It seeks to relate the breadth and strength of available scientific knowledge to public policy goals. A skills course in a debate format. Skills are developed by researching, preparing arguments for, and debating topics related to environmental health and health of the environment. Clear writing skills are also emphasized, as the students write up debate evaluations which are critically graded for content, form and style. This is an experiential field methods course.
Students work as teams collecting field data to test hypotheses about forest habitats.
Students will learn new methods and field skills in local parks and forests, then prepare scientific reports that incorporate statistical analysis to be presented in a class symposium. This is an experiential field methods course. Students work in teams collecting field data to test hypotheses about aquatic habitats. Students will learn new methods and field skills in localcreeks, lakes, and wetlands, then prepare scientific reports that incorporate statistical analysis to be presented in a class symposium. The effects of human perturbation on aquatic systems will be highlighted in both lectures and laboratory work to aid student understanding of the concepts involved.