es300: environmental issues · 5 9 course learning memorandum may 10 5 10 weeklyweekly module...
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ESP 308
Global Environmental Problems and Sustainability Spring 2019
Instructor:
Travis Wagner, Ph.D.
Professor Department of Environmental Science & Policy University of Southern Maine EMAIL: [email protected]
Office Hours:
Because this is an online course, I have virtual office hours. This means you
are not limited to set days and hours--we will set up a day and time that works (including weekends if this is best). So, if you have questions or concerns
about the course, the first step is to email me. We can meet via email, by phone, Zoom, Facetime, or Skype as appropriate.
Course Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. Summarize the major global environmental problems and their impacton a sustainable future.
2. Compare the traditional approach to solving environmental problems tothe sustainability approach.
3. Select appropriate policy and behavioral tools to foster sustainability-
based solutions.
4. Evaluate the commitment and practice of other nations toward a goal
of sustainability.
5. Design a project to promote a sustainable society at the local level.
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED, 1987).
Course Overview:
Copyright 2019 Travis Wagner, Ph.D.
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The concept of sustainability is built on three pillars: Society, Economy, and
Environment. A sustainable society is based on a green economy with fair
distribution of resources, improved human well-being and social equity, and
reduced environmental impacts to enhance ecological integrity. Each of the
three pillars must be strong and there must be balance--the loss of any pillar
can bring about the degradation, demise, or collapse of a society.
This online course fosters a basic understanding of natural systems, the
interaction of the built environment (infrastructure) with natural systems, the
role of technology, and the influence of socioeconomic factors (economics,
politics, ethics, philosophy, and culture) in how we approach sustainability as
the solution to global environmental problems.
We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see
land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and
respect. There is no other way for land to survive the impact of mechanized man, nor
for us to reap from it the esthetic harvest it is capable, under science, of contributing
to culture. – Aldo Leopold, 1949, A Sand County Almanac
Course Delivery:
Each week you are required to complete the assigned reading(s), view the
series of modules comprised of video-taped lectures or stand-alone videos, and
then complete and upload the weekly module assignments (MAs) and post to
the discussion board with videos using VoiceThread. The weekly MAs are the
applied nature of the lecture and are used to demonstrate your understanding
of the material by applying it to specific conditions. Modules will be activated
on the Monday of each appropriate week. The weekly MAs are due no later
than 11:59 pm on Sunday of that week; late assignments are not an option in
this course so please plan your life accordingly. In addition to the weekly
assignments, there are Problem Sets, a research project, discussion board
posts, and a presentation, which are all explained in the Assignments folder of
BB.
Course Materials: REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
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McKenzie-Mohr, D. (2011). Fostering sustainable behavior: An introduction to community-based social marketing (3rd ed.). Gabriola Island, British Columbia: New Society Publishers. (FSB)
Additional, required readings will be posted in the weekly content folders in BB.
Tentative Schedule of Topics, Readings, & Assignments Due:
WEEK TOPIC REQUIRED READINGS
ASSIGNMENTS
1
Jan 22-27
What is sustainability? Overview and history
- Sustainable development: historical roots of the concept
- Quit talking about sustainability
- MA #1
- PS#1 - Carbon Footprint
2
Jan 28-Feb 3
Carbon Footprint: Economy & Society
- Addressing Sustainability and Consumption (DB)
- Waste and want: A social history of trash (DB)
- MA #2
- DB POSTING #1
- DB POSTING #2
3 Feb 4-10 Climate & Sustainability Maine climate report - MA #3
4
Feb 11-17
Energy & Sustainability Human Scale Energy Services: Untangling a golden thread (DB)
- Sustainability Project: Topic
- MA #4
- DB POSTING #3
5
Feb 18-24
Water: Quantity & Quality Water, Security, and Conflict
- MA #5
- Video - Sustainability Project Topic
6
Feb 25-Mar 3
Food Production & Consumption
Reducing food waste
- MA #6
- Sustainability Project Proposal
7
Mar 4-10
Responding to Environmental Problems
Collapse: how societies choose or fail to succeed (DB)
- MA #7
- DB POSTING #4
8 Mar 11-
17
Responding to Environmental Problems
- PS #2: Country
Sustainability Summary
9 Mar 18-
24 SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
10
Mar 25-31
Measuring Sustainability Sustainable Portland
- MA #8
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WEEK TOPIC REQUIRED READINGS
ASSIGNMENTS
11
Apr 1-7
Fostering Sustainable Behavior Part 1
FSB: Pages 0-128
- PS #3: Country Sustainability Assessment
- MA #9
12
Apr 8-14 Fostering Sustainable Behavior Part 2
FSB: Pages 129-152
- MA #10 – 5 PTS
13
Apr 15-21
Implementing Sustainability - MA #11
14
Apr 22-28
Achieving Sustainability - DB POSTING #5
15
Apr 29-May 5
Course Conclusion
Video Presentations of Sustainability Projects
- MA #12
- Final Presentation
- Final Project
- Course Learning Memorandum
Course Assignments:
This is an upper-level course, thus, you are expected to take an active role in
your own learning. The course is comprised of taped lectures, weekly module
assignments, discussion board posts, problems sets, a major sustainability
project (planning or service-based), and a video presentation of your final
project.
Descriptions of assignments are in the Assignments folder in BB.
No. Assignment Points Due By
1 PS #1 Carbon Footprint 5 January 27
2 Sustainability Project Topic 5 February 17
3 Video - Sustainability Project Topic 5 February 24
4 Sustainability Project Proposal 10 March 3
5 PS #2 Country Sustainability Summary 15 March 17
6 PS #3 Country Sustainability Assessment 15 April 7
7 Presentation – Sustainability Project 10 May 1
8 Final Sustainability Project 30 May 3
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9 Course Learning Memorandum 10 May 5
10 Weekly Module Assignments - 12 40 Weekly
11 Discussion Board Postings - 5 20 As scheduled
Course Policies:
Assignments
All submissions need to be uploaded to Blackboard (no email submissions accepted) no later than 11:59 pm on the due date, usually the end of the module week--Sunday. Please note that precisely at 11:59 pm on the due-by date, the ability to upload submissions disappears and email submissions will NOT be accepted -- late submissions are not possible.
Student Support
If you have difficulties in this course, it is imperative you reach out for help or contact me as soon as possible. USM provides various types of support to ensure your academic success. There are online and in-person tutoring services though the Learning Commons (https://usm.maine.edu/learningcommons/about-tutoring-usm) and counseling services (https://usm.maine.edu/uhcs/counseling-services). And, if you are having problems with computing or Blackboard contact the Help Line at 207.780.4029 or by email: [email protected].
Disability Support
The university is committed to providing students with documented disabilities equal access to all university programs and services. If you think you have a disability and would like to request accommodations, you must register with the Disability Services Center. Timely notification is essential. The Disability Services Center can be reached by calling 207.780.4706 or by email at [email protected]. If you have already received a faculty accommodation letter from the Disability Services Center, please provide me with that information as soon as possible.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is not accepted and will not be tolerated. In addition to the obvious, other areas of plagiarism include fabrication of data and the presentation of work that is not yours. The latter can be prevented through proper citation, which allows you to provide credit for others’ work. If you have any questions regarding referencing formats and correct citations, please ask me. Go to USM’s library webpage for online tutorials avoiding plagiarism and on proper citing of references. http://usm-maine.libguides.com/tutorials/understandingcitations.
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