Michelle Smith

Email: miliefsk@hawaii.edu

Instructor:

Contact Information:

• Syllabus• Schedule • Assignments• Handouts

Class Web Sites:www.wcc.hawaii.edu/facstaff/miliefsky-m/

Lecture: Section 26045MTWRF 10-11:15HCC Bld 5, R105

Class Time & Location

Instructor’s Office Location & Hours

Bld 5, R105

TR 9:30-10or by apt.

Class Policies

Attendance:

• Mandatory

Come Prepared:

• Read assignments

• Review lecture notes and outlines

Please turn it off before arriving to class!

Cell Phones

Meets general education core requirements for a biological science course.

This class is designed for the non-science major.

• To provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world

• To identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made.

• To evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.

Course Goals

1. Science is a process.

• Science is a method of learning more about the world.

• Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.

2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.

• Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.

• As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.

3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.

• Natural systems change over time and space.

• Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.

Environment & Ecology

This science field is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study.

4. Humans alter natural systems.

• Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.

• Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale of their impact on the environment.

5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.

• Understanding the role of cultural, social and economic factors is vital to the development of solutions.

6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.

• A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.

• Management of common resources is essential.

Environment & Ecology

Environmental Science is the study of how humans interact with their environment.

Our environment is everything that surrounds us, both natural and man-made.

What Is Environmental Science?

• Ecology is the study of how animals and plants interact with their environment.

• This science looks at interrelationships between land, sea, the atmosphere and the living things that occupy these environments.

What Is Ecology?

• Greenhouse gas emission• Pollution• Ozone depletion• Endangered species• Coral bleaching• Sea level rise• Overfishing• Overpopulation

Global Issues

ATTENDANCE:

• Mandatory

• Email for legitimate absence

• 100 points

• Unexcused absence deduction of 10 points

HOMEWORK

• Mastering Environmental Science

• Weekly assignments

• 100 points

REACTION PAPERS:

1. Threats to Biodiversity

2. Effect of VOG

• 2-3 pages types double spaced

• 100 points each

• Attach article

Review SessionReview Session

You ask questionsJeopardy game

EcologySymbiosis Succession Community Biodiversity Potluck

EXAMINATIONS:

• 4 exams @ 150 points each

• Non cumulative

• 50 multiple choice questions

• Book questions included on exams

• Closed book, but allowed 1-sided 3x5 note card

EXAMINATIONS:

Bring your own scantron

At bookstore 6 for $1.25

Missed Exam Policy

No retest unless a legitimate reason

Take exam next class time

Contact your instructor (email)!

1. 4 assignments worth up to 5 points toward your exam. Due at each exam. Last one due 1 week early.

2. Attend a lecture at Waikiki Aquarium, Hanauma Bay Education Center, participate in a beach or algae cleanup…

3. Review an article related to class content (e.g., Discover magazine, National Geographic, local paper…). Internet Journals O.K.

4. Write a 1 page summary-reaction paper, typed, double spaced, size 12 font. Attach article to paper (photocopy or cut it out).

GRADES:

Attendance 100 pts

Homework 100 pts

Reaction Paper (2@100 points each) 200 pts

Exams (4@150 points each) 600 pts

Total 1000 points

No plus or minus final grades

Grading

Grade cutoffs: A = above 90% B = 80%-89% C = 70%-79% D = 60%-69% F = below 59%

• Cheating

• Plagiarism

See student handbook on conduct code orhttp://www.hawaii.edu/student/conduct/imper.html

Textbook

Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories with MasteringEnvironmentalScience, 4/EJay H Withgott & M. Laposata,

ISBN-10: 0321752546ISBN-13: 9780321752543Publisher: Benjamin CummingsCopyright: 2012Format: Paper Package; 464 ppPublished: 09/16/2011Suggested retail price: $122.87

Options

• MasteringEnvironmentalScience® -- Instant Access -- for Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories, 4/EWithgott & LaposataOnline purchase price: $42.90

• MasteringEnvironmentalScience® with Pearson eText -- Instant Access -- for Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories, 4/EWithgott & LaposataOnline purchase price: $78.00

http://www.mypearsonstore.com/index.asp

Options

• Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories, Books a la Carte Plus MasteringEnvironmentalScience®, 4/ESuggested retail price: $83.73 (3-ring binder version)

• Essential Environment: The Science behind the Stories, CourseSmart eTextbook, 4/EWithgott & LaposataOnline purchase price: $48.99

http://www.mypearsonstore.com/index.asp

Essential Environment : The Science Behind the Stories

Coursesmart.com

eTextbook:

Log in: http://www.masteringenvironmentalscience.com/

Mastering Environmental Science

Register: click STUDENTS

• iSwifter• Skyfire• photon

For ipad you need a flash enabler to run Mastering Environmental Science

itunes app store

Flash Enabler

Hawaii is an Ideal Place to Study Biology

Most Unique Plants

Silversword

Rare Native Birds

NeneNene

Unusual Insects & their Relatives

Happy Face Spider

Complex Environments

Need: Understand & protect this heritageNeed: Understand & protect this heritage

Many Important Societal Issues Involve Science

Decisions on solutions or remediation can’t be delayed

Many issues are critical concerns

PopulationPressuresPopulationPressures

NaturalDisastersNaturalDisasters

ResourceExploitationResourceExploitation

EnvironmentalDegradationEnvironmentalDegradation

Lifestyle DecisionsLifestyle Decisions

Health CareHealth Care

Epidemic Diseases

Next crisis?Next crisis?

Genetic Engineering

Key Themes

Our relationship with the environment on a personal and global level

The strong interaction between science and society

Human population growth and Earth’s carrying capacity?

Key Themes

Sustainability for a global economy

Placing value on the environment in a utilitarian, ecological, moral, cultural and aesthetical perspective

How to Succeed in this Class

• Review lecture notes as often as possible.

• Read the text.

• Making flashcards for each new vocabulary word presented.

• Establish study groups and study together.

• Ask questions.

Why Biology 124?

We are at the right place

There are very important problems

We have a good basic knowledge

Knowing biology will help your overall understanding of life

Reminders

Make sure you have access to the class web site:www.wcc.hawaii.edu/facstaff/miliefsky-m/

Withgott, J. & M. Laposata, 2012. Essential

Environment. (4th ed.). (bookstore)

Questions• The course instructor’s name is:

• The instructor suggested that the best way to get help for the course is to:

• The title of the Biology 124 textbook is:

• The Biology 124 course URL (web address) is:

• A primary goal of this course is to:

• The best place to get the dates of the exams is: