Instructor

Walter I. Hatch

SH 218 Ext 4368 

wihatch@smcm.edu

Lecture

TR 10:00-11:50

SH 132

Lab

R 1:00-3:50

SH 217

Office hours

WF 9:00 - 10:00am

SH218 - SH220 and AIM 

AOL Instant Messenger address wihatchsmcm

Prerequisites

The are no prerequisites for this course

Objectives

Contemporary Bioscience introduces concepts fundamental to all biology while covering contemporary topics in biology and environmental science. The objectives of this section of contemporary bioscience are to introduce students to biological and ecological concepts through the study of ecology and then to use these concepts to explore, through a discussion of environmental science, the relationship of humans to their environment. We will first focus on human-environment relationships from the standpoint of humans as animal organisms subject to the same constraints as all other animals. We will then shift our focus to discussing this relationship from the viewpoint of humans as sentient, social, political, economic, and creative animals. I will rely heavily on you all to bring to our discussions contemporary viewpoints of scholars in your own disciplines.

A second objective of this course is scientific literacy and the ability to think critically about issues that overlap the life sciences and those areas where life sciences overlap the rest of your lives. I personally want you all to be in a position to read and evaluate ecological and environmental issues in order to develop your own opinions. You can then go to the poles and vote on environmental issues from a position of understanding that you established through critical evaluation.

Finally, a general theme throughout the course will be the exploration of the methods of science and science as a way of knowing. You should learn to question everyone and everything as any good scientist would do. Thus, critical thinking and the ability to sift through mountains of information in order to uncover the useful bits, should be added to our objectives.

This course does not meet the requirements for a degree in biology. Students, who intend to major in biology, enter the health care professions, or who desire a biology course with a laboratory experience or even a more comprehensive study of biological principles should consider enrolling in BIOL 105 and 106 (Principles of Biology I and II).

Textbook

Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions 15th ed with Info-Trac G. Tyler Miller / Hardcover / Thomson Learning / 2007. Additional readings from the scientific literature will be assigned throughout the course. These will available online through Infotrac.

Evaluation

Student performance will be evaluated on the basis of the student's performance on the following items:

Lecture exams

Lecture exams will cover material from lecture, class discussions, textbook and other assigned readings as well as from student presentations. All lecture exams will be cumulative in order to encourage the review of previous material. The final exam will include questions on all of the material covered in the course. Exams may include multiple choice, short answer questions (define the following terms) or short essays (compare and contrast the following or discuss the significance of ··· or the relationship between ···.

Quizzes

There will be at least six quizzes, but only your best four will be used in grade computations. In order to encourage attendance, quizzes will be unannounced and quizzes cannot be made up. Thus, if the two unexcused absences permitted by college policy coinincide with a quiz your grade will not be affected.

Final examination

A comprehensive examination covering the course and laboratory material for the entire semester worth 300 points will be administered during final week.

Legislation Paper

During the first few weeks of class you will be presented with a scientific paper on a topic of environmental concern. You will read, evaluate and critique an article on a topic related to human ecology/environmental science and propose a piece of legislation addressing the problem or potential problem presented in the paper. The objective of these reading is to help you become a scientifically literate citizen, able to evaluate writings dealing with biological or environmental issues as well as to think about how these issues interact with political, economic and philosophical issues. Specific guidelines,and deadlines will be available on Black board. Note: papers are submitted electronically and the file name must comply with the Biology department file naming conventions.

Group presentation

During the first weeks of class you will be divided into six to eight
groups. Within a group, each student will read, evaluate and critique an article on a topic related to human ecology/environmental science. All members of the group will read the same article. The objective of these reading is to allow you to explore a specific topic in more detail. Specific guidelines,  reporting forms and deadlines will be available on Blackboard. Note: presentation materials are submitted electronically and the file name must comply with the Biology department file naming conventions.

Class participation

You are expected to prepared for contributions to class discussions. - Contribution to discussion is encouraged by adding 50 points to your course score for active participation.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all lectures and complete assigned readings prior to lectures or discussions on each topic. Although attendance will not be taken in lecture, missing a class will affect your performance on exams and may result in a grade of zero if an unannounced quiz is administered or if you are not present for a discussion. Remember no makeup quizzes will be offered. Lecture exams can only be made up if arrangement with the instructor is made prior to the scheduled examination time. Makeup exams will generally be comprehensive oral examinations that are administered on the last day of the final exam period.

Grades

Students’ final course grade will be determined on the basis of total points earned in the course. A total of 1000 points are possible. The distribution of points is as follows:

Lecture Exams

2 @ 100pts

= 200

Final Exam

1 @ 200 pts

= 200

Quizzes

4 @25 pts

=100

Legislation paper

1 @ 150

= 200

Lab reports

5 @ 50

= 250

Class participation

50 pts

= 50

Total

= 1000

Note

Students are expected to be familiar with and to abide by the policies on academic honesty as stated in the College Catalog and the Student Code of Conduct. .

Students are expected to read the Biology Department Safety Manual and act in accordance with its directions whenever they are in any biology laboratory.

Tentative Lecture Schedule*

Week

Date

Topic

Reading

01

Sept 01

Part I humans and sustainability: an overview
Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability.

Chapter 1

02

Sep 08

Part II Scientific principles and concepts:
Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy.

Chapter 2

03

Sep 15

Ecosystems:
Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling.

Chapter 3

04

Sep 22

Evolution and Bio diversity:
Origins, Niches, and Adaptation.

Chapter 4

05

Sep 29

Bio diversity:
Climate, Biomes, and bio diversity.

Chapter 5 - 6

06

Oct 06

07

Oct 12-13

07 

Oct 15

08

Oct 20

Population Ecology
Carrying capacity and Conservation biology:

Chapter 8

09

Oct 27

Applying population biology

Chapter 9

10

Nov 03

Advising -no class meeting

Chapter 10-11

11

Nov 10

Sustaining bio diversity

Chapter 10-11- 12

12

Nov 17

Chapter 13-14

13

Nov 24

14

Dec 01

Chapter 13-14

Sustaining environmental quