Biology 150 Spring 1998

Society and the Environment

Professor: Bill Pfitsch

Meeting times:
Science 201A
x4717,
wpfitsch@hamilton.edu
Section 1: MWF 9 - 9:50
Section 2: MW 9 - 9:50, F 1 - 1:50 .

Text:

Cunningham and Saigo 1997

Environmental Science: a Global Concern.

Readings:

Goldfarb (ed.) 1997

Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Environmental Issues

Books:

Aldo Leopold

Rachael Carson

A Sand County Almanac

Silent Spring

Week

Dates

Topics

Chapters

Assignment

1

19 - 23 Jan

 
  • Introduction
  • Society and Environment
  • Discussion: Hamilton and the Environment

1 & 2

2

26 - 30 Jan

 
  • Ecosystem energy flow
  • Ecosystem nutrient cycling
  • Discussion: "Tragedy of the Commons" (reserve)

3

Web Report #1

3

2 - 4 Feb

 
  • Communities
  • Landscapes
  • Discussion: A Sand County Almanac

4 & 5

Book Review

4

9 - 13 Feb

 
  • Population ecology
  • Human populations
  • Discussion: Issue 5: Limiting population growth

6 & 7

5

16 - 20 Feb

 
  • Human populations
  • Test #1
  • Discussion: Issue 2: Value of wilderness

10

6

23 - 27 Feb

 
  • Agriculture: Green Revolution
  • Agriculture: soil fertilit
  • Discussion: Chemical-based agriculture

11

7

2 - 6 Mar

 
  • Agriculture: pesticides
  • Guest: Geologist Todd Rayne: Water
  • Discussion: Silent Spring
  • Optional Field Trip: local farm

12 & 19

Book Review

8

9 - 11 Mar

 
  • Biodiversity: what is it?
  • Biodiversity: how to preserve it?
  • Discussion: Issue 3: Endangered species act

13

Web Report #2

Spring Break

9

30 Mar -
3 Apr

 
  • Biodiversity
  • Guest: Economist Robert Turner, Colgate
  • Discussion: Issue 15: Tropical deforestation

14

10

6 - 10 Apr

 
  • Atmospherics
  • Atmospherics: Climate
  • Discussion: Kyoto agreement - Issue 17: global warming

17

Web report #3

11

13 - 17 Apr

 
  • Global warming
  • Test #2
  • Discussion: Carbon economy of Hamilton College - (set up group projects)

17

12

20 - 24 Apr

 
  • Ozone depletion
  • Air pollution
  • Discussion: Issue 16: Ozone & chlorofluorocarbons
  • Optional field trip: Rogers Glen dump

18

13

27 Apr -
1 May

 
  • Air pollution
  • Monday 4 pm Guest lecture: John Laurence, Boyce Thompson Institute: Estimating the effects of air pollution on plant growth: results from laboratory, field, and modeling experiments.
  • Energy alternatives
  • Discussion: Issue 10: Reducing air pollution
  • Optional field trip: County land-fill

18 & 22

Book Review

14

4 - 8 May

 
  • Solid waste
  • Solid waste
  • Carbon economy of Hamilton College: Conclusion

23

15

Week of
11 May

Final Exam

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©Bill Pfitsch, 1/98