ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SEMINAR
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SEMINAR
ENSC 1500
2008 Fall Term
SYLLABUS
Instructor: Dr. Steven Cooke
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Biology
Office: Herzberg Building – Room TBD
Phone: 520-2600, ext. 2143
E-mail: Steven_Cooke@Carleton.Ca
Office hours: Tuesday 10 to Noon, or by appointment
Teaching Assistant: Claire Yick
E-mail: cyick@connect.carleton.ca
Class Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:05 to 2:30
Tory Building, Room 234
Text: None – Readings will be provided via website or in class.
Course website: carleton.ca/fecpl/envsci1500.html
Prerequisites: This course is designed solely for students in the Environmental Science
Program (or those planning to join the program).
Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the field of environmental science and to provide them with strategies for analyzing and solving environmental problems. The course will consider environmental science in the broadest sense, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of the field, and covering multiple spatial (local to global) and temporal (past, present, and future) scales. At the conclusion of the course students will have interacted with environmental science professionals, participated in discussions, delivered a presentation, and authored their first research paper. The objectives of the course are to:
1. Introduce students to the discipline of environmental science and encourage active participation in related student and professional organizations or causes;
2. Provide students with an analytical framework and necessary skills and tools for identifying, studying, understanding, and solving problems in environmental science;
3. Demonstrate the direct links between research and education and highlight the many opportunities to participate in environmental science research during an undergraduate education;
4. Introduce the environmental science program, the faculty members, and the senior students in the program;
5. Generate excitement about the next four years and indeed, the other the challenges and opportunities in environmental science that students will face during their professional career.
Organization of the Course: The first part of the course consists of lectures and discussions on issues and problems in environmental science. In addition, there will be workshops on developing library skills, career planning, and oral presentations. Early in the term, students will select a topic in environmental science, conduct independent library research on the topic, and produce a written report that summarizes the issue/problem. Students will also deliver a 20 min individual presentation on their report topic.
Evaluation: The grade for this course will be based on (a) the student’s participation in workshops and discussions (20%), (b) on a written library assignment (10%), (c) on an interview of an environmental science professional (10%), and on the quality of the (d) written (30) and (e) oral (30%) presentations. There is no final exam. Failure to complete all components of the course will prevent the assignment of a final grade.
Late Policy: The late policy of this class is designed to be fair to students who handed their work in. on time. Written assignments are due at the beginning of class and are deemed late thereafter. Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day (including weekends).
Plagarism and Academic Integrity: The assignments in the course (especially the presentation and research paper) must be properly referenced and include a bibliography of all sources used in the preparation of the assignment. Academic misconduct related to plagiarism and academic integrity has serious consequences (see ). We will discuss how to properly use and properly reference a variety of sources in class.
Exceptionalities: Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations in this course are encouraged to contact a coordinator at the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities to complete the necessary letters of accommodation. After registering with the PMC, make an appointment to meet and discuss your needs with them at least two weeks prior to the assignment. Religious accommodations should be discussed with the instructor early in the semester.
SCHEDULE
Thurs Sept 4 Welcome from Prof. Ildi Munro, Assoc. Dir of Env. Sci.
Tues Sept 9 Introduction to Course and Program
Thurs Sept 11 What is Environmental Science?
Reading 1
Tues Sept 16 Population and the Environment
Reading 2
Thurs Sept 18 Biodiversity – Guest Speaker
Reading 3
Informal Selection of Topic for Seminar/Paper
Tues Sept 23 Library Research Methods (Librarian Meghan Laidlaw)
Meet at the Library Lobby at 1:05
Thurs Sept 25 Co-op and other Research Opportunities at CU
Guest Speaker: Amanda O’Toole, Grad Student, Carleton
Tues Sept 30 Marine Resources and Integrated Coastal Management
Reading 4
Thurs Oct 2 Mining (Outreach)
Library Assignment Due
Tues Oct 7 Greening the Campus
Includes campus tour
Thurs Oct 9 Air and Water Pollution
Reading 5
Seminar Skills
Tues Oct 14 Seminars 1,2,3
Thurs Oct 16 Seminars 4,5,6
Tues Oct 21 Seminars 7,8,9
Thus Oct 23 Seminars 10,11,12
Tues Oct 28 Guest Seminar – Claire Yick
Thurs Oct 30 Seminars 13,14,15
Tues Nov 4 Seminars 16,17,18
Thurs Nov 6 Seminars 19,20
Session on Writing Research Paper
Tues Nov 11 No class – Preparation of Research Paper
Thurs Nov13 No class – Preparation of Research Paper
Tues Nov 18 Seminars 21, 22, 23
Interview Assignment Due
Thurs Nov 20 Seminars 24,25,26
Tues Nov 25 Seminars 27,28,29
Thurs Nov 27 Seminars 30,31
Debrief and the Future of Env Sci
Fri Nov 28 RESEARCH PAPER DUE BY 3pm to Irene Helder
ASSIGNMENTS
Participation (20%) - Students are expected to participate in class activities and discussion. Active participation will require that students are prepared for class by reading and summarizing necessary information from the text. However, students are expected to also pay close attention to environmental issues of local, national, and international importance by tracking information in the media. Attendance is obviously essential for securing a decent participation mark. Students will be expected to attend all of the classes including those where peers are presenting.
Library Assignment (10%) - Due Thurs October 2nd – Students must investigate different topics in environmental science and choose one for the focus of their presentation and research paper (IN TOTAL, THIS BODY OF WORK WILL YIELD 70% OF THE MARK). The topic may be very broad (e.g., pollutants) or be more specific (e.g., disposal problems associated with automobile tires). The topic should be rooted in basic science, but should be considered more broadly in terms of the environment and society. Once the student believes that they have selected an appropriate topic, they must develop a 2 page overview with the following structure. The purpose of this task is to get students rolling on their projects early in the term and to ensure that the topic selected is related to the field and that there are adequate research materials to pursue the topic.
1. Title of topic
2. Brief overview of the topic and its significance to the field of environmental science (300 words). This should include a clear definition of scope. Clearly defining the topic is key to ensuring that you can focus your efforts.
3. Outline of possible structure (what are the key ideas that you will cover in the presentation – i.e., should have evidence of logical structure)
4. List of 5 key literature sources with brief annotations. All must be peer reviewed and should come from academic journals or edited books. General textbooks in “Environmental Science” and websites are NOT appropriate references. Summarize the key topics covered in each paper in 3 to 5 sentences (in your own words).
Interview of Environmental Professional (10%) - Due Tuesday November 18 - Students must select an environmental professional to interview (either by phone or in person). The purpose of this activity is to encourage the development of links to the environmental community outside of Carleton University. Choice of the professional (or profession) should be driven by your curiosity and interest in developing a network of colleagues. Students should summarize the discussion in 600 words and reflect on how the interaction has (or has not) influenced their academic and professional planning.
Seminar Presentation (30%) - Late in the term students will deliver a 20 minute presentation to their peers (on the topic identified in the Library Assignment). Students are encouraged to use Power Point but should also attempt to use other techniques/strategies/creativity to encourage participation and to accommodate different learning styles.
Research Paper (30%) - Due Friday November 28th at 3pm to Irene Helder - Students will be expected to write a substantial paper (1800 - 2000 words – excluding references) that summarizes a body of research related to an issue/problem in environmental science (on the topic from the Library Assignment). The paper should be a critical review and synthesis that integrates disparate material and represent an authoritative overview of the topic. More details on the written assignment to follow. A minimum of 10 peer reviewed literature sources should be cited. The word count must appear on the title page. Papers exceeding the 2000 word limit will be returned to the author for condensing.
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