LAB SYLLABUS 26-104 ECOSPHERE IN CRISIS
Fall 2007 - sections A01L (Tues 9:10-12:10), A04L (Thurs 9:10-12:10), A07L (Thurs 1:00-4:00)
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Classroom:
Shannon Davis-Foust
email: davisfos@uwosh.edu
Halsey 255
Phone: 424-1102
Tues 12:30-1:30, Thurs 8:00-9:00, or by appointment
S. Halsey 110
Objectives
This lab will enable students to judge the consequences of human exploitation of resources. We will engage in using the
scientific method, explore the meaning of air, water, and soil quality; and we will also examine management strategies
and technology that strive toward sustainability of our lifestyle.
Required Materials
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Printouts from D2L*
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Cunningham, W.P., M.A. Cunningham, and B.W. Saigo. 2007. Environmental Science: A Global Concern,
Ninth Edition. McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., NY.
Policies
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Please turn off all electronic distractions during class.
There will be no make-up labs. It is your responsibility to attend each lab.
Read the assigned lab before coming to class and bring your D2L printouts to each class.
Arrangements for any special need must be made at least one week in advance, except in the case of
unforeseen circumstances.
No late assignments will be accepted unless arrangements have been made in advance.
Your work area must be clean before you leave.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. **
Grading
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Exams (2)
50%
Assignments (6)
40%
Participation
10%
- You are required to participate in at least 5 discussions during the semester. There are at least 10
opportunities to participate during in class discussions. You can also receive credit by asking a guest
speaker a question, or by professionally thanking them during class for something that you specifically
learned from them.
Disabilities
Students who have physical or learning disabilities who wish to request academic adjustments should notify the
Disabilities Office so that appropriate accommodations can be made. For more information contact the Counseling
Center or Disabilities Services (424-2404).
*Where to find documents for printing:
All of the labs and reading assignments will be posted on D2L one week in advance. Some of these files will be PDF
files for which you will need Adobe Reader to view. See http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html to
download a free copy of Adobe Reader.
**Academic Integrity: If you decide to engage in academic misconduct you will be subject to the Student
Academic Disciplinary Procedures as outlined in the Student Disciplinary Code (http://www.uwosh.edu/dean).
Under Chapter UWS 14 (Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures), “academic misconduct” means an act in
which a student (UWS 14.03):
a) seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation;
b) uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise;
c) forges or falsifies academic documents or records:
d) intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others;
e) engages in conduct aimed at making a false representation of a student’s academic performance; or
f) assists other students in any of these acts.
LAB SCHEDULE *
Week
Date
Topic(s)
1
Sept 11,13 Scientific
Method
2
Sept 18,20 Biodiversity
3
Sept 25,27 Succession
4
Oct 2,4
Water Quality
5
Oct 9,11
Air Quality
and Energy
6
Oct 16,18
Climate
7
Oct 23,25
8
Oct 30,
Nov 1
Nov 6,8
Fossil Fuels &
Environmental
Remediation
Lab Exam I
9
10
Waste
Management
Nov 13,15 Soils
Activities/Assignment
Review of the scientific method
Set up decomposition experiment
Campus as an Urban Environment
Reading “Biodiversity Loss: A Human Health Issue”*
Discussion of reading
Field trip to Waukau Creek County Nature Preserve
Assignment: Biodiversity individual or group lab report
Biodiversity lab report due at the beginning of class
Field trip to Terrell’s Island
Assignment: Water quality group lab report (due in class)
Film “The Power of Water” and discussion
Assignment: short essay to follow up film
Essay due at the beginning of class
Film and discussion
Assignment: Energy consumption and CO2 emissions
Reading “A Climate Repair Manual” by Stix*
Discussion of reading
Energy consumption and CO2 emissions assignment due
Compile and discuss class CO2 emission data
Film “Inconvenient Truth” and discussion
Reading: “The End of Cheap Oil”
Discussion of reading
Peak Oil
Guest Speaker Ms. Kathy Sylvester, WDNR
Readings “Material Flows for a Sustainable City” by Ackerman and
“Landfills Expand Energy Output” by Weeks
Discussion of readings
Field trip and guest speaker David Misterek and Jennifer Semrow
Assignment: Group soil lab report (due in class)
Analyze decomposition results
Reading: Easters End
Happy Thanksgiving – no class this week
Decomposition Lab Report (individual) due at the beginning of class
Discussion of reading
Film “People Bomb” and discussion
Assignment: Ecological Footprint
Readings: “A Blot on the Land” by Rees and “Ecological Footprints:
Evaluating Sustainability” by Palmer
Ecological Footprint due
Discussion of readings and class data
Guest speaker Mr. Pete Knigge
Enjoy the holidays!
11
Nov 20,22
Nov 27,29 Population
Demographics
12
Dec 4,6
13
Dec 11,13 Lab Exam II
* Please note that this schedule is subject to change
Agriculture