, Apr 13, 2004

Background: Senators Call On EPA To Strengthen Mercury Rule; Mercury Policy Project
23
10/24 Fri
Atmosphere and Air Pollution cont.

24
10/27 Mon Global Climate Change DDT Assignment DUE  -- Answer Key


Chp 9

Global Warming 101; Global Warming FAQ
Top 20 CO2 Emissions


25
10/29 Wens
Climate Change cont. Climate Change Handout

NY Times Arctic Article 1 and Article 2 
** Make Sure you visit the Graphics links at the bottom of each article.

Pentagon and Climate Change
26
10/31 Fri



EXTRA INFO: Presidential Candidates and Climate Change

Candidate's positions on Environmental Issues

League of Conservation Voters Report Card
27
11/3 Mon Wrap up Climate change.

A Voter's Guide to the Presidential Candidates and their Environmental Policies
Assignment 3 assigned -- Climate Change available online


Candidate's positions on Environmental Issues

League of Conservation Voters Report Card
28
11/5 Wens Energy -- Overview and
Nuclear Energy
Chp 17


29
11/7 Fri
Energy Handout
30
11/10 Mon Energy -- Non-renewable Computers and energy use

31
11/12 Wens Energy -- Non-renewable, cont.


32
11/14 Fri Energy -- Renewable Assignment 3 DUE

Repower America; Climate for Change

Chp 18

America's Energy Challenge


33
11/17 Mon Energy -- Renewable, cont.
Read the Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
document and take note of the two tables (page 3 & 5)
34
11/19 Wens Energy and transportation; Biofuels, Hydrogen fuel cells ... Building a Better SUV : a case study in the intransigence of the US Auto industry

What about Hydrogen Fuel Cells and cars of the future?
(seems like a lot, but each of these is 5 mins. or less to read)
Clean Vehicles 101
Fuel Economy Basics
Truth about Ethanol
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles: Hype or Hero?
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Fuel Cell Vehicles
How a Fuel Cell Works

Video of Fuel Cell Honda (if you want to do so, you can listen to audio at this page (link top left), but that's not required)
35
11/21 Fri EXAM 3 STUDY FOR EXAM 3

What's on the exam you ask?  In order of prominence: Energy, Climate Change,  Human Health and Toxins, and Air Pollution


11/22 - 11/30
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Enjoy your break!


Assignment 4 available here, also as  a web page
36
12/1 Mon
Food and Agriculture Food and Agriculture Handout

Chp 14; pages 274--278 in text;
Farm costs and food miles: Article 1, Article 2, Original Paper (note, please read the original article, but don't worry if some of it is too technical)

LECTURE SLIDES
37
12/3 Wens
Pastures and Feedlots

The Meatrix

Antibiotics in Livestock Report


FYI, also see the Food Resources page at this website

38
12/5 Fri

Water and its conservation

Chp 10;

Water Resources Handout

Message in a Bottle

LECTURE SLIDES

OPTIONAL: Listen to Who owns the water

39
12/8 Mon
Sustainability; Materials Consumption and Waste, Environmentally Friendly Lifestyle and Home 'The Unbearable Lightness of Consumption'' and
''You Still Don't Get the Subprime Crisis?'' Articles in TruthOut

40
12/10 Wens

Media and Environment





Politics, Society and Environment
Environmental Issues in the Media - Listen to this audio segment before lecture.

To listen to the assignment click here to listen to the story  and see information (mp3 or RealAudio format)

Skim Chp 3;
Politics, Government and our Environment Handout
41
12/12 Fri




What you can do
Assignment  4 Due
NY Times pg 54; Sources 16.5

What you can do to make the world a better place to live
 
Saving the Environment

What you can do About Global Warming

20 Simple Steps you can take to Reduce Global Warming

10 Personal Solutions to Global Warming


12/18 Thursday ** Final Exam: **
Final Exam