Introduction to Environmental Studies (Spring 2011)
Course Description: This course introduces environmental issues from a range of disciplines and perspectives. We begin in Module I with an overview of a number of classic works in the field, tracing the history of modern environmentalism to its Darwinian and Malthusian roots. Module II provides an empirical underpinning for ecosystem and natural resource management. Module III applies these empirical tools to international issues, with an emphasis on international environmental law and policy. Module IV applies the theoretical, scientific, and policy expertise gained in Modules I-III to the various crises of global food policy in the 21st century.
Using this Page: We will primarily use this page to compile and examine current events assignments. Assignments are due at least two hours prior to class on Thursdays and should pertain to the regions or topics discussed since the last assignment. Feel free to use the list of links I have provided in the syllabus (and which are available here for your convenience), or to find your piece elsewhere. The articles you find should generally be short enough for people to have a chance to browse them, but long enough that we can learn from them. A full-page Economist article is a good length. In order to receive credit for each assignment, you need to do one of the following two things: 1) write a short paragraph in the comments section of this page explaining why this article or piece caught your attention, and how you think it relates to our studies, or 2) write a short paragraph (or more, if you want) in the comments section of another student's post. You are of course free to do both; this forum is meant to be interactive, and you should feel free to comment however and wherever you want on the pbworks page.
Useful Web Links: click here for a list of web links to help you when researching your uploads. Feel free to add any other links that you feel may be of use to your fellow students in the comments section.
Course Documents are available here.
Course link archive available here.
Relevant Assignment Dates:
Papers, Quizzes, Test
| Date |
Session Name |
Materials |
Assignment |
| 3/7 |
Short paper due |
Short Paper Guidelines
|
Short paper due in class |
| 3/23 |
Midterm Exam |
Study guide to be provided
|
midterm exam
|
| 4/27 |
Policy Quiz |
Study guide to be provided
|
policy quiz |
| 5/13 |
Long Papers Due |
Book critique guidelines |
Turn in paper via email |
Current Events and Topical Assignments
| Date |
Session Name |
Assignment |
| 2/2 |
Collective action problems and western anthropocentrism |
First |
| 2/9 |
Other trends: animal liberation and deep ecology |
Second |
| 2/23 |
Human Health and Environmental Toxicology
|
Third |
| 3/9 |
Climate Change
|
Fourth |
| 3/30 |
NGO Case Study Assignment
|
Fifth |
| 4/6 |
Cases, day 1: Toxics, Chemicals, Wastes |
Sixth |
| 4/13 |
Cases, day 3: Resources, Species, Habitats |
Seventh |
| 4/25 |
Focus on: corporate social responsibility |
Eighth |
| 5/4 |
But how to fix it?
|
Ninth |
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