Instructor Information:

Dr. Steven B. Broyles Office: 231 Bowers Hall

Department of Biological Sciences Phone: 607.753.2901

State University of New York E-mail: broyles@cortland.edu

Cortland, NY 13045 Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 3-4 P.M., Tuesday 9-11 A.M, Friday 9-10 A.M.

Course Description:

History and development of contemporary western thought about relationships of human beings to the natural world; analysis of elemental character; patterns and processes of altercation and impacts of humans on local environments; study of socioeconomic systems that give rise to and must ultimately solve environmental problems. (3 credit hours)

Texts:

1. The Evolution Explosion by Stephen R. Palumbi

2. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Environmental Issues edited by Theodore D. Goldfarb (2003;10th Edition).

3. And the Waters Turned to Blood by Rodney Barker (1999).

Grades:

Your grade will be based on four elements. These include examinations (semester and final examinations), class participation, your attendance and completion of a field trip report, and your preparation / participation in the classroom debate.

Exams (4 exams x 45 points each) will be of a varied format. You can expect matching, multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions based on material covered in lecture, texts, and additional assigned readings. Semester exam questions will be both conceptual and factual in nature. You should expect the final examination to be cumulative but more focused on concepts than facts.

Field Trip Participation (50 points). All students enrolled in EST 100 for the fall 2002 semester are required to complete two outside of class field trips and participate in a discussion of environmental concepts/issues covered on each trip. Students may be asked to complete additional research in preparation for the field trips. Students are expected to use the trip as a fact-finding mission and should be curious, inquisitive, and observant.

Students will need to select and sign up for each field trip by Friday, February 28. All field trips leave promptly from the Bowers Hall Loading dock at 1:50 P.M. There are no alternative assignments to field trips so don't be late and miss the trip. Students are excused from EST 100 class on the dates of field trips. For example, if you choose the March 19 DeLaval Farm field trip, then you are excused from class for March 21.

Date Topic Destination

March 19 or 21 Ecology of Dairy Farming Preble, NY

April 11 or 14 Managing Human Wastes OCCRA Waste to Energy Facility

Participation. Your full attentive and participatory involvement is expected. This includes being on time for class, attending your scheduled section, and completing reading assignments. It is likely that the two sections will be on different schedules, cover slightly different information, and perhaps have different exams. In addition, the enrollment for EST 100 is lower than most classes to facilitate discussion and participation of the students. Please be sensitive to this policy and plan to attend your schedule section. If for some reason you need to attend the other section, then please consult with me one week in advance of the class.

Unit participation scores will be assessed with each unit test based on your attendance and level of participation. There are four units in the course. Participation scores will be assigned by the following rubric.

5 points will be assigned to a student who attended all classes of the unit and participated by asking questions, contributing to discussion, and arriving prepared to class.

4 points will be assigned to a student who demonstrated full preparation for class, and contributed to classroom discussion, but may have missed a class OR a student who demonstrated full preparation and perfect attendance, but contributed little to discussions.

3 points will be assigned to a student who in general was prepared for class, but missed a class and had limited contribution to discussions.

1 point will be assigned to a student who missed two classes.

Community Forum. Students in EST will explore two issues (development of genetically modified organisms and implementation of water fluoridation) of considerable debate in communities locally and globally. These forums are designed to provide a historical overview of the issue, pros and cons of each issue, and how science is used/misused in issues of environmental studies.

Student panelists will identify one role with a forum that they wish to investigate. Panelists will research, testify, and document the views and opinions of the role they play. Panelists should read information used by other participants in the forum and consult with knowledgeable individuals (e.g., physicians, lawyers, water superintendents, health professionals, chemists, etc.) outside of our class, and read other information. Panelists should prepare a five minute statement that they will read to other participants and the class observers.

All class members should develop questions that will be asked to the panelists. Although we won't be able to solve major problems in our short and simple forum, it is my intention to illustrate the range of opinions and views on a common community issue. Following the forum, public comment and discussion period, students will be required to write an essay (4-5 pages typewritten) summarizing the controversy on one of the community forums. This essay is due on or before the final exam period.

