To understand current environmental problems, we need to consider physical, biological & chemical processes that are often the basis of those problems. This course will give you the skills necessary to address the environmental issues we are facing today by examining scientific principles and the application of those principles to natural systems. This course surveys some of the many environmental science topics at an introductory level, ultimately considering the sustainability of human activities on the planet.
Environmental impacts on Earth come from the number of people & the amount and types of resources that they use. By applying scientific principles and considering real-world examples, we will examine:
The field of environmental science and how to think like an environmental scientist
The human population and the ways in which changes in the population affect the environment
Agriculture, soils and the environmental implications of eating meat, vegetables, local, organic, sustainable, industrial and other types of food
Non-renewable fossil fuels with a focus on coal, petroleum & natural gas and the benefits + consequences of using each
Renewable fuels such as wind and solar and identify that even renewable “green” energy sources have impacts as well as benefits
Biodiversity and global change, which are the integrating units of environmental science
Applied Learning Project
The three courses comprising the Introduction to Environmental Science Specialization utilize video lectures; case studies from various sites in and around Dartmouth; interviews with experts; readings; both prompted and open discussions; and one graded quiz per module.
