This course explores methods of solving environmental problems. These problems are by nature, interdisciplinary and are rarely addressed in a substantive fashion in traditional science textbooks. In this course, students and faculty work together to develop a working model of a critical earth system or biogeochemical cycle (i.e. the carbon or nitrogen cycle), and learn how to make calculations of human-induced changes to that system. Students from all concentrations of the environmental science major will work together on this interdisciplinary research project using modeling and systems analysis software to more fully understand specific environments and the quantitative methods of assessing challenges to those environments. This course should be taken by all ESCI students during their junior year. Four laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 209 or permission of instructor.

This course explores methods of solving environmental problems. These problems are by nature, interdisciplinary and are rarely addressed in a substantive fashion in traditional science textbooks. In this course, students and faculty work together to develop a working model of a critical earth system or biogeochemical cycle (i.e. the carbon or nitrogen cycle), and learn how to make calculations of human-induced changes to that system. Students from all concentrations of the environmental science major will work together on this interdisciplinary research project using modeling and systems analysis software to more fully understand specific environments and the quantitative methods of assessing challenges to those environments. This course should be taken by all ESCI students during their junior year. Four laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 209 or permission of instructor.

These interdisciplinary seminars are intended to develop integrating insights through an analysis of topics chosen from different disciplines. Often they are taught by two faculty members or by a visiting lecturer who holds one of the endowed chairs at the university.

In 1800, there were around 1-billion people on the planet, and only three percent lived in urban areas. Today we are approaching 8-billion humans, and more-than half live in cities. This course explores how cities function as ecosystems and shape local, regional, and global ecological and biogeochemical processes. We will examine how carbon, nutrients, and energy enter the city in the form of food and other resources, and exit as waste, and will use this conceptual framework to assess opportunities to move towards sustainability. We will make extensive use of primary literature and apply ecological network analysis tools to contrast human-dominated ecosystems with natural ecosystems. Students will design and implement independent research projects, and will work collaboratively to apply knowledge and skills to real-world urban sustainability problems. Prerequisite: C- or better in at least two 300-level BIOL courses.

In 1800, there were around 1 billion people on the planet, and only 3% lived in urban areas. Today we are approaching 8 billion humans, and more than half live in cities. This course explores how cities function as ecosystems and shape local, regional, and global ecological and biogeochemical processes We will examine how carbon, nutrients, and energy enter the city in the form of food and other resources, and exit as waste, and use assess opportunities to move towards sustainability. We will make extensive use of primary literature and apply ecological network analysis tools to contrast human-dominated ecosystems with natural ecosystems. Students will design and implement independent research projects, and will work collaboratively to apply knowledge and skills to real-world urban sustainability problems.