ENVI 102
Introduction to Environmental Science Spring 2017
Division III
This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

Environmental science is the interdisciplinary study of the Earth’s systems through the synthesis of physical, chemical, geological, and biological perspectives. This course introduces students to the scientific methods used to assess human impacts on the environment. This is important because with the human population expected to grow to more than nine billion people by 2050, we will continue to struggle to find ways to solve, or at least mitigate, the growing environmental consequences of our activities. In this course, we will take a problem-oriented approach to environmental science, focusing on five key questions: 1) Do we have sufficient material resources for the future world population? 2) How can we feed our growing population? 3) How can this population maintain a clean environment? 4) Do we have sufficient sustainable energy resources for a growing population? and 5) How will this growing population change our planet? Over the course of this semester, we will explore the science necessary to understand the underlying environmental systems involved and to develop effective scientific and policy solutions. We will also touch on how science can (and cannot) influence broader issues associated with complex environmental problems. Field and laboratory exercises will generate data that students will analyze, interpret and compare to historic data sets. Students will design and complete an independent project on an environmental science topic of their choice.
The Class: Format: two 75-minute lecture/discussion sessions, and one 3-hour field/laboratory session each week
Limit: 30
Expected: 30
Class#: 3642
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: lab reports; class participation; reaction papers; quizzes/exam; independent project presentation and paper
Prerequisites: none; no seniors without permission of the instructors
Enrollment Preferences: first-year students
Unit Notes: required course for majors in Environmental Policy & Environmental Science
Distributions: Division III
Attributes: ENVP Core Courses
ENVS Core Courses
EXPE Experiential Education Courses

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