SCI 207 Complete Course

Week 1

Laboratories

Population Biology. Visit Population Biology and complete the virtual lab. This lab gives you the opportunity to explore the affects of competition on population growth. Follow the instructions on the Population Biology Submission Form. Using this worksheet, you will answer the lab questions and fill in the table on the Population Biology Submission Form. Save it as a Word document and submit it.

Assignments

Innovation and Sustainability. Humans are constantly innovating ways to produce and consume material resources. Write a paper addressing the following issue:

a. Give specific examples of at least two (2) production and two (2) consumption habits humans have related to material resources. These are discussed in Chapter Two of Contemporary Environmental Issues, which includes production of all types of consumer goods as well as consumption of environmental resources.

b. Discuss efforts that must be considered about these production and consumption habits in order to sustain the global population.

Discussion Questions

Biomes and Diversity. Extinction is a natural selection process. Should humans strive to preserve a representative sample of all biomes or aquatic zones? Why should humans be concerned with the extinction rate? Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with at least two references in addition to your text in support of your position. Cite your sources in APA format.

Trends in the Environment. In the 1980s a popular environmental slogan was "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" and now "Go Green," is a popular message. Consider the Reusable Grocery Bags sold in

Week 2

Laboratories

Environmental Footprint. Complete the first part of this lab at Footprint Calculator (accessible through the Labs section of Contemporary Environmental Issues). You will use the ecological footprint calculator to evaluate your environmental footprint. Then, complete the second part at Household Emissions Calculator (accessible through the Labs section of Contemporary Environmental Issues). You will use the EPAs household emissions calculator to quantitatively identify three to five everyday products or practices that contribute most to your footprint and identify measurable solutions to each. That is, you will estimate savings of both carbon emissions and money that can be achieved via the solutions. In the study questions, reflect upon your results and relate them to themes covered in Contemporary Environmental Issues. In order to complete this lab, download the Carbon Footprint Instructions. Answer the Lab Questions at the end of the document. Save it as a Word document and submit it.

Land Use in Pinchot. Visit Land Use in Pinchot Lab (accessible through the Labs section of Contemporary Environmental Issues) and complete the virtual lab. In this lab you will apply the scientific method to examine how thresholds of land use changes such as deforestation and urban sprawl can impact communities, predator/prey relationships, species diversity, and quality of life in human communities.

Discussion Questions

Food and Agriculture. In the United States, we are fortunate to have an abundant supply of food, and much of this is due to our agricultural technology. However, there are many concerns about our food source, including genetically modified crops, the use of more chemicals, and climate change just name a few. Give examples of how humans have increased their food supply and what effects these methods have on the environment overall. Discuss concerns you have about the overall safety of the food you eat?

Urban Sprawl. Examine the obvious environmental impacts as well as significant social and physical ramifications of urban sprawl. What is the relationship between landscape and psychological well being? After defining this relationship, discuss how the presence or absence of natural beauty in your environment affects your psychological well being on an everyday basis. Give at least one specific example.

Week 3

Assignments

Outline of Final Paper. Review the Final Paper instructions in Week Five of the online course or in the Components of Course Evaluation section of this guide. Then, visit the Ashford Writing Center located under the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar in your online classroom. Review the Sample: Outline. Format your outline for the Final Paper according to the Sample: Outline. (NOTE: In the Sample: Outline, it states that the thesis statement is the last one to three sentences of the introduction. However, the thesis statement must be one sentence in length and the last sentence of the introduction.)

The outline must contain:

a. Introduction with thesis statement

b. At least five body paragraphs

c. Conclusion

d. Reference page

Discussion Questions

Water Cycle. The global water cycle provides renewable water, but a number of factors affect how much freshwater is available for human consumption. Describe these factors and circumstances. When do human interventions in water availability pose serious problems to freshwater accessibility?

Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.

