ENSC 4931 Environmental Sciences Practicum
June 5th – July 31st (only Fridays), Summer 2009
Friday, 8:00am – 3:00pm; Bayou 1219
University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL)
Instructor:
Dr. Magdy Akladios, PhD, PE, CSP, CPE, CSHM
Office: 3531-4 Bayou Building
Tel: (281) 283-3744 (office); (281) 788-5569 (cell)
Teaching lab (Bayou 3335): (281) 283-3757
E-mail: akladios@uhcl.edu
Office hours: 3:00-5:00 pm Tuesday & Thursday. Additional hours are
available by appointment.
Secretary support: Ms. Maria Winters and/or Ms. Susan Green, Tel: (281)
283-3770
TA: Beatriz Cardona: abecar17@yahoo.com
Objectives:
This is a 3-credit hour course. The objective of this course is to enhance
the students’ knowledge, awareness, and understanding of environmental
issues (air, water, and waste) of national and regional importance, and to
equip students with the appropriate educational resources so that they may
effectively utilize this knowledge in the area of environmental sciences.
This goal is accomplished through classroom instruction, laboratory
assignment, site visit and observations, and field demonstration.
Course Outcomes:
It was determined that outcomes 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, and 12 of the following IH program
outcomes will be covered by this course:
1. Develop a broad base knowledge in science, math, and social sciences;
2. Anticipate, recognize, and quantify agents, factors, and stressors generated by
and/or associated with defined sources, unit operations, environmental processes,
& work tasks;
3. Understand the physiologic and toxicologic interactions of physical, chemical,
and biological, agents, as well as ergonomic factors, with biological systems and
the potential effects of occupational and environmental contaminants;
4. Evaluate qualitative and quantitative aspects of exposure assessment, doseresponse, and risk characterization based on pathways and modes of entry;
5. Conduct experiments and interpret data and results from epidemiologic and
toxicologic studies for the evaluation of health risks associated with occupational
and environmental exposures;
6. Evaluate and recommend engineering, administrative, and personal protective
equipment controls or other interventions to reduce or eliminate hazards;
7. Recognize important ethical, social, cultural, global, and current issues impacting
worker health and the environment;
8. Understand and apply current applicable business and managerial practices;
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9. Interpret and apply current applicable occupational and environmental
regulations;
10. Participate as a team player in the development of scientific reports, and technical
summaries;
11. Effectively communicate verbally and in writing using computers and state of the
art media;
12. Recognize the importance of continuous and ongoing learning.
It was determined that outcomes 1, 2, 11, and 12 of the following Safety program
outcomes will be covered by this course:
1. Develop a broad base knowledge in science, math, social, and applied sciences;
2. Apply knowledge to anticipate, recognize, and quantify agents, factors, and
stressors generated by and/or associated with defined sources, unit operations,
environmental processes, & work tasks;
3. Develop an ability to analyze, evaluate, management systems and SHE programs
to prevent hazardous acts and conditions that lead to loss events. The programs
will include cost/benefit analysis, training programs, etc.;
4. Apply adult learning theories in the completion of the SHE Training;
5. Develop and evaluate appropriate strategies designed to mitigate risk;
6. Evaluate and recommend engineering, administrative, and personal protective
equipment controls or other interventions to reduce or eliminate hazards;
7. Recognize important professional, ethical, social, cultural, global, and current
issues impacting worker health and the environment;
8. Understand and apply current applicable business and managerial practices;
9. Interpret and apply current applicable occupational and environmental
regulations;
10. Participate as a team player in the development of scientific reports, and technical
summaries;
11. Effectively communicate verbally and in writing using computers and state of the
art media;
12. Recognize the importance of continuous and ongoing learning
Guest Lecturers from the following institutions are included:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Texas State University, Dept. of Geography
Atascocita Recycling and Disposal Facility
Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Galveston Bay Foundation
Gulf Coast Recycling
ExxonMobil
Textbook:
No textbook is required. Required reading assignments will be made on
regular basis in the class. Supplemental lecture outlines and handouts will
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be distributed in the class on as-needed basis. All materials for this course
will be provided free of charge.
Recommended Readings:
1. Guide to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (also TCEQ website:
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us)
2. Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home
3. The Environmental Four Rs for the Home: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy
4. Lesson Plans & Resources for Teaching Environmental Sciences, Chapter 1: Air
(p1-9), Chapter 2: Water (p1-18), Chapter 3: Waste: (p1-13).
5. Meeting the Air Pollution Gremlins (poster)
6. Land Use and the Water Cycle (poster)
7. Water Curriculum (http://www.epa.gov/teachers)
8. Project A.I.R.E. (Air Information Resources for Educators)
(http://www.epa.gov/region01/students/teacher/aire.html)
9. Confronting Climate Change in the Gulf Coast Region (http://www.ucsusa.org)
10. Texas School Recycling Guide (p1-16)
11. Agriculture Counts: Lesson Plans K-12
12. Lesson Plans & Resources for Teaching Environmental Sciences
13. Other topics:
Air Quality & Pollution: Good & bad ozone and other air pollutants
Drive Clean Across Texas
(http://www.drivecleanacrosstexas.org/for_teachers/)
Water Quality & Water Pollution: Point Source vs. Non-Point Source
Pollution; Water & Wastewater Treatment
- *How a House Works, What Happens After the Flush?
- *Where Does All the Dirty Water Go?
- *How Do We Treat Our Wastewater?
*Tool Kit of Resources on Managing Municipal Solid Waste
General knowledge of global warming, climate change, wetland, hazardous
wastes at Superfund sites, pollution prevention, battery, composting,
endangered species, invasive species, butterfly, freshwater ecology, coral
reefs
General Requirements: 1) Field trips will be the major part of this class. Students
should prepare for an outdoor experience in the full heat of a Houston
summer! Students should attend class dressed for very warm weather.
Sunscreen, insect repellant and lots of water are highly recommended.
Closed toe shoes and possibly a hat are also recommended. Feel free to
bring binoculars, camera, snacks and other items for your comfort during all
field trips. 2) Electronic devices (cellular phones, beepers, wristwatch
alarms) should be turned off before you enter the class. Cameras are
encouraged to be used.
Attendance Policy: Note that attendance will be part of the base for grading. Regular
class attendance and punctuality are mandatory. If a person is more than 20
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minutes late for a class (8:00 am), that will count as a half absence. An
unexcused absence(s) will be counted toward the penalty of your grade.
Class cancellation will be made only for very severe weather in this
hurricane season. Otherwise, classes are held rain or shine.
Grading:
Grades will be based on the following:
Attendance:
Daily Summaries/Journals (7 @ 5% each):
Project
Final test:
Total:
20%
35%
20%
25%
100%
Grading scale:
B+
C+
D+
86-87%
76-77%
66-67%
A
B
C
D
F
92-100%
80-85%
70-75%
60-65%
<58%
ABCD-
88-92%
78-79%
68-69%
58-59%
IMPORTANT: To obtain a passing grade, you must meet BOTH of the
following requirements: 1) Your absent class days should not exceed two; 2)
Your project is turned in to the Instructor before the deadline and in a
satisfactory technical quality (see below).
Academic Honesty: All students are expected to abide by the UHCL Honesty Policy
code (UHCL 2002-2003 Catalog, p. 76) that states, “I will be honest in all
my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty”. This rule applies
to all assignments in this course. Plagiarism is by no mean tolerated.
Disabilities: If you are certified as disabled and entitled to accommodation under
American Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 503, please notify UHCL
Disability Service and the instructor in written memo no later than June 15.
Failure to do so may result in the necessary accommodation not being
provided for. If you are not currently certified and believe you may qualify,
please contact the UHCL Disability Service Office at room 1402, or call
(281) 283-2627.
6-Drop Rule Limitation
Students who entered college for the first time in Fall 2007 or later should be
aware of the course drop limitation imposed by the Texas Legislature. Dropping
this or any other course between the first day of class and the census date for the
semester/session does not affect your 6 drop rule count. Dropping a course
between the census date and the last day to drop a class for the semester/session
will count as one of your 6 permitted drops. You should take this into
consideration before dropping this or any other course. Visit
www.uhcl.edu/records for more information on the 6 drop rule and the census
date information for the semester/session.
Agenda:
Tentative detailed agenda attached.
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