Requirements

Requirements

Senior Seminars

Spring 2010

302a. Earth Climate History. Phil Camill.
The modern world is experiencing rapid climate warming and some parts extreme drought, which will have dramatic impacts on ecosystems and human societies. How do contemporary warming and aridity compare to past changes in climate? Are modern changes human-caused or part of the natural variability in the climate system? What effects did past changes have on global ecosystems and human societies? Students use sediments and growth records (ocean, glacier, lake, coral, tree ring, and rodent middens) to assemble proxies for past changes in climate, atmospheric CO2, and disturbance to examine several issues: long-term carbon cycling and climate, the rise of C4 photosynthesis and the evolution of grazing mammals, orbital forcing and glacial cycles, glacial refugia and post-glacial species migrations of Pleistocene megafauna, climate variability, drought cycles, climate change impacts on fire, climate-related collapses of human civilizations, and determining natural variability vs. human-caused climate change. Prior enrollment in a 200- or 300- level environmental studies or geology course is recommended. (Same as Biology 302 and Geology 302.)
Prerequisite: One of the following: Biology 102, 104, 105, 109 or Geology 101.

318b. Environmental and Resource Economics. Guillermo Herrera.
Seminar: Analysis of externalities and market failure: models of optimum control of pollution and efficient management of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources such as fisheries, forests, and minerals; governmental vs. other forms of control of common-pool resources; and benefit-cost analysis of policies, including market-based and non-market valuation. Not open to students who have credit for Economics 218 or 228. (Same as Economics 318.) 

349c. America's Crossroads. Matthew Klingle and Allen Wells.
An examination of the transnational history of North and South America over the past five hundred years. Students explore this through directed readings on specific themes including exploration and imperial conquest, trade, migration, labor, warfare, and biological exchange, culminating in an original research paper, based on primary and secondary source research, to meet the requirements of their major. (Same as History 349 and Latin American Studies 349.)

357a. The Physics of Climate. Mark Battle.
A rigorous treatment of the earth's climate, based on physical principles. Topics include climate feedbacks, sensitivity to perturbations, and the connections between climate and radiative transfer, atmospheric composition, and large-scale circulation of the oceans and atmospheres. Anthropogenic climate change will also be studied. (Same as Geology 357 and Physics 357.)
Prerequisite: Physics 229, 255, 256 or 300, or permission of the instructor.

363b. Law Politics and the Search for Justice. Allen Springer.
Examines the complex relationship between law and policy in international realtions by focusing on two important and rapidly developing areas of international concern: environmental protection and humanitarian rights.  (Same as Government 363.)
Prerequisite: Government 260, 261, or 263.

392c. Advanced Topics in Environmental Philosophy. Lawrence Simon.
Examines philosophical, moral, political, and policy questions regarding various environmental issues. Possible topics include the ethics of climate change policy, our obligations to future generations, benefit-cost analysis vs. the precautionary principle as a decision-making instrument, and the relationship between justice and sustainability. (Same as Philosophy 392.)

Fall 2009 

301.    ES Capstone Project. Phil Camill.
The Fall 2009 offering of ES 301 (Senior Capstone Project) will focus on the process of helping cities assess energy use and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  Working with the instructor, students will form a collaborative consulting team to assist the towns of Brunswick and Topsham, Maine, in formulating a climate action plan. For more information, click on the course name above.
305a. Fate of Organic Chemicals in the Environment. Dharni Vasudevan.
Over 100,000 synthetic chemicals are currently in daily use. In order to determine the risk posed to humans and ecosystems, we need to understand and anticipate the extent and routes of chemical exposure. Addresses the fate of organic chemicals following their intentional or unintentional release into the environment- why these chemicals either persist or breakdown and how they are distributed between surface water, ground water, soil, sediments, biota, and air. Analysis of chemical structure is used to gain insight into molecular interactions that determine the various chemical transfer and transformation processes, while emphasizing the quantitative description of these processes. (same as Chemistry 305.) Prerequisite: Chemistry 225.
394a. The Ecology and Environmental History of Merrymeeting Bay. John Lichter.
Merrymeeting Bay, a globally rare, inland freshwater river delta and estuary that supports productive and diverse biological communities, is home to numerous rare and endangered species and is critical habitat for migratory and resident waterfowl, as well as anadromous fish. Explores the ecology and environmental history of Merrymeeting Bay in order to understand how its rarenatural habitats might best be managed. Students participate in a thorough review of the scientific and historical literature realted to Merrymeeting Bay, and hellp plan, conduct, and analyze a group study investigating some aspect of the ecology and/or environmental history of the bay, with the intent of submitting a manuscript for publication in an appropriate scientific journal. (Same as Biology 394.) Prerequisite: Biology 158/Chem105, ES201 or Bio/ES 215.
395b. Advanced Seminar in Environmental Policy and Politics. DeWitt John.
Examines a complex current environmental issue in depth. Explores the underlying social, economic, scientific, and cultural dimensions of the issue; reviews how this and related issues have been addressed so far by state and local governments as well as by the federal government; analyzes current policy-making efforts; and suggests lessons from this policy area about the capacity of public institutions to deal effectively with complex issues. The course will give equal attention to the substance of public policy, the political process, and implementation of past and proposed policies. It will focus primarily on the US but will consider experiences in other nations as points of comparison and also any relevant international dimensions of the issue. For information on the Fall 2009 topic, click the course title above.
Prerequisite: once course in environmental studies or government, or instruction of the professor.