Age of Oil. In Chapter Six of Contemporary Environmental Issues, the past century has been referred to as the Age of Oil. As we reach a possible peak in oil production, what alternatives are forming? Consider the role of OPEC, perhaps, in reorganizing and monitoring oil production. What do you think is the most viable way to address after effects of this possible peak?

Week 4

Laboratories

Greenhouse Gases. Visit the Greenhouse Gases Lab (accessible through the Labs section of Contemporary Environmental Issues) and complete the virtual lab. In this lab you will use a computer model to explore how human activities are creating a blanket of heat-trapping pollution in Earths atmosphere. The model illustrates sources of top heat-trapping pollutants and their general impacts on Earths temperature.

In order to complete this lab, download the Greenhouse Gases Lab Instructions. Answer the Lab Questions at the end of the document. To answer the Lab Questions, you will reflect upon how destabilizing Earths climate not only impacts ecosystems and biodiversity, but also critical elements of human well-being, such as fresh water supplies and agricultural production. Save it as a Word document and submit it.

Assignments

Nuclear Power. All energy sources have drawbacks. Even the clean hydropower option has negative ramifications. Weigh those against the possible consequences of developing nuclear power, a controversial alternative to fossil fuels. Discuss the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster as well as the 20th century Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in drawing conclusions about risk versus reward of nuclear energy use.

Discussion Questions

Climate and Air Pollution. Climate change is an environmental issue in the news almost daily, and air pollution impacts us on a global level. What are the implications of global warming? Do you think the efforts to improve air quality are worth the economic costs?

Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.

Energy. Most of us are aware of the energy concerns of today and the future. There are many pros and cons to the energy sources we currently use. For this forum choose one of the following to discuss:

a. If you had to argue the benefits of nuclear energy, what would they be? What are the risks? Support your claims with at least two references in addition to your text in support of your position. Cite your sources in APA format.

b. If you had to argue the benefits of wind energy, what would they be? What are the risks? Support your claims with at least two references in addition to your text in support of your position. Cite your sources in APA format.

Week 5

Final Paper

The final assignment for this course is a Final Paper. The purpose of the Final Paper is for you to culminate the learning achieved in the course by demonstrating your understanding of the fundamental characteristics associated with the concept of a sustainable world by critically analyzing an environmental issue. The Final Paper represents 20% of the overall course grade.

Focus of the Final Paper

You are required to critically analyze one of the following five (5) environmental issues that have been addressed in Contemporary Environmental Issues and the associated course material to demonstrate your comprehension of the fundamental characteristics associated with the concept of a sustainable world. The Final Paper should incorporate student research, assigned readings, class discussions, and personal experience.

Environmental Issues

Choice One Are alternative energy sources the answer to ending human dependence on oil?

Choice Two Is global warming due to human actions? Can the human race take action to stop global warming?

Choice Three Is genetic engineering the answer to ending global hunger?

Choice Four Should cars be more efficient?

Choice Five Is wind power green?

Based on material obtained in class as well as outside material, you must:

1. Present both sides of the argument. You may address one side at a time or point-by-point. It is important to maintain an unbiased approach and to fully discuss both sides of the issue. In other words, the answers yes and no should be thoroughly explored for the question/issue you select.

2. Discuss the impact of this environmental issue on a sustainable world, and provide a critical analysis of the current issue.

Laboratories

Polluters in Your Community. This lab activity follows up on this weeks discussion topics and gives you an opportunity to consider polluters in your community.

a. Visit Scorecard: The Pollution Information Site and/or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

b. Identify the top five polluters and the top five chemicals released in your county.

c. Determine the number of Superfund sites in your area.

d. Based on the information you find on these sites, list five ways that you can take action in your community.

Discussion Questions

Waste. What waste disposal methods are available to humans and how might they be more effective? What initiatives or incentives could governments create to better equip citizens for managing their own waste, garbage, and recyclables? Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.

Green Intelligence. Define the main goals and strategies of green intelligence. Do you think market-based approaches could save the planet? Why or why not?