GEOG 304--05: Environmental Issues
Jeremy Miller: Instructor
Fall 2013
Tuesday/Thursday: 5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Butte 323
Office: Holt 144 (530) 898-4550
Office Hours: T/Th 2 – 4 p.m.
e-mail: jsmiller@csuchico.edu
A. Course Description (taken from the University Catalog):
Geographic analysis of humanity's interaction with the environment. Examines natural and human systems,
resources, population, energy, and pollution. Develops an appreciation of the beauty, balance, and complexity
of natural systems and human success in attaining harmony with them. Enhances awareness and perception
of each individual's role in and with the environment.
B. Course Objectives/Goals:
1. To enhance the students' appreciation of our planet and the value of practicing sustainability.
2. To explore environmental issues implementing the basic themes of geography.
3. To use the arena of Environmental Issues as a medium for the extension of reasoning, speaking, and
writing skills.
4. Introduce students to the geographic study of "human/environment relationships."
5. Introduce students to concepts underpinning modern sustainability.
6. Provide an active model of connection with environmental issues.
7. Provide students with points of entry to discuss sustainability with their peers and the opportunity to
find their own voice on the issues.
C.
Required Materials:
1. Miller, Jr., G. Tyler. Sustaining the Earth (9th or 10th edition)
2. Quinn, Daniel. Ishmael
3. Selected readings linked on class website (Blackboard Learn)
D. Course Requirements:
4 Quizzes (10 pts each)
40 pts
25% of course total
Comprehensive Final
40 pts
25%
Journal/Notes/Other
24 pts
15%
Participation (self-assess)
24 pts
15%
Book Review/Project
16 pts
10%
Presentation
16 pts
_____
10%
_____
160 pts
100%
E. Grading:
1. Grades will be determined by simple percentages, as follows: (There will be no curved grading.)
93 - 100% = A
77 - 79% = C+
90 - 92% = A73 - 76% = C
87 - 89% = B+
70 - 72% = C-
83 - 86% = B
60 - 69% = D
80 - 82% = B0 - 59% = F
F. Attendance: Absence usually has a detrimental impact on one's grade. It is difficult to compensate for what is
lost when lectures, discussions, films, etc. are missed. Please note that quizzes may not be made up unless prior
arrangements are made with the instructor. See you in class!
Weekly Schedule (tentative):
NATURAL RESOURCES
AND ENERGY
FOOD, HEALTH
WATER
ECOLOGY
OUTSIDE! = Unless otherwise noted, meet on the lawn on the creek side of Butte Hall. Bring a blanket and/or chair!
UNIT
DATE TOPIC/ACTIVITY
READING/HOMEWORK
8/27 Revealing, Connecting, Personalizing
Course Syllabus
Review of Syllabus and Course Logistics
Browse Course Website
What are the Issues?
8/29 Footprints
Where Are You At? Bioregional Quiz
Where Are You At?
(website)
California’s Biomes
Miller Ch 1
OUTSIDE!
9/3
Miller Ch 2: Summarize and Share
Ecology Scavenger Hunt
(each person in group chooses TWO
of SEVEN sections to read)
Informal Journal Entry
9/5
Captivity
Ishmael Part 1 (through p.29)
Informal Journal Entry
Speaker: Susan Mason, non-native species
removal
Miller Ch. 3
9/10 OUTSIDE!
Miller Ch. 4: Summarize and Share
Water
(each person in group chooses TWO
of SIX sections to read)
Informal Journal Entry
9/12 Water in a Nutshell
“Water: Adapting to a New Normal”
(website)
Formal Journal Entry
9/17 QUIZ #1
Miller Ch. 8
Water Taste Test
Speaker: Nani Teves, Butte Environmental Council
9/19 Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide!
“Fertilized World” (website)
Speaker: Brian Thompson, US EPA
Formal Journal Entry
“Dihydrogen Monoxide” (website)
Informal Journal Entry
9/24 I Am What I Eat
“Getting Fossil Fuels off Our Plate” (web)
Formal Journal Entry
9/26 OUTSIDE!
Miller Ch 7
“Is Local Food Better?” (website)
Field trip to Thursday Night
“The Inefficiency of Local Food” (website)
Farmer’s Market
“Three Reasons Why Freakonomics
is Wrong” (website)
Informal Journal Entry (for web articles)
10/1 Reflections on the Farmers Market
Ishmael Part 2 - 6
Informal Journal Entry
Speaker: Francine Steulpnagel, GRUB CSA
“DIRT!, The Movie”
10/3 “DIRT! The Movie”
Ishmael Part 7 – 9
Informal Journal
Journals collected and returned
10/8 (to be determined)
“Peak Nature” (website)
Formal Journal Entry
10/10 QUIZ #2
Miller Ch. 6
Fiery Issues
10/15 OUTSIDE! (weather permitting)
Ishmael Part 9 – 13 (finish the book!)
