Crises of Planet Earth – EE 105 (Fall 2023) Professor.............................. J. Lawford Anderson Office: STO 141j, 617-358-6668 (office) 323-719-1777 (cell) E-mail: lawford@bu.edu Office hours*: 3-5:00 W, 12:30-2:00 Th (also open door) *Please call or e-mail in advance Teaching Fellows ……............. Lydia Jefferson, lydiamj@bu.edu Sasha Gilmore, gilmores@bu.edu Lab Advisor …………………. Taylor Adams, tadams15@bu.edu Lecture.................................. Labs...................................... 11:00 -12:15 TTh, CAS B18 10:10 – 11:55 M, CAS B08a, Lydia Jefferson 1:30 – 3:15 Tu, CAS B08a, Lydia Jefferson 12:20 – 2:05 W, CAS B08a, Sasha Gilmore 2:30 – 4:15 F, CAS B08a, Sasha Gilmores Textbook........................... An eTextbook or hardcopy, Earth Science, by Marshack and Rauber. All are recommended readings. Available through Barnes and Noble but also Amazon. Older versions at a lower price are okay. We also will use short readings from the free online resource, Encyclopedia of Earth (see below). No exam questions will come solely from the readings. They are a very useful resource. Student polling …………… This class uses the application Learning Catalytics as a means for student polling to review real exam questions at the beginning of every class based on content from the last one. You can use your smart phone, IPhone, IPad, or laptop that can connect to the internet. Please bring one of these to every class. To register, go to Learning Catalytics at this link: https://www.pearson.com/us/higher-education/products-services-teaching/learning-engag ement-tools/learning-catalytics.html Choose student and that you are not using a MyLab or Mastering product, and that you do not have an access account but wish to buy access. It cost $12 per semester or $20 per year. For our course, choose the $12 option. This is for your participation grade (5%). At the beginning of every class, you will be offered a session code to log in and then you will then answer real exam questions based on the past lecture. You are in a safe place. Your answers are not graded but only that you participated. Lecture Exams..................... Midterm 1: September 28 Midterm 2: November 2 Final Exam: Friday, December 15, 12:00 – 2:00 Basis of Grade..................... Lecture 80% 18% each for each midterm exam 29% for final exam 5% for field trip (Oct. 14) or term paper (due Oct. 18) 5% for Media Project – due November 17 5% for student polling Lab 20% Some good things to know: Diversity & Inclusion: Diversity enriches all research and education, and is realized only with all voices, views, and perspectives operating within a supportive and respectful community. For this reason, the Department of Earth & Environment, including myself and the students in this course, are committed to fostering diverse, inclusive, and equitable living, learning, and working environments that are supportive and free from violence, harassment, disruption, and intimidation. Further, the Department of Earth & Environment recognizes that creating a safe environment and a culture of respect is the shared responsibility of all members of our community. To ensure an equitable environment that values and respects the unique experiences and perspectives of our community, the Department, including myself and the students in this course, are dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity among all members of our departmental community and encouraging open, honest, and compassionate communication. http://www.bu.edu/earth/about/diversityinclusion/ Academic Conduct: Students are expected to uphold Boston University's Academic Conduct Code, please review at http://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/academic-conduct-code/ University Policy on Religious Observance: http://www.bu.edu/chapel/religion/ Multifaith Calendar: http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/ Crises of Planet Earth – EE 105 – Fall, 2023 Schedule of Lectures & Labs Lecture 1 2 Date Sept. 5 Sept. 7 Lecture Topic Origin of Universe, Earth, and life Origin of Universe, Earth, and life Readings Ch. 1 Ch. 11, 12 Lab Topic for the Week No lab No lab 3 4 Sept. 12 Sept. 14 Plate tectonics & earthquakes Plate tectonics & earthquakes Ch. 4, 7 Ch. 5 1. Earthquakes 5 6 Sept. 19 Sept. 21 Volcanic hazards Volcanic hazards Ch. 6 Ch. 6 2. Topographic maps 7 Sept. 26 Sept. 28 Landslides & Review Midterm 1 Ch. 8 3. Rivers and Floods 8 Oct. 3 Oct. 5 Rivers and floods Air pollution and Global Warming Ch. 9 Ch. 10 4. Hurricane Katrina 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 12 Monday classes Global Climate Change – Ice Ages No lab this week Ch. 10 & see below *** Field Trip – Saturday, Oct. 14, 9-5:00 *** *** Term Papers Due – Tuesday, October 17, before or at beginning of class *** (you are to do only one of these ☺) 10 11 Oct. 17 Oct. 19 Global Climate Change – Deserts Upper Atmosphere Ozone Depletion* Ch. 10 & see below Ch 11 & 12. 