Environmental Systems

Environmental Sciences 330, Fall 2004, 3 credits

MWF 10-10:50, Northrop 340

[ link to class schedule ]

Instructor: Dr. Grant Meyer

Northrop 214; mailbox in Northrop 141 (Dept. Main Office)

Phone: (505) 277-5384, Fax: (505) 277-8843

Office Hours: to be arranged (or by appointment)

E-Mail: gmeyer@unm.edu  (the best means of communication; phone messages are least preferred)

 

Prerequisites: Prior completion of the following courses is required:

 EPS 101 or 103 or Env Sc 101; Chem 121L; and one from Math 162L, Biol 121L or Phys 160

Class Web Site:  http://epswww.unm.edu/facstaff/gmeyer/envsc330/330home.html

Synopsis and Course Goals: Study of the human relationship to and impact on the physical environment. Systems approach to environmental science. Sustainable resource development and management. Global and local environmental change and implications for ecosystems.  General methods of data retrieval, storage, and analysis for environmental science.  Introduction to quantitative modeling of environmental systems.  Search, use, and citation of scientific literature.  Communication of scientific information.

Textbook: McKinney, M.L., and Schoch, R.M., Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions (3rd ed.): Sudbury, MA, Jones and Bartlett (2003).

A copy of the textbook is available on 2-hour reserve at Centennial Library.  Also, there is a website for the text available to UNM network users at: http://www.netlibrary.com/   - use the search box on that page to find this text by author or title.

Reading: Timely completion of readings is essential to your success.  One of the goals of this course is to become familiar with the general nature of the scientific literature and how to find, interpret, and use information from this vast resource.  Additional readings from the scientific literature and popularized science writings will be assigned for analysis and discussion; assignments will be announced in class, as well as posted on the web schedule.

Assignments and Grading:  Work to complete for grading in this course includes:

  • Problems and exercises, some computer-based (~4, 15% of grade)
  • Discussion questions or short critical essays on additional assigned readings, to be turned in before discussion periods, and overall involvement in course (~4, 15% of grade)
  • Two midterm examinations (2nd not comprehensive) (40% of grade)
  • Individual semester research project including proposal, outline, abstract, peer review, and poster presentation in final exam period (30% of grade; see schedule)

Any late work will be penalized by deducting 15% of the total possible points for each day late.  Any problems with exam dates must be discussed with me BEFORE the exam date; make-up exams cannot be scheduled after the exam date except in true documented emergency situations.

Students with documented disabilities should discuss their needs with me as soon as possible.