GEOG 370: CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND POLICY
Spring 2015 (Schedule line number 21498)
TTH 11 am to 12:15 pm in West Commons 230
Grand Canyon National Park
(Source: http://www.nps.gov)
Fracking near Williston, North Dakota
Polar bears in the Arctic
(Source: news.nationalgeographic.com; 11/11/2013)
(Credit: S. Hillebrand, USFWS)
COURSE OVERVIEW
The relationship between people and the environment is fundamental to the functioning of our society
and our ecosystems. We depend on natural resources for everything from the production of food to the
provision of water. At the same time, our activities and choices, including the kinds of products we buy
and the kind of transportation we use, will influence how well the environment supports our society
into the future. In order to manage natural resources effectively, we need to build a strong scientific
understanding of ecosystems and of how societal priorities and science interact to determine resource
conservation management strategies and policy. This course will focus on sustainable management of
our natural resources under changing global conditions. This is an Explorations of Human Experience GE
course under Social and Behavioral Sciences.
By the end of the semester I hope that you will be able to:
 analyze complex environmental and conservation issues associated with energy, water, air, soils,
and biodiversity at local to global scales.
 explain the effects of population growth and resource decisions made by individuals and groups on
the functioning of natural systems and availability of natural resources.
 understand the role of environmental science as a basis for developing informed opinions, policies,
and management strategies.
 explain the spatial variability in global natural resource abundance and how this relates, or does not
relate, to individual and societal use or conservation of these resources.
 discuss specific steps that could be taken, on an individual and societal basis, to achieve and
maintain sustainability of human use of natural systems.
 recognize and describe sustainability efforts on our campus.
 discuss different strategies or approaches to environmental management and conservation and
recognize them in their application.
 discern between professional and scientific information sources and other available mass media
pertaining to natural resources and their management (how does this affect argument credibility?)
 articulate your own reasoned positions on environmental issues.
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Dr. Molly Costello
Office location: Storm Hall 311B (3rd floor)
Email: mpohl@mail.sdsu.edu Office Phone: 594-8560
Office hours: Tuesdays, 1 pm to 2 pm and by appointment.
Please let the instructor know in person or by email if you would like to attend office hours.
COURSE MATERIALS
Textbook
Other
Withgott, J. and Laposata, M. 2012. Essential Environment: The Science Behind
the Stories, 4th edition. San Francisco: Pearson Publ.
Other professional readings will be assigned during the semester.
Access to the readings via the SDSU library will be provided by the instructor.
GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS
Grades will be assigned using a straight scale based on cumulative point totals at end of class:
≥90% = A, 80-89.9% = B, 70-79.9% = C, 60-69.9% = D, <60% = F
The points in this course will be distributed as follows:
Assessment (60%)
Three exams at 20% each (Feb. 18, Mar. 27 and May 6)
Class participation (5%)
Assignments (35%)
1. Taking action to conserve resources
2. Current issues analysis
3. San Diego field trip analysis
4. SDSU conservation experience
5. Environmental policy assessment
7%
7%
7%
7%
7%
EXAMS (60%) will be comprised of multiple choice and short answer essay questions that test: 1)
your knowledge of natural resource science and conservation principles and practices, and 2) your
capability in applying this understanding towards specific resource sustainability problems.
CLASS PARTICIPATION (5%): There are various components to your participation score, including
contributing to class group discussions and completing in-class activities and questions. There are
no make-ups for these points. Thus, you must attend class to receive class participation points.
ASSIGNMENTS (35%): Homework will be assigned as the class progresses through conservation
science and policy topics and appropriate due dates will be posted on Blackboard.
HOMEWORK #1: Taking Action to Conserve Resources
For this assignment, you will have the opportunity to become personally involved in resource
conservation. You have two options for this assignment: 1) you may write a letter to the
appropriate government representative regarding an issue of environmental importance to you,
or 2) you may take personal action (such as to go “trashless” for several days, or use only public
transportation for a week) and write a report on the experience, its challenges and benefits.
Details on this assignment will be provided early in the semester.
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HOMEWORK #2: Current Issues in Resource Conservation
Over the course of the semester, you will collect three articles from current news (e.g. CNN, NY
Times, SD Union-Tribune) that are relevant to resource conservation (e.g. biodiversity and
species, agriculture and land use, forests, water use and quality, oceans, energy sources, waste
management, climate change). Provide a full page analysis for each article, using what you have
learned in class to explain the problem and potential solutions. What happened? What role did
human activities play, if any? Was this event avoidable? Desirable? Is this a sustainable activity?
Why or why not? An example of what the final write-up should look like will be available on
Blackboard for you to review prior to completing this assignment. The goal is for you to see that:
(1) every day around the world resource decisions are shaping our lives and altering ecosystems
and (2) you can use the knowledge that you gain in this class to better understand what is
happening, why it is happening, and how to make beneficial changes.
HOMEWORK #3: Resource Conservation in San Diego Field Trip Analysis
There will be two field trips offered as part of this class: 1) a tour of the San Diego Water
Purification Demonstration Project, a project designed to fully recycle water and change public
perceptions of “toilet to tap,” 2) A tour of the Miramar Landfill and Recycling Center, which
manages complex issues of waste disposal and recycling in San Diego. You must attend one field
trip and complete the associated assignment. Details on the assignment and tour dates will be
provided early in the semester.
