Also offered as E-PSCI 6. Students cannot enroll in both courses.

0. Click here to download the syllabus (updated 2021-03-30)

1.- 4. Click here  to download the first four lectures (updated 2021-02-15)

5a. Click here to download Lecture 5a: Climate Scenarios.

6. Click here to download Lecture 6: Aerosols.

7. Click here to download Lecture 7: Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry  (added 2021-02-21)

8. Click here to download Lecture 8: Photochemical Smog and  Roll-up for Photochemical Smog. (2021-03-09)

9-10. Click here to download the Air Toxics and Regulations lectures (2021-03-18 and 2021-03-23)

Click here for the recorded class sessions (Teachers and enrolled students only)

Syllabus summary:

Tuesday & Thursday 10:30-11:45 am https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/79073

Instructors: Prof. Elsie Sunderland (ems@seas.harvard.edu) Prof. Steve Wofsy (wofsy@g.harvard.edu)

Teaching Fellows: Mona Dai (monadai@g.harvard.edu) Jack Bruno (jackbruno@g.harvard.edu) and Jonas LaPier (jlapier@college.harvard.edu)

Statement of Purpose

ESE/EPS 6, and the companion course ESE/EPS 102 (Data Analysis and Statistical Inference in the Earth and Environmental Sciences) proceed from the recognition that environmental problems are inherently complex, and linked across time and space. Air pollution, climate change, water quality, and associated health impacts, are not separate and distinct problems.  All emerge from complex physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms, and are closely linked at many levels. Solutions to these problems must be similarly multi-dimensional and systemic.

To enable students to design real-world solutions to these problems, students start by learning the underlying scientific principles and their applications to mitigation and adaptation.  ESE/EPS 6 focuses on students' understanding of these  principles and applications.

Good data inputs and rigorous analysis are essential prerequisites to designing solutions to environmental issues. ESE/EPS introductory courses therefore also emphasize environmental measurement methods and instrumentation, observational designs, and data analysis.

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• apply knowledge of the fundamental chemistry and physics of the earth system
• identify, conceptualize, and analyze environmental issues with human causation
• identify, conceptualize, and analyze engineering solutions to environmental issues
• prepare and deliver effective presentations

Skills comprising the learning outcomes at the end of the course:

• ESE/EPS-6 is accessible to Freshmen and others with limited science preparation.

 

Recommended Preparation

This course presumes a basic background in chemistry, physics and mathematics at the high school level. This course does not assume any background in programming or statistics and we will be developing these skills throughout the semester.

 

Required Readings

There is no required textbook for the course. Required readings will be assigned from a variety of sources and will be available on the course website and/or provided in class.

Supplemental Reading

Aerosols: http://acmg.seas.harvard.edu/people/faculty/djj/book/bookchap8.html#pgfId=997489 

Course Structure and Assessment

10% Pre/In Class Exercises (1% each)

20% Problem Sets

20% Labs

50% Final Project & Presentation:

• 10% Proposal and questions
• 10% Identification and initial visualization of dataset
• 10% Discussions with instructors
• 20% Final oral presentation and written documentation

 

Course Policies & Expectations 

• The class will meet two times a week from 10:30am-11:45 am on Tuesday and Thursday. Regular attendance at lectures and participation in discussion and activities is expected and required. Accommodations will be attempted for students in distant time zones as feasible.
• Required readings will be assigned periodically. Readings should be completed prior to class.
• Problem sets  will be used to reinforce concepts introduced in class and are due at the start of lecture on the assigned due date. Requests for extensions must be submitted for approval by the instructors prior to the scheduled due date.
• There will be two labs in the course this semester. Lab kits will be mailed to students who enroll in the course. One will involve measuring fine particulate matter in air and the other will involve measuring properties of soils. Field observations are involved. Sessions will take place throughout the semester with some flexibility to accommodate students’ schedules. These labs are intended to give you a sense of the type of measurements environmental engineers make and also familiarize you with analyzing environmental data.
• Final Projects.  Students will work in small groups of three students assigned by the instructors at the beginning of the semester to complete a final project, working throughout the semester. Any topic that involves identifying and proposing a solution for an environmental problem with an appropriate environmental dataset is acceptable and students are encouraged to choose topics of personal interest. Course staff will provide guidance on the appropriate elements to be included in a project, and will help students identify and acquire data sets for analysis. This project should be fun and will introduce students to environmental research and data visualization techniques that complement in class assignments throughout the semester. A series of milestones for the project will be provided throughout the class. Examples of projects from previous years will be provided but new topics and ideas are encouraged.
• Grading: Any questions on graded material must be brought to a TF’s attention within 14 days of the original due Any student who believes they should have received more points for any reason other than a simple addition error of the points awarded must provide a written statement making the case. We reserve the right to fully re-evaluate any graded material, which may result in an increase or decrease in the original grade.
• Course Website. Information about required components of the course will regularly be disseminated via the course website on Students are responsible for ensuring that their notification settings in Canvas are set to receive all course communications in a timely manner.
• Academic Integrity. Discussion and the exchange of ideas are essential to academic work, but all submitted assignments in this course must be identifiable as a student's distinct work.
  • For homework assignments and labs, students are encouraged to consult with classmates as they work on problem sets to enhance However, after discussions with peers, each student must write up and turn in an individual set of solutions that represents their individual mastery of the problems.
  • Photographing and/or copying another student’s work is not

• Course Schedule. The following page contains the anticipated schedule of lectures and assignments for the Please note that this schedule is subject to change, and the official schedule will be posted and kept current on the course website. Students should regularly check the course website for updates.

Course lecture summary below.