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NREM  1012  -­‐  Introduction  to  Natural  Resource  Ecology  and  Management  Fall  2016  Syllabus  MW  9:30–10:20  101  Classroom  North    Instructor:    Dr.  Tim  O’Connell                            tim.oconnell@okstate.edu    018  Ag  Hall,  phone:  744-­‐7593    office  hours:  by  appointment  

Course  Objectives:     In   Introduction   to  Natural  Resource  Ecology  and  Management  we  will   tour   the   renewable  natural   resources   of   our   state,   explore   the   benefits   we   gain   from   those   resources,   and   work   toward   an  understanding  of  management   actions   to   assure   their   continued  use.     Students  will   hear   from  natural   resource  professionals  to  gain  perspective  on  career  opportunities  and  the  necessary  skills  to  take  advantage  of  them.    We  will  invest  significant  time  in  professional  development  for  students,  especially  in  effective  writing.      What   you   will   get   out   of   this   course:   Students   will   develop   a   familiarity   with   ecoregion-­‐specific   natural  resources   emphasizing   forestry,   rangelands,   and  wildlife  &   fisheries.   Students  will   practice   effective   note-­‐taking  and   the   clear,   concise   writing   that   are   essential   to   success   in   our   field.   Finally,   students   will   receive   abundant  advice  in  professional  development  to  help  them  gain  specific,  relevant  experience  vital  to  career  success.    Grading:  The  course  will  be  graded  as  a  percentage  of  300  possible  points  distributed  among  the  following  items:    Quizzes:         160  pts    (10  assigned  @  20  pts  each;  drop  2  lowest  scores  to  count  8)  Guest  Speaker  Summaries:   80  pts  (3  assigned  @  40  pts  each;  drop  lowest  score  to  count  2)  Résumé:         20  pts  Cover  Letter:       20  pts  Ecoregion  Report:         20  pts    To  earn  this  grade  .  .  .  you  must  accumulate  this  many  points  (no  exceptions):       A       272–300  (>90%)     B       242–271  (81–90%)     C       212–241  (71–80%)     D       182–211  (61–70%)     F       0–181  (0–60%)     F!  –  violation  of  OSU  Academic  Integrity  Policy  (it’s  never  worth  the  risk!)    Note   that   I   will  drop   your   two   lowest   quiz   scores   and   your   lowest   score   on   a   guest   speaker   summary.     This  amounts  to  three  excused  absences  in  the  course  and  will  serve  as  your  cushion  for  missing  a  class  should  you  be  sick,  have  car  trouble,  have  a   family  emergency,  be  called  out  town  for  a  university  event,  etc.    This  means  that  there  are  no  make-­‐ups  of  any  assignments  for  any  reason.      Special  needs:  If  you  have  a  disability  and  need  special  accommodations  of  any  nature,  I  will  work  with  you  and  the  Office  of  Disabled  Student  Services,  315  Student  Union  (http://sds.okstate.edu/)  to  ensure  that  you  have  a  fair  opportunity   to   perform   successfully   in   this   class.   Please   let   me   know   about   your   disability   and   the  accommodations  you  desire  by  the  end  of  the  second  week  of  class.        

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Semester  Schedule  –  Fall  2016    day   date   Topic/activity  Mon   8/15   No  Class  –  Dr.  O’  at  a  conference  in  Washington,  DC  Wed   8/17   No  Class  –  Dr.  O’  at  a  conference  in  Washington,  DC  Mon   8/22   Orientation  to  NREM  1012  Wed   8/24   Natural  resources  and  ecosystem  services  Mon   8/29   Science  and  critical  thinking  [quiz  1]  Wed   8/31   Critical  note-­‐taking  Mon   9/5   No  Class  –  Labor  Day  Holiday!  Wed   9/7   Speaker  1  TBA  Mon   9/12   Natural  history  [quiz  2]  Wed   9/14   Speaker  2  Dr.  Rod  Will  Mon   9/19   Ecology  [quiz  3]  Wed   9/21   Biogeography  and  invasive  species  (résumé  due)  Mon   9/26   Writing  workshop  1  [quiz  4]  Wed   9/28   Speaker  3  Dr.  Jim  Long    Mon   10/3   Ecoregions  [quiz  5]  Wed   10/5   Forests  –  Ozarks  and  Ouachitas  Mon   10/10   Speaker  4  Dr.  Gail  Wilson  (cover  letter  due)  Wed   10/12   Speaker  5  Dr.  Susan  Little  Mon   10/17   Writing  workshop  2  {written  summary  Speaker  4}  Wed   10/19   Tallgrass  prairie  and  crosstimbers  [quiz  6]  Mon   10/24   Speaker  6  Dr.  Tom  Coon  Wed   10/26   Shortgrass  and  mixed  prairie  [quiz  7]  Mon   10/31   Management  {written  summary  Speaker  6}  Wed   11/2   Speaker  7  TBA  Mon   11/7   Speaker  8  Dr.  Dwayne  Elmore    Wed   11/9   Writing  workshop  3  [quiz  8]  Mon   11/14   Anthropogenic  climate  change  Wed   11/16   Speaker  9  Dr.  Craig  Davis  (ecoregion  report  due)  Mon   11/21   Renewable  energy  [quiz  9]  Wed   11/23   No  Class  –  Thanksgiving  Break!  Mon   11/28   Speaker  10  Dr.  João  Brandao  {written  summary  Speaker  9}  Wed   11/30   Course  wrap-­‐up  [quiz  10]   Link  to  Fall  2016  Syllabus  Attachment:  http://academicaffairs.okstate.edu/content/resources-­‐faculty-­‐staff   “The  nation  behaves  well   if   it  treats   its  natural  resources  as  assets  which  it  must  turn  over  to  the  next  generation  increased,  and  not  impaired,  in  value.”  Theodore  Roosevelt