HOMEWORK #4: SDSU Student Conservation Exploration
There are a variety of SDSU organizations that promote conservation, including:
Associated Students’ Green Love initiative http://www.as.sdsu.edu/greenlove/
Enviro-Business Society http://www.clube3.org/
Aztec Farms http://www.aztecfarms.org/
Common Experience http://commonexperience.sdsu.edu/
SDSU Global Brigades: Environment and Water groups
http://www.globalbrigades.org/empowered/chapter/san-diego-state-university-environmental-brigades-chapter
http://www.empowered.org/Water-Brigades-at-San-Diego-State-University
For this assignment, you will learn about SDSU conservation group activities, participate in an
event (e.g. a Green-bag lunch, Greenfest activity, film or presentation, or conservation group
meeting), and provide a write-up of your experience. Details on the assignment and deadlines
will be provided early in the semester.
HOMEWORK #5: Environmental Policy Analysis
Environmental laws and policies provide strong direction for resource management. For this
assignment, you will select one of the following recent California laws and examine the strengths
and weaknesses in this law. What controls does the law actually provide (e.g. what are the
enforceable provisions)? What is not covered (or not covered sufficiently) by these laws? Is this
policy achieving its goal? What improvements do you suggest in the wording, or implementation
of this policy? Do you agree with this new policy? Why or why not? Options:
1) SB 4 (California’s fracking regulations, passed in 2013 and going into full effect on July 1, 2015)
2) SB 270 (California’s plastic bag ban, passed in 2014. It was set to go into effect after July, 2015.
However, implementation may be stopped for the time-being due to a signature collection
effort sponsored by the plastic bag manufacturing industry)
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TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE
DATES
Jan 22
Jan 27 and 29
Feb 3 and 5
Feb. 10 and 12
Feb. 17 and 19
Feb. 24 and 26
Mar. 3 and 5
Mar. 10 and 12
Mar. 17 and 19
Mar. 24 and 26
April 7 and 9
April 14
Apr. 16
April 21 and 23
Apr. 28 and 30
May 5
May 7
TOPIC
Class Structure and Organization; Intro to Course
Science and Sustainability
Biodiversity, Species, and Ecology
Environmental Economics and Policy
Homework #1 due Feb. 17
Human Population
Exam 1 on Tuesday, Feb. 24
Soils, Agriculture and Food
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
Forests and Forest Management
Homework #2 due March 12
Fresh Water, Oceans and Coasts
Water Resources Cont.
Exam 2 on Thursday, March 26
Field trip: Water Reclamation/Purification
Friday, March 27 from 10 am to 1 pm
Spring Break at SDSU – March 30 to April 4
Field trip: Miramar Landfill
Monday, April 6, 8:30 am to 11:30 am
Managing our Waste; Toxicology and Envir. Justice
Mining and Nonrenewable Resources
Homework #3 due April 14
No class: Instructor in Yosemite with different class
Energy Sources and Renewable Energy
Air Pollution and Global Climate Change
Homework #4 due April 28
Exam 3 on Tuesday, May 5
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Planet; Course Synthesis
Homework #5 due May 7
READINGS
Chapter 1
Chapters 2 - 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 12
Chapters 10 and 17
Chapters 11 and 15
Chapters 15 and 16
Chapters 13 and 14
Chapter 18
Important note: This syllabus is subject to modification. All changes will be announced in class
and on the Blackboard site for this course. You are responsible for being aware of any
adjustments. Please contact your instructor if you have any questions about adjustments
course timing or content.
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GENERAL CLASS INFORMATION AND POLICIES
1. Blackboard: This class is supported by Blackboard. Please access Blackboard for your
syllabus, assignments, announcements and other class-related items.
2. Late Work: No late assignments are accepted and no make-up exams are given without prior
arrangement with the instructor. The grade of any work handed in late, including homework
and papers, will be deducted 10% for each day late. Excused late work is granted in only
extraordinary circumstances of illness or emergencies.
3. Attendance: Attendance is highly encouraged since 1) a much better understanding of
course material arises from attending lecture, and 2) participation points come from in-class
discussions and activities. Correspondingly, grades are higher for students with good
attendance.
4. Help and Feedback: Office hours are intended to provide individual help, discuss problems
or interests, provide comments about the course, or just to get acquainted. I am more than
happy to work with you during these times or, if my office hours conflict with your schedule,
at other times. Please don’t miss out on getting help because you are reluctant to ask for it.
Finally, I would appreciate if you make an appointment to meet with me via email or in
person even during office hours so that I can ensure that I am available and not meeting with
other students when you arrive.
5. Special Student Circumstances: If you have special circumstances (e.g. disabilities, sports
schedule conflicts, foreign language student, or course forgiveness student) please meet
with the instructor at the beginning of the course to discuss your situation.
6. Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need
accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services
(SDS) at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you
should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations based
upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from Student Disability
Services. Your cooperation is appreciated. The SDS website is
http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/sds/
7. Academic Integrity is one of the fundamental principles of a university community. SDSU
expects the highest standards of academic honesty from all students. Violations of
academic integrity include the following: (1) unauthorized assistance on an examination, (2)
falsification or invention of data, (3) unauthorized collaboration on an academic exercise,
(4) plagiarism, (5) misappropriation of research materials, (6) unauthorized access of an
instructor’s files or computer account, and (7) any other serious violation of academic
integrity as established by the instructor. If your academic integrity is not maintained on a
test or assignment, you will automatically receive a grade of zero for that test or assignment
and you will be reported to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities. Penalties can
be severe. For more information on what constitutes plagiarism, please ask me or see this
website: http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_understand_plagiarism_1/0,6622,427064-,00.html
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