GEO 306 Minerals, Energy, Water & the Environment



GEOG 340

Introduction to Water Science and Policy

T & Th 8:30 - 9:50 AM; Online via Zoom

Instructor: Michael E. Campana

Cell: 541-602-4085

Michael.Campana@oregonstate.edu

Office hours: M: 7-8:30 PM & W: 8:30 – 10 AM via Zoom (or by appointment)

WaterWired Twitter:

WaterWired blog:

"No policy without a calamity." - Dutch saying

"The true threat is the delusion that our opinion of science somehow alters its reality." - Katherine Hayhoe, Texas Tech University

Textbooks (required): 1) Chasing Water by Brian Richter (Island Press, 2014)

2) The Atlas of Water (3rd edition) by Maggie Black (UC Press, 2016)

Each of these books is a paperback, inexpensive and brief. Richter’s book focuses on avoiding water scarcity and achieving sustainability, an elusive concept that we’ll discuss. Black’s book is a gem, with colored graphics and LOTS of data. The book is divided into 7 parts with each one organized around a theme, and containing 4 – 7 chapters, each just two pages long, mostly graphics. Part 7 contain data sources. It really is a remarkable book, and despite the colors, is inexpensive. We will cover each in its entirety. The books are available at or other online sellers, who may have used and/or e-copies. The Valley Library has e-copies available for each. New copies will cost ~ $45 (for both). Make sure you get the third edition of Black’s book.

Office Hours: I endeavor to keep my office hours as shown above. If for some reason I cannot keep

them I will let you know. You are always welcome to make an appointment to see me (via Zoom or

cell phone) outside my normal office hours.

Course materials online: For announcements, handouts, revised course information and syllabi, homework assignments, grades, PowerPoint lectures, go to the course website:

You may have to may paste URLs into your browser. Please check the site daily. Important notices regarding assignments, etc. will also be announced via e-mail, so it is essential that you check your e-mail regularly. All email will go to your ONID account. If you use another email, make sure your ONID email gets forwarded to it.

Assignments, Due Dates & Points

Assignment 1: 16 October 100

Assignment 2: 30 October 100

Asssignment 3: 13 November 100

Assignment 4: 25 November 100 Thanksgiving break Thursday/Friday, 26-27 November (no class) ----

Final Exam: 11 December Take home 100

TOTAL POINTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- 500

Grading Scale:

The point totals for determining the final grades at the end of the term are:

A = 500 - 470, A- = 465—450; B+ = 445—435, B = 430—420, B- = 415—400; C+ = 395—385, C = 380—370: C- = 365—350; D+ = 345 - 335; D = 330 - 320; D- = 315 - 300; F = < 300. Note: For P/N or S/U students, at least 350 points are required for a P or S.

For more information on evaluating student performance, see: especially items AR 17, 18 and 19.

Homework assignments will be done without help from your classmates (unless otherwise allowed). They will be submitted as word-processed electronic copies emailed to me. Note that smartphone photos of homework emailed to me are generally illegible.

Deadlines. Please try to submit the assignment on time or within a week of the due date. No penalties will be assessed for late assignments. Try not to get too far behind. All work should be submitted by 11 December, the last day of the term. If they are not submitted by 11 December you will receive an incomplete provided you have submitted at least two assignments.

Incompletes. Students may request an incomplete ('I') at the end of the course. To make a request, the student must have submitted at least 2 assignments. Such a request must be submitted by the last day of classes. Keep in mind the word 'request'; I am not obligated to give you an 'I'. Also note that when an incomplete is given, the class grade at the time of the incomplete must be specified.

Etiquette. My commitment to you is to return assignments promptly, and be on time, organized, ready for class. I will treat you with courtesy and respect and answer your questions. You can address me by my full first name, or by calling me ‘Professor’, ‘Doctor’, or Prof. or Dr. Campana. This is not Europe, so you do not have to use Prof. Dr. Campana.

University and College Policies

Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any emergency medical information the instructor should know, or who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early as possible, no later than the first week of the term. In order to arrange alternative testing, the student should make the request at least one week in advance of the test. Students seeking accommodations must be registered with Disability Access Services (541-737-4098) or go to

Reach Out for Success: University students encounter setbacks from time to time. If you encounter difficulties and need assistance, it’s important to reach out. Consider discussing the situation with an instructor or academic advisor. Learn about resources that assist with wellness and academic success at oregonstate.edu/ReachOut. If you are in immediate crisis, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting OREGON to 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Expectations for Student Conduct: Oregon State University seeks to provide students with the knowledge, skill, and wisdom they need to contribute to society. [Note: email me by 11:59 PM on the third day of class with 'Extra Credit' in the subject line to get 25 points of EC - really!] University rules seek to assure each student’s freedom to learn and to the fundamental rights of others. People must treat each other with dignity and respect in order for scholarship to thrive. For more information please see:

Cheating: Cheating or plagiarism by students is subject to the disciplinary process outlined in the Student Conduct Regulations. Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work. Academic dishonesty is defined as an intentional act of deception in one of the following areas:

Cheating – use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study

aids;

Fabrication – falsification or invention of any information;

Assisting – helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty;

Tampering – altering or interfering with evaluation instruments and documents;

Plagiarism – representing the words or ideas of another person as one’s own.

