9/13/13

Our unit introducing environmental science and sustainability is already beginning to draw to a close. We will spend next week thinking and writing about the sustainability of humankind evidenced by different case studies you will investigate inside and outside of class. These investigations will culminate in a PBAT in class on Thursday, followed by a discussion and quiz on Friday.

Assignment #5 - Beginning to Evaluate the Sustainability of Humankind

This weekend's homework is to read and evaluate at least three case studies from the options among the links below. The format for taking notes about the case studies is also found below.

"Black Sea in Crisis"
"Ozone Hole Continues to Grow"
"Beepocalypse" from Time Magazine
"The Three Gorges Dam"
"Saving An African Eden"
"Off-Shore Wind Power"
"India's Population Passes 1 Billion"
"Watershed Sustainable Development"

NOTE: If you find alternative cases/articles that you are interested in, then please email me a link by 12:00 pm on Sunday so I can approve it. TED.com has some excellent presentations/videos/talks if you search "environment" or "sustainability."

Points to include for the assessment of each case study:

1. Summarize the case study. Include an identification of and description of the environmental problems in the case study, their causes, and the solutions/remediation efforts.

2. To which principle(s) of sustainability (reliance on solar energy, biodiversity, population control, and nutrient cycling) does this case study connect? Support your answer.

3. What lessons that can be learned and applied from the environmental transformation in this case study?

4. Based on this case study, what is your view of the sustainability of the human race?