Course Syllabus

ENVR S-101 Environmental Management
(CRN 32382)

Harvard University 2015 Summer School Term

Section Meeting Wednesdays 6:30-9:30 pm

https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/3503

>> Short Syllabus, suitable for printing (8.5x11) PDF (revised 18 July 2015)

>> Upload papers to the  Drop Box  (PDF or DOC preferred)

 

INSTRUCTORS:

John D. Spengler, PhD
Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation
Harvard School of Public Health
Director
Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment
e: spengler@hsph.harvard.edu (ALWAYS “RE: S101”  in email correspondence)
ph: 617-384-8810

Joseph G. Allen, DSc, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Health
Harvard School of Public Health
e: jgallen@hsph.harvard.edu (ALWAYS “RE: S101”  in email correspondence)
ph: 617-384-8475

George D. Buckley, MS
Assistant Director, Sustainability and Environmental Management Programs
Harvard University Extension School 
e: gbuckley@fas.harvard.edu (ALWAYS “RE: S101”  in email correspondence)
ph: 617-998-8597

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course surveys the scientific principles of environmental issues and environmental management practices, with attention to the health of both humans and the ecosystem. Fundamental and emerging topics related to air and water pollution, water use and management, aquatic ecosystems, energy and climate change, biodiversity, toxic substances in the environment, solid waste management, and regulatory strategies for risk assessment and environmental management are examined.

This special summer course uses the prerecorded videos from the Fall 2014 ENVR E-101 course combined with a weekly live section meeting and live chat. 2-3 fall lectures will be covered each week during summer term. Local students meet at 1 Story St. Cambridge, across the street from Harvard Extension School office.

  

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Botkin, Daniel B., and Edward A. Keller
Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet, 9th Edition (or 8^th)
New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2014.

See Textbook detail

 

WRITING GUIDE

Turabian, Kate L.
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th Edition
Chicago: University Of Chicago Press, 2013.

 

PAPER GUIDELINES

The papers require a title page with your name, HUID and email at the top right hand of the page and the paper topic centered. Pages are numbered center bottom of content (not title) pages. Use the Turabian text as a writing guide. Papers may have up to four 4x6 inch images, charts, maps etc., which must be well cited. Papers are written in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced with one inch margins. Detailed references and citations are required.

We have developed a set of assignments to provide you opportunities to learn more about your environment: Global, National, Community, your home. You will be given some options because environmental issues might present differently depending on your location and you might have a particular interest in exploring various topics. You are required to complete 3 of these assignments over the course of the semester.

When doing these assignments we want you to use RELIABLE websites such as WHO (World Health Organization that has regional offices as well), WMO, USEPA, NOAA, USGS, NASA, DOE (and the many National Labs). In addition there are many good State, NGO and even corporate sites. For those that do not live in the US you will have to access information available for your country and city. To earn credit points for these assignments you need to demonstrate to us that you did the research and learned something relevant. They are written using Times New Roman 12 point font, double spaced with one inch margins. Full reference citations are required using APA style.

 

DELIVERY FORMATS

This year we are experimenting with different delivery formats. Here are the options:

TRADITIONAL: Well-structured and referenced 1,500 word essay for undergraduates and 2,000 word essay for graduate students that answers the question and summarizes your efforts.

INFLUENTIAL: An OP-ED article, a letter to one of your elected officials, a letter to an administrator of an agency or department. This submission can be shorter than the traditional essay but it must be VERY WELL REASONED. TO BE CLEAR---IF YOU TAKE THIS OPTION YOU WILL SUBMIT BOTH A SHORT CLEARLY WRITTEN OP-ED PIECE OF >250 but <500 WORDS AND A SUPPORTING REPORT OF 1,000 WORDS.

EDUCATIONAL: Develop a PowerPoint presentation that must include either with talking points or a ‘voice thread.’ PowerPoint should be no longer than ten slides. Make sure you have name, email and ID on title slide. Make sure everything is properly cited. TO BE CLEAR YOU WILL SUBMIT A SUPPORTING DOCUMENT OF 1,000 WORDS.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Develop a social media campaign (with content!) designed to highlight key aspects of your research, grab attention of readers, and direct them to primary sources. This project needs to include a written description of your objective, targeted audience, approach, timing of information releases, social media platforms, and the SPECIFIC content that will be delivered on each platform (e.g. tweets, FB page content). TO BE CLEAR YOU WILL SUBMIT A SUPPORTING DOCUMENT OF 1,000 WORDS.

 

Writing Assignment Guidelines, including a list of suggested research topics can be found under Resources.

>> Weekly Lecture Schedule, Slides, Reading Assignments, and Resources

>> Upload papers to the  Drop Box  (PDF or DOC preferred)