Grading System:

Exams 4 x 45 pts 180

Participation 4 x 5 pts 20

Field Trip Participation 2 x 25pts. 50

Participation/Summary 1 x 50 pts. 50

of Community Forums

Total Points 300

A 90-100% of Total Points (> 270 points)

B 80-89% of Total Points (240 - 269 points)

C 70-79% of Total Points (210 - 239 points)

D 60-69% of Total Points (180 - 209 points)

F < 60% of Total Points (< 179 points)

+/- based on top and bottom 2.5% of each grade category, respectively.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULES

CRN 20106-MWF 10:20-11:10 A.M. Thursday, May 15 from 10:30 A.M. -12:30 P.M.

CRN 23666-MWF 1:50-2:40 P.M. Monday, May 12 from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M.

****The course schedule provides a guided framework for course topics, discussions, and unit tests. Actual dates of topics and exams may change during the semester. The instructor will notify students of changes as they occur throughout the semester.***

Jan. 22 W Introduction to Environmental Studies

Jan. 24 F Fundamental Resources: Water

Jan. 27 M Fundamental Resources: Water

Jan. 29 W What is Clean Water?

Jan. 31 F Fundamental Resources: Atmosphere

Feb. 3 M Fundamental Resources: Atmosphere

Feb. 5 W Discussion: Do Human Activities Threaten the Global Environment (Issue 12 in Taking Sides)

Feb. 7 F UNIT I EXAM

Feb. 10 M Human Populations: Historical & Contemporary Perspectives

Feb. 12 W Human Populations: Lessons from the Past (Issue 16 in Taking Sides)

Feb. 14 F Farming & Agriculture

Feb. 17 M Farming & Agriculture

Feb. 19 W How Humans Drive Biological Evolution (Palumbi, pp. 3-63)

Feb. 21 F How Humans Drive Biological Evolution (Palumbi, pp. 64-95)

Feb. 24 M How Humans Drive Biological Evolution (Palumbi, pp. 131-183)

Feb. 26 W UNIT II EXAM

Feb. 28 F What are estuaries and why are they important?

Mar. 3 M Discussion-"And the Waters Turned to Blood"

Mar. 5 W Discussion-"And the Waters Turned to Blood"

Mar. 7 F Discussion-"And the Waters Turned to Blood"

Mar. 17 M Economy and Ecology of Dairy Farming-Innovative Technology

Mar. 19 W DeLaval Dairy Farm Field Trip #1 2:00-4:30 P.M.

Mar. 21 F DeLaval Dairy Farm Field Trip #2 2:00-4:30 P.M.

Mar. 24 M Discussion and review of DeLaval Dairy Farm Field Trip

Mar. 26 W UNIT III EXAM

Mar. 28 F Environmental Toxins and Hazards

Mar. 31 M Superfund and the E.PA.

Apr. 2 W Movie: A Civil Action

Apr. 4 F Movie: A Civil Action

Apr. 7 M Discussion: Hazardous Waste: Should the "Polluter Pays" Provision of Superfund Be Weakened? (Issues 13 & 14 in Taking Sides)

Apr. 9 W Scholar's Day

Apr. 11 F OCCRA Waste-to-Energy Facility Field Trip #1 2:00-4:30 P.M.

Apr. 14 M OCCRA Waste-to-Energy Facility Field Trip #2 2:00-4:30 P.M.

Apr. 16 W UNIT IV Field Trip

Apr. 18 F COMP DATE-NO Class

Apr. 20 M Introduction to Community Fluoridation, Proponents

Apr. 22 W Community Fluoridation, Opposition

Apr. 24 F Community Fluoridation, Opposition & Review

Apr. 27 M Introduction to Genetically Modified Organisms, Proponents

Apr. 19 W GMO's Opposition

May 1 F GMO's Opposition & Review

May 4 M Wrap-up and Evaluation

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULES

CRN 20106-MWF 10:20-11:10 A.M. Thursday, May 15 from 10:30 A.M. -12:30 P.M.

CRN 23666-MWF 1:50-2:40 P.M. Monday, May 12 from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M.

Please turn your final exam in on or before the scheduled final exam period.