See:

Rules of civility: The College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences follows the university rules on civility and honesty. These can be found at

Behaviors disruptive to the learning environment will not be tolerated and will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for disciplinary action.

Participation and reading the material are important aspects of this class. You are expected to read class material before it is covered in class and become actively engaged in class discussions. If it becomes apparent to me that most of the class is not reading the material, I reserve the right to start playing LOUD 1960s & early 1970s music as a substitute for my lectures.

Course Information, Objectives, Exams, and Syllabus

Introduction to Water Science and Policy provides students with an introduction to hydrology – the science dealing with Earth’s freshwaters - and the policies that affect use, distribution, quality, and management of those waters. The course is not focused on any particular geographic region; examples around the globe will be used. We will also explore issues of racism, bigotry, exclusion and discrimination and how these have manifested themselves in the water world.

I do not post copies of my lectures, unless I use a PowerPoint, in which case I will post a PDF of the PPT. Some handouts will also be used; those will be posted or links provided.

GEOG 340 is a Baccalaureate Core Course under the Synthesis category of Science, Technology, and

Society (STS). Baccalaureate Core Webpage: )

Course Objectives

1. Learn the science of water resources and understand how natural systems function.

2. Learn about the environmental consequences of water resources development and use.

3. Learn how to be a consumer of information focusing on water resources.

4. Learn how policies are generated and what laws and policies control water resources.

5. Learn how how racism, exclusion, bigotry and discrimination have ‘poisoned the well’

Learner Outcomes

The intention of the course is for you to demonstrate your ability to:

1. Analyze relationships among water science, technology, and society using critical

perspectives or examples from historical, political, or economic disciplines.


2. Analyze the role of water science and technology in shaping diverse fields of study over time. 

3. Articulate in writing a critical perspective on issues involving water science, technology, and

society using evidence as support.

4. Understand how racism, exclusion, bigotry and discrimination have shaped the water world

and how they can be eliminated.

5. Develop a personal water ethic.

Learner Expectations

1. Be respectful of other students, especially our guest lecturers, by attending class on time and staying the entire period.

2. Read assignments before they are discussed in class.

3. Participate in learning activities and complete tasks on time.

4. Come prepared to take the final exam (there are no make-up exams).

5. Cell/smart phone use, text messaging, Facebooking, Tweeting, blogging, doing homework for other courses, reading newspapers or other material unrelated to this course’s content, headphones, etc. are discouraged during class. Leave the online classroom if you want to do these.

6. Follow University, departmental, and course policies described above, including proper use and citation of peer-reviewed research.

Recipe for Success: Attend class, do the readings before class so that the lectures are easier to follow, be engaged (ask questions), do the assignments.

Syllabus

(NOTE: weekly readings must be done prior to the first class meeting of that week;

CW – Chasing Water; AW - The Atlas of Water)

.

Week 0 Readings: None

R 9/24 Course and instructor introductions; structure of course; expectations; text;

Historical perspective

Note: Also use the excellent online material from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):

Week 1 CW: Chapter 1; AW: Part 1

T 9/29 Hydrological cycle

R 10/1 Watershed hydrology

Week 2 CW: Chapter 2; AW: Part 1

T 10/6 Water budgets

R 10/8 Continued; Demand and supply

Week 3 CW: Chapters 3; AW: Part 2

T 10/13 Water and climate change

R 10/15 Continued ASSN 1 due 10/16

Week 4 CW: Chapter 4; AW: Part 3

T 10/20 Responsibility for water

R 10/22 Water for living

Week 5 AW: Part 4

T 10/27 Water for economic production

R 10/29 Continued ASSN 2 due 10/30

The Readings and Topics for Weeks 6 – 10 will be forthcoming

Week 6

T 11/3

R 11/5

Week 7

T 11/10

R 11/12

Week 8

T 11/17

R 11/19

Week 9

T 11/24

R 11/26 Thanksgiving Day – NO CLASS

Week 10

T 12/2

R 12/4

“The road to help is paved with good intentions.” – Tracy Baker

NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to modify this information. You will be notified of any modifications.

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