ENV S 25: Quantitative Thinking in Environmental Studies
Syllabus for Spring, 2007
Lecture: T, R
5:00 – 6:15 North Hall 1109
Instructors:
Mel Manalis
Office: Bren 4005
Office Hours: M, W 1:00 – 2:00
Email: manalis@es.ucsb.edu
Microsoft Excel Lab:
Nathan Halko
W 100-150 PHELP 1526
W 300-350 PHELP 1526
W 400-450 PHELP 1526
Lisa Berry
Office: Bren 4510
Office Hours: T 1:00 – 3:00
Email: progressiveedge@yahoo.com
Email: nathanhalko@yahoo.com
Course Description:
This course will give students the capacity to numerically analyze environmental
problems relating to subjects such as agriculture, climate change, ecology, energy,
environmental economics, pollution, and water resources. We will draw on recent news,
real data sets, case studies, and interactive learning techniques to stimulate interest in
quantitative thinking. The goal of the course is to apply quantitative thinking
comfortably to issues dealing with the environment.
Environmental Studies 25 is an introduction to quantitative thinking designed for
freshman Bachelor of Arts students majoring in Environmental Studies. In addition to
PStat 5, BA Environmental Studies students are required to take two courses in math.
These courses can either be Math 34A and B, or Environmental Studies 25 and
Math 34A.
Required Reading:
Class Workbook: Provided! This workbook is required, and contains problems and
materials that will be actively used in lecture and lab. You MUST bring it to all class
sessions.
Class Reader: Available at Grafikart (6550 Pardall Rd).
Calculus and Mathematical Reasoning for Social and Life Sciences by Daryl Cooper:
Available at the UCEN bookstore. This is the same book required for Math 34A. It will
be a useful reference tool for the course
Requirements to Pass the Class:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Class attendance is absolutely necessary!
All in-class exercises must be completed in class.
The lab is required, and will help you to learn Excel, an extremely useful tool.
All homework must be turned in on time (late homework will be penalized).
Evaluation:
In-Class Exercises….…..... 20%
Homework………….……. 25%
Lab (Excel) Exercises……..25%
Midterm…….……………. 15%
Final……..……………….. 15%
(sorry, no make-ups:)
Web Sites
Harper’s Index (“Each month, the Harper's Index provides a statistical snapshot of the
world's economic, political, and cultural climate.” Very entertaining to read!!)
http://www.harpers.org/HarpersIndex.html
Excel websites:
Beginners to Excel will find all the Excel basics here. Basic Excel tutorials help guide
you through common Excel functions that every beginning Excel user needs to know.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/results.aspx?Scope=RC&Query=excel
Scale: Excellent video showing the vast differences in scale that exist in our solar system
and on planet Earth.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/
ES 25 COURSE WEBSITE (you can access course materials online through web links)
http://www.es.ucsb.edu/faculty/lberry/classes/es25/
Class Schedule:
Week 1-2: April 2-13
Overview, Graphing Techniques, Linear and Quadratic Equations, Histograms
The vision for the course and importance of numeracy will be discussed. Types of
relationships between humans and environmental systems will be explored using online
data from websites, such as Harper’s Index, in conjunction with Microsoft Excel. The
fundamental concepts of Excel will be covered in lab so that students may use it to their
advantage throughout the course.
Reading:
Cooper: Pages 1-3, Chapter 5, Sections 1-3 and Chapter 16
Reader: Pages 1-4 and Hardin’s “Numerate Filter”
Excel Tutorials:
Audio course: Get to know Excel: Create your first workbook
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC012005461033
Get to know Excel: Enter formulas
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC011870911033
Graphing
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC011055061033&pid=CR061831141033
Due Date:
Tuesday, April 10th
* Please PRINT “Quick Reference Card” at the end of the lesson
Week 3-4: April 16-27
Statistics, Probability, and Hypothesis Testing
Making decisions under uncertainty is central to environmental management. Students
will learn how to interpret statistical analyses including hypothesis testing and regression
analysis. Excel will be used to make statistical inferences using real climate change data.
Reading:
Reader: “Environmental News Teaches Mathematics”
“Just Enough Statistics and Probability”
What you need to know about statistics and probability
Cooper: Chapter 6.1
Excel References: Histograms
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP010983641033.aspx?pid=CH010003731033
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA011109481033.aspx?pid=CH010003731033
Due Date: Read before lab on Wed, April 18th
Excel Tutorial: Statistical Functions
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010919231033&pid=CR0
61831141033
Week 5: April 30-May 4
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
We will investigate orders of magnitude and growth using Harper’s Index and Google
Earth. Applications of logarithmic functions, such as pH scale, seismography, and the
decibel scale will be explored. Graphing techniques will continue to be implemented.
Exponential mathematics is fundamental to many ES classes!
Reading:
Reader: “The Driving Force: Exponential Growth”
“Limitations of Seismicity Data”
The ph scale and acid rain
The Decibel scale and wind energy
Cooper: Chapter 7 intro, 7.2, 7.5, 7.6, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12 and summary
Excel Tutorial: Import text files
http://office.microsoft.com/training/Training.aspx?AssetID=RP011801211033&CTT=6&
Origin=RC011801181033
Weeks 6-8: May 7-25
Derivatives and Integrals
The fundamental concepts of calculus, derivates and integrals will be explored.
Examples will be used to illustrate the connections between rates of change, measuring
slopes on graphs, and derivatives. We will then explore the connection between
summation, areas under curves and integration, as they apply to environmental topics
such as discounting the future and MSY fisheries models.
Reading:
Reader: The Binding of Time
What is Calculus?
Cooper: Chapter 8: 8.7, 8.8 and summary
Chapter 9: 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and summary
Week 9: May 29- June 1
Numerical Modeling
The importance of modeling will be discussed. Steady-state models of environmental
variables, such as groundwater and air pollution, will be modeled using input-output box
models.
Reading: TBA
Week 10: June 4- June 8
Synthesis, Case Studies
Students will have the opportunity to utilize the skills they have learned in the course to
critically examine current environmental topics.
Reading: TBA
Final Exam: Wednesday, June 13th, 7:30-10:30 pm