ES 210-Environmental Research Methods
Spring 2008

Class: Tu/Th 9:30-10:45 Steffee B312    Lab:   Th 1:30-4:20 pm Steffee B312

Instructors:

Course Goals:

Solving environmental problems requires integration of expertise in many disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences, and economic and political analyses.   As a major in the Environmental Science Department, you may be interested in becoming an environmental lawyer, landscape designer, green architect, environmental artist or writer, forest conservationist, stream ecologist, environmental chemist, or one of any number of potential professions within the environmental arena. This course will give you some background and experience in developing interesting and sound questions, and learning various techniques that will help you to answer these questions.   We will explore various approaches to identifying, analyzing, and solving environmental problems.

In many classes, you get to sit back and listen to some designated “authority” that gives you all that he or she (or even you) thinks you need to know on a particular topic.   NOT in this class, baby.   Real-life environmental problems are much messier.   Often we don't know the question, let alone the answer.   If we understand the question, there may be no precedent to tell us what to expect, or no current techniques that help us find an answer.   And, there are never any books, classes, or authorities that so cleanly spell out solutions to problems.   Hard-working individuals, working in teams, who confront the problem, determine the important questions, and then get to work, solve problems.   In this class, then, YOU are as critical to the success of the class as each instructor is.  You will BE an environmental scientist, and WE will be a scientific team.

We have designed this class roughly into five modules, each lasting approximately three weeks.   We will evaluate several specific problems that exist in our region and each module will focus on a different set of quantitative or qualitative tools to help answer these questions.   However, the specific dates and timing of these modules are dependent on a variety of factors (such as dependable Meadville weather!).   While no methods course could be sufficiently comprehensive to show you every technique or analytical tool that you might need, we expect that the methods that you do learn will serve as a model to highlight those steps you will need to take for virtually any type of question.  

Assignments in this class will show you how environmental scientists examine problem areas, propose projects, gather information, and disseminate information.   You are encouraged to discuss assignments with one another, to explore issues together, and to learn from one another.   Each assignment you hand in, however, is to be yours and yours alone. Unless noted otherwise, collaboration is to end at the time you begin writing your own assignment.

Honor Code

As a member of the Allegheny College community, you are bound by the honor code.   If you have never read Article III, Section 3, which pertains to plagiarism, do so NOW.   Plagiarism is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in this class.   If you have any questions, we’re happy to help you.   Ignorance is no excuse.   If you have ANY questions concerning referencing formats, correct citations, please review your publications handbook, and see us—we’ll be glad to help.   Allegheny now subscribes to an on-line plagiarism detection software program, which can detect if you have plagiarized published information.   We will use this as we see fit.  

Class Participation

As you can see, class participation is a substantial component of your grade.   We EXPECT you to contribute to our discussions and deliberations.   Your performance will be based on both the quantity and quality of your contributions to class.  

Texts and Readings

We will provide relevant articles and materials to you in class for the first sets of modules.   You will also be expected to learn how to search appropriate online databases from the Pelletier Library for articles from academic journals to help you understand the various topics.   You will supplement the readings that are handed out from relevant literature searches that you conduct during the semester.  

Schedule

Weeks 1-3 ,   21 January – 8 February:
Module 1: Urban Environmental Health: Coliforms

Weeks 4-6 11 February – 29 February:
Module 2: Watershed Biodiversity

• Basic Environmental Chemistry
• Aquatic Biodiversity
• Research Project
• Module Adaptation for Costa Rica
• Presentation

Weeks 7-11: 3 March – 4 April (including spring break)
Module 3: Rates of Water Consumption

• Qualitative Research
• Behavioral Data
• Virtual Water
• Water bills vs. Observational data
• U.S. water use vs. global water use
• Module Adaptation for Al Quds University, Palestine, Digital Video Conference, March 25, 2008
• Presentation

End Week 8, March 15: each group must have an approved project prior to spring break

Week 9 (Mar 15 - 23):             Spring Break

Weeks 12-14:   7 April – 29 April

Group designed independent research

• Al Quds University, Palestine, Digital Video Conference, April 22, 2008
• Earth Day Presentations, April 22, 2008

Participation   

Please note that a significant portion of your grade is determined by your regular attendance, your assigned facilitation of readings and your contribution to class discussions.   You will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Module Formula

Major Module Assignment due one week after module completion

Notes:

• Weekly Assignments indicate the day they are given, not due
• Major Module Assignment might be a formal report, analysis (or portions thereof) or a Literature Review
• Conclusions Presentations might take the form of PowerPoint, Poster or Brochure and only 2 or three groups would present for any single module.

Grading:

01/22/08 ls