Natural Science 0195 - Pollution & Our Environment

This course will explore environmental pollution problems covering four major areas: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and energy issues. Several controversial topics, including acid rain, automobile emission, ozone layer depletion, mercury, lead and cadmium poisoning, pesticides, solid waste disposal, and problems of noise and thermal pollution will be addressed. We will emphasize some of the environmental issues affecting our immediate community, as well as those in developing nations. We will also do several project-based labs, gain understanding of scientific methodology, and learn how to write scientific research reports. Students are expected to engage in scientific inquiry and to view their investigations in broader context, to gain a clear sense of the scientific process, and to develop quantitative, oral and written communication skills. Class participation, satisfactory work on the required class projects, literature critiques, and laboratory/field reports are required for evaluation.

Physical and Biological Sciences Independent Work Quantitative Skills Writing and Research