11:375:201 Biological Principles of Environmental Science
Fall 2012, Index No. 04414
Time/Place: Tuesday & Thursday, 5th period, 3:55-5:15 p.m.
Room 138A Foran Hall, Cook Campus
Instructors: Dr. Donna Fennell, e-mail: fennell@envsci.rutgers.edu
231 Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences Bldg, 848-932-5748
Office Hours: drop by any time - at your own risk & by appointment
Dr. Peter Strom, e-mail: strom@aesop.rutgers.edu (course coordinator)
228 Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences Bldg., phone 848-932-5709
Office Hours: by appointment most afternoons (or drop by any time - at your own risk)
Dr. George van Orden, e-mail: gvanorden@hanovertownship.com
phone: 973-428-2485; Office Hours: by appointment
Course Assistant: Sarat Kannepalli, e-mail: saratk@envsci.rutgers.edu
101 Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences Bldg.
Class website: http://envsci.rutgers.edu/~strom/201
Resources:
Vaccari, D.A., P.F. Strom, & J.E. Alleman. 2006. Environmental Biology for Engineers and Scientists. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (available for optional purchase at Cook-Douglass Bookstore; on reserve in Chang Library).
Davis, M.L., & D. A. Cornwell. 1998. Introduction to Environmental Engineering. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, Boston. (assigned pages only, available on class website)
Hardin, G. 1968. The Tragedy of the Commons. Science 162:1243-1248. (available on class website)
Miller, G.T., Jr. 2007. Living in the Environment, 15th ed. Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning, Pacific Grove, CA. (assigned pages only, available on class website)
Requirements:
1. Three exams: Exam 1, 60 pts.; Exam 2, 100 pts.; Exam 3, 80 pts. = 240 pts. total
2. Problem sets (2): 20 pts. each = 40 pts. total
Problem Set 1 - due Tuesday, September 18
Problem Set 2 – due Thursday, October 25
3. Commons Game: 20 pts.
4. Poster presentation & evaluations: 60 pts.
Poster Title and group members – due October 11
Outline (headings and subheadings), list of probable sources (full citations) – due November 1
5. Class participation: 10 pts.
Learning Goals: The learning goals for the Environmental Science major are posted on our website at
http://envsci.rutgers.edu/current_students/envsci_undergrad_program/learning_goals.shtml
This course is intended to contribute to meeting the following goals:
Students will be able to:
* 1. apply knowledge from the sciences and mathematics to environmental problems and solutions;
2. use the skills and modern environmental science techniques and tools necessary for a successful career in the field;
4. function effectively on multidisciplinary teams;
5. communicate technical information effectively (orally, in writing, and through electronic media).
Additionally, they will understand:
6. professional ethical responsibilities;
* 7. contemporary environmental science issues and the impact of environmental science in a global and societal context;
8. the need, and have the ability, to engage in lifelong learning and to participate in professional organizations.
Note: an * signifies a major course learning goal.
Attendance: It is expected that you will attend every class, even though attendance usually is not recorded. You may report an absence using the University website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/, which will automatically send an email to me. You are still responsible for all course materials, including announcements and handouts; please arrange with a classmate (now!) to pick up materials and take notes for you if you are out.
Students with a disability: please see us immediately so that we may make any necessary arrangements to support a successful learning experience.
Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is a serious problem at Rutgers and nationwide. This includes cheating on tests and assignments, and plagiarism. This is of particular concern in Environmental Science and Engineering because of the need for integrity in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. Rutgers deals with academic dishonesty in the Code of Student Conduct and Policy on Academic Integrity (both available at http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu/university-code-of-student-conduct); penalties are stern, as is fitting for the seriousness of the offense. This can mean separation from the University even for a first offense.
While most students understand cheating, many students seem uncertain about plagiarism. Of course, you may not copy anything word for word without putting it in quotes and referencing it. However, it is also plagiarism to report on someone else’s work or ideas without referencing it. These requirements refer to material from the Internet as well as from printed sources.
Every sentence or paragraph in a paper, poster, or presentation that you write or present will fall into one of three categories: 1) a direct quote from an article (or other source), which should be used sparingly (if at all), and which must be in quotes and referenced; 2) an idea from a source you used, expressed in your own words, which must be referenced; or 3) your own idea, or very general knowledge (such as the atomic mass of carbon), which need not be referenced. Often, it is desirable to include a few relevant figures and tables from other sources in your paper or poster or presentation. However, each figure or table caption must include a reference to its source. If you have questions, please ask! This is an important part of learning to be a scientist/engineer.
Tentative Class Schedule (Revised 10/23/12)
|
Class |
Date (speak.) |
Topic |
Reading Assignment* |
|
1 |
9/4 (DF) |
V ch.14: 456-457; M ch.14: 305-334 |
|
|
2 |
9/6 (DF) |
Biogeochemical cycles I: The C, N, S and P cycles and their impact on contaminant fate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
9/11 (DF) |
Biogeochemical cycles II: Quantification/redox reactions |
V ch.13: 389-397, ch.14: 442-456 |
|
4 |
9/13 (DF) |
Environmental contaminants: I and II I. Sources and types of contaminants |
V ch.13: 414-428, ch.14: 457-463; NYTimes (Gertner, Love Canal, DDT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
9/18 (DF) |
Environmental contaminants: II. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification |
V ch.13: 397-414; M ch.22: 533-547 |
|
6 |
9/20 (DF) |
Environmental contaminants: III Attenuation and remediation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
9/25 (PS) |
|
|
|
8 |
9/27 (SK) |
EXAM 1 (classes 1-6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
10/2 (PS) |
The Commons Game |
Hardin (Note: class split) |
|
10 |
10/4 (PS) |
Water pollution – public health |
V ch.12: 342-364 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
10/9 (PS) |
Water pollution –stream sanitation |
|
|
12 |
10/11 (PS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
10/16 (SK) |
Water pollution – indicator organisms |
V ch.12: 382-5; ch.11: 305-309 |
|
14 |
10/18 (AL#) |
V ch.16: 577-582 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
10/23 (PS) |
Wastewater – secondary treatment |
V ch.16: 582-633 |
|
16 |
10/25 (PS) |
V ch.16: 633-659 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
10/30 (PS) |
Microscope lab – CANCELLED |
(Note: class split) |
|
18 |
11/1 (PS) |
CANCELLED |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19 |
11/6 (PS) |
V ch.16: 659-668 |
|
|
20 |
11/8 (GV) |
Video: “The Estrogen Effect” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21 |
11/13 (SK) |
EXAM 2 (classes 7, 10-16, 19) |
|
|
22 |
11/15 (GV) |
V ch.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 |
11/20 (GV) |
||
|
- |
11/22 |
Thanksgiving Holiday |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24 |
11/27 (GV) |
V ch.20 |
|
|
25 |
11/29 (GV) |
V ch.18: 734-747 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26 |
12/4 (GV) |
V ch.18: 747-758 |
|
|
27 |
12/6 (GV) |
V ch.22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
12/11 (SK) |
EXAM 3 (classes 20, 22-27) |
|
|
|
12/14 (Fri) |
Poster Session - 9 - 11 am |
|