5. Air Pollution 12 13 Oct. 24 Oct. 26 Shorelines and beaches Soils and soil conservation Ch. 13-15 Ch. 8 6. Climate Change 14 15 Oct. 31 Nov. 2 Groundwater Resources Midterm 2 Ch. 9 7. Coastlines 16 Nov. 7 Nov. 9 Mineral resources Energy resources: fossil fuels Ch. 2.3 8. Rocks and minerals Ch. 2, 3, & see below 17 18 Nov. 14 Nov. 16 Energy resources: fossil fuels Nuclear and renewable energy Ch. 11, & see below 9. Toxic waste Ch. 11, & see below *** Media Projects due – Thursday, Nov. 17, before or at beginning of class *** 19 Nov. 21 Waste disposal and toxic waste Ch. 11 & see below. No lab this week Thanksgiving Recess – November 22 -26 20 Nov. 28 Volunteer Student Presentations* 10. Geologic Time 21 Nov. 30 Volunteer Student Presentations* 22 23 Dec. 5 Dec. 7 Volunteer Student Presentations* Volunteer Student Presentations* 24. Dec. 12. Volunteer Student Presentations* 11. Last lab quiz *Note: The last class sessions are for volunteer student presentations of submitted PowerPoint or other media work on environmental topics from those in class. Of course, all submissions are graded. However the volunteer presentations will not be graded but the material will be covered on the final exam. I find these presentations very engaging so if you wish, do plan to volunteer to present to our class! Guidelines for PowerPoint or Other Media Work Crises of Planet Earth – EE 105 PowerPoint or other media work Topic: approved by instructor Goal: Creative and new PowerPoint or other media format, such as a movie, art, or poetry, on some aspect of the earth’s environment of the quality and length to appropriate for a 10 minute presentation. A job interview! File name: yourlastname_topic.ppt (i.e., anderson_global warming.ppt References: the sources of text, figures, tables, and pictures should be acknowledged, including the full address of any website. This could be done on the last page or on each frame, as convenient Due date: November 17 Submission: on Blackboard using Student Powerpoints section on our Blackboard site home page, upper left corner. Please also read instructions before submitting. Grading: The Powerpoint or other format will be judged on the originality of the topic, quality of the presentation and argument, and appropriateness of its length. Fall 2023 FIELD TRIP Crises of Planet Earth - EE 105 Geologic Wonders of the Boston Area Dates: Saturday, October 14 Departure: 9:00 am, parking lot, outside of Hillel Center, 233 Bay State Return: about 5:00 pm If it’s raining? We go! Please arrive by 8:45 am Destinations: Arnold Arboretum and Peters Hill, Deer Island, and Winthrop Beach and the Five Sisters Weather and clothes: daytime temperatures may be pleasant with beautiful sunshine, but there could also be rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds....bring clothes for the unexpected. Food: Bring a lunch and a liter of water What else to bring: -comfortable shoes or boots for walking -note-taking materials -daypack Guidelines for Term Paper (in lieu of field trip) Crises of Planet Earth – EE 105 Topic: same as Powerpoint or other media work Goal: Creative and new article regarding some aspect of the earth’s environment that is of the quality to be publishable in a major newspaper. A job interview!! Length: 5 pages of text, typed, double-spaced, plus figures, tables, and references Format: Abstract + Body with headings and subheadings + Conclusion Footnotes: any form of internal referencing is acceptable Figures: number in succession with legend and include reference Tables: number in succession with legend and include reference References: minimum of 4, including at least one from the internet File name: yourlastname_topic.doc (i.e., anderson_global warming.doc Due date: October 18 at the beginning of class; please bring hardcopy to class or email the submission Additional Readings, all optional except where noted but helpful and short From Encyclopedia of Earth (EE); all links at http://www.eoearth.org/ Earth Solar System: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/162424/ Hubble: http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Hubble,_Edwin_(People) Plate tectonics and Earthquakes Plate Tectonics: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155264/ Wegener: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/157036/ Earthquake: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151858/ Volcanoes Volcano: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156864/ Landslides Landslide: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/154157/ Rivers and Floods Floods fact sheet: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152793/ Ice Ages Ice Age: http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Ice_Age_(Climate_Change) Deserts Polar Deserts: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/171735/ Mojave Desert: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/154660/ Atacama Desert: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150268/ Mineral Resources Minerals: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/149750/ Mining Law of 1872: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/154634/ Strip Mining: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/156280/ Fossil Fuels REQUIRED: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbedcf7896bb431f694153/?topic=51cbfc78f702fc2ba8129e5f Renewable Energy – REQUIRED Hydroelectric: – REQUIRED http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbee0c7896bb431f695c01/?topic=51cbfc78f702fc2ba8129e65 Wind REQUIRED: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbef487896bb431f69d58e/?topic=51cbfc78f702fc2ba8129e65 Solar: http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Solar_power Hydrogen: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbee0c7896bb431f695c0d/?topic=51cbfc78f702fc2ba8129e5f Waste Disposal and Recycling - REQUIRED Solid Waste: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/149757/ Recycling: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/155672/
