Lab Syllabus - Ecosphere in Crisis
Walter Rainboth — Sections A01, A02, A03 & A04
Fall 2008
Note that this schedule is tentative. Weather may intervene, or other potential sources of information or discussion
may become available. Check your email.
Week 1 - Introduction to Science and the Scientific Method - presentation in lab + Quiz
Homework assignment — Begin personal energy consumption exercise to be handed in during
week 8 on day of mid-term lab exam.
Week 2 - Field Trip - Terrestrial Succession at Waukau Creek Nature Reserve
Week 3 - Field Trip - Aquatic Succession at Terrell’s Island aquatic restoration project
Week 4 - Video - The Environmental Revolution; Field Trip - Campus as an Urban Environment
Week 5 - Field Trip - History of the Fox Valley
Week 6 - Reading - Easter’s End by Jared Diamond + Quiz; Video - Do We Really Want to Live this Way?
Week 7 - Reading - Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin + Quiz; Video - The Last Harvest
Week 8 - Mid-term exam; Hand in personal energy consumption exercise followed by Video - The Power of Water
Week 9 - Reading - The Mismanagement of the National Forests by Perri Knize +Quiz; Video - Public Lands,
Private Profits
Week 10 - Video - What’s Up with the Weather? (1st half of it); Video - Dimming the Sun
Week 11 - Readings - Jevons’ Coal and Hubbert’s Pimple by Garrett Hardin & The End of Cheap Oil by Campbell
and Laherrère + Quiz; Video - Great Lakes, Bitter Legacy
Week 12 - Videos - In Our Children’s Food; Fooling with Nature
Week 13 - Reading - Where Have All the Farmers Gone; Video - Save the Earth, Feed the World
Week 14 - Final Lab Exam