2010-2011

Explores the relationship between recent developments in information technology and current global environmental issues. Potential topics include ecoinformatics, e-waste, technological life cycle assessment, and online community building. Activities involve reading, writing, discussion, and a final project.

Understanding the impact of the nuclear age on the environment and human health through the interrelated developments of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The early years of weapon development, catastrophic environmental pollution, perils of nuclear power in the U.S. and Russia. Same as Social Ecology E127 and Public Health 168.

Critically evaluates how transportation can promote sustainable, healthy, and equitable cities. Examines the interaction of transportation systems with urban form, land use, community health, and environmental quality. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Lecture, three hours. Provides an introduction to sustainability from different points of view; historical, scientific, political, ethical, and economic. Same as Earth System Science 180

Lecture, three hours. Investigates how sustainability can be implemented in a variety of contexts including water, energy, non-renewable resources, biodiversity, and urban policy, and also how it could be measured. Same as Earth System Science 182.

Reviews and critiques literature on discussion topics including: the nature and effectiveness of the environmental movement and environmental policies; the role of science and technology; the use of economic incentives in policy; decentralization of decision making; and creating arenas for public involvement. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Lecture, three hours. Examination of contemporary water problems worldwide, with particular attention to the competing demands for water in the western U.S., and water demand by the poor in developing countries. History and analysis of U.S. water policies at local, state, and federal levels.

Treatment of legal and policy strategies for promoting environmental protection and deterring environmental degradation within the context of other societal objectives. Topical approach with a focus on problems of special interest to criminologists and to environmental policy specialists. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Lecture, three hours. Natural disasters are natural processes that adversely affect humans. By examining these processes students develop a basic understanding of Earth’s physical environment. Topics include: tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, severe weather, flooding, climate change, mass extinctions and impacts with space objects.

Lecture, three hours. Understanding the impact of the nuclear age on the environment and human health through the interrelated developments of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The early years of weapon development, catastrophic environmental pollution, perils of nuclear power in the U.S. and Russia.