Informal Journal Entry
Ishmael
10/17 Energy Made Personal
“Making Sense of Peak Oil and Energy
Uncertainty” (website)
Formal Journal Entry
Estimated U.S. Energy Use in 2011
10/22 Making a Generator
Energy Round Robin
10/24 How (not) to Green Your Home
Speaker: David Green, Green Construction Service
CLIMATE
CHANGE
WASTE
MANAGEMENT AND
POLLUTION
10/29
10/31
11/5
11/7
11/12
11/14
11/19
11/21
MAKER SOCIETY
AND THE FUTURE
12/3
12/5
12/10
12/12
12/17
Miller Ch 9, 10: Summarize and Share
(See website for assignment)
TEDxRainier Amory Lovins,
Reinventing Fire (video on website)
Formal Journal Entry
Speaker: Rachel Gold, Large Scale Solar Association
(none)
Begin “No Impact Man”
Finish “No Impact Man”
Miller Ch 11
24 Hours of Waste
24 Hours of Waste
(See website for assignment)
QUIZ #3
Miller Ch 12
Global Climate Change
Speaker: Chad Bird, Environmental Engineer
Miller Ch 13
Carbon Footprint
“The International Response to
Climate Change” (website)
Formal Journal Entry
POTLUCK! (location tbd)
“The Death of Sprawl” (website)
Community Resiliency
Formal Journal Entry
QUIZ #4
Miller Ch 14
Fun With Phenology
OUTSIDE! (weather permitting)
“What is Education For” (website)
Formal Journal Entry
Speaker: Tami Ritter, Chico City Council
“Local Government in a Time of Peak Oil” (web)
Role of Local Government
Formal Journal Entry
Is Chico a Transition Town?
“What Can Communities Do?”
(Transition Towns)
Journals collected, to be returned on 12/12
(see website for assignment)
My Home and Community as an Ecosystem
(none)
Practice for Final
Final, 8 p.m. Tuesday Dec 17
Review notes for final
G. Journal/Notebook Entries:
Entries will either be identified as FORMAL, which means they are usually based on readings that are NOT from
the textbook (Sustaining the Earth by Miller and Spoolman) and will be shared with other students in a small group
setting, or INFORMAL, which are more for personal use, will not be shared, and will usually be based on a lecture,
guest speaker, video, or textbook reading. Your notebook will be your resource for ALL QUIZZES (25% of grade)
and the FINAL (25% of grade).
Format: FORMAL entries should use the following format. It is RECOMMENDED that you use this format for
INFORMAL entries as well, though you may wish to tailor this to fit your note-taking style. All journal entries
should be legible to another reader!
1) DATE (and location, if notable)
2) TITLE including the name of the author/speaker, the title, and the topic
2) KEY POINTS that the author makes that will help you remember what the article/presentation was
about
3) PERSONAL REACTION Points that stand out as relevant for you, areas where you agree/disagree, or
other ideas/thoughts that were triggered
4) QUESTIONS that were brought up; fodder for small or large group discussion
H. Student Presentations:
One of the best ways to gain understanding of an issue is to explain it to someone else. Student presentations will
be done in pairs, and will serve to provide the class with a more focused understanding of current environmental
issues. Presentations will be 10 – 15 minutes in length, and may be in the form of a lecture, class activity, song,
theatrical performance, power-point presentation, etc. The presentation is worth 10% of the total grade.
General Guidelines:
Length: 10 minutes (15 minutes maximum)
Format: Lecture, class activity, song, live theatrical performance, powerpoint presentation, other (ask Jeremy).
Content:
1. Provide us with enough background (8th grade level) to understand the issue
2. Explain the issue and the various perspectives.
3. Why should we care? How are CSU Chico students connected to this issue?
4. What is the future of this issue?
5. Share with us your personal take on the issue and the reasons behind your thoughts
3
1
Minimal
effort
Explanation was
satisfactory.
Presentation lacked
organization, was
confusing at times.
Minimal
effort
Presentation was engaging
and conducted with
confidence
Presentation was
good, but lacked
polish
Presentation showed
lack of preparation
and confidence
Minimal
effort
Opinion
Presenters provided their
own commentary/opinion
about the issue
Good commentary
was provided, but
lacked depth
Some commentary
was provided
Minimal
effort
Resources
Presentation notes, visual
aids, etc. are provided, as
well as a hardcopy of
sources used that does not
include Wikipedia.
Satisfactory
Lacking
Minimal
effort
Missing Missing
Engagement
0
Missing Missing
2
Content was lacking
Satisfactory
Missing
Scoring Rubric for Presentations
4
Content
Appropriate content was
provided to gain a clear
picture of the issue (background, differing points
of view, etc.)
Clarity
Content was clearly
explained
Presentation Topics and Dates:
Sep12 The Peripheral Canal (Peripheral Tunnels) and
Gov. Jerry Brown
Oct 3 GMO Food
Oct 3 Bee Colony Collapse Disorder
Oct 8 What is Biofuel all about?
Oct 8 Student Choice (topic requires prior approval
from the instructor)
Oct 22 Fracking (“Induced Hydrolic Fracturing”)
Oct 22 Keystone XL Pipeline
Oct 29 Solar or Not? When is it worth investing in
residential solar panels?
Nov 7 Student Choice (topic requires prior approval
from the instructor)
Nov 12 Where do Recology and Waste Management
take our stuff?
Nov 14 Volcanoes, Forest Fires, Compost Bins, and
their contribution to CO2 levels and Climate Change
Nov 14 Carbon Sequestration
Nov 21 Assembly Bill 32: California Global Warming
Solutions Act
Nov 21 Greenwashing and Eco-labelling: Legit or just a
marketing gimmick?
Dec 5 California High-Speed Rail
Dec 10 Role of the Wireless World (smart phones,
instant information, social media, apps, etc) in
approaching Climate Issues
Dec 10 Eating Bugs (can save the world)
Dec 12 Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)