Environmental College Courses Fall 2009

To join the Environmental College, select up to two of the following courses as your top foundation seminar preference (in order of preference).

FOUN 090 07 CRN: 13406
Blue Marble: The Story of a Fragile Planet Earth
Prof. Ned Ladd
Fulfills the Following Requirements:
First-year course; Writing Level 1

When first confronted with the view of Earth from space, Astronaut Neil Armstrong said, "It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth.  I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth.  I didn't feel like a giant.  I felt very, very small."  The Earth is indeed a very small oasis in a large, cold, and mostly dark universe, and it is truly remarkable that this oasis is hospitable to, and even protective of, our complex and fragile biology.  We'll examine the Earth from an astronomer's perspective, looking at the formation of the planet, and the development of the planetwide systems that allowed life to arise here, and continue to harbor and protect us.  We'll see how the Earth system handles large-scale shocks, such as giant asteroid impacts, as well as smaller scale perturbations, such as an increase in the atmospheric chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) concentration.  Particular attention will be paid to human interaction with the Earth system, and how our planet might respond to these interactions. 

FOUN 090 50 CRN: 14527
The Times They are a Changin'
Prof. Mark Spiro
Fulfills the Following Requirements:
First-year course; Writing Level 1

In the first half of the semester, we will focus on the processes that have resulted in life on Earth as we know it. We will investigate the mechanisms and scale of geological, evolutionary, and anthropogenic change and consider the major discoveries and theories that have shaped our understanding of the natural world. For this portion of the course we will read A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. This book provides an accurate, yet entertaining, history of such scientific luminaries as Newton, Lyell, Pasteur, Linnaeus, Darwin, Mendel, and Watson and Crick. In addition we will read excerpts of the original work of these scientists from time to time. An understanding of the processes of geological and evolutionary change will provide a perspective on the magnitude and urgency of the problems that humans face as a result of anthropogenic change. Regular student presentations may focus on such topics as global warming, biodiversity, natural recourses, genetically-modified crops, and emerging technologies. We will begin the second half of the semester with an exploration of agricultural sustainability. The primary text for this portion of the course will be An Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, which presents a highly informed comparison of the ecological and health impacts of various agricultural systems from a historical perspective. Finally, we will consider the environmental movement and the use of political action and non-violent protest to promote political reform both in the US and internationally. We will investigate the history, the current role, and the future direction of this movement through readings by activists such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Rachel Carson, and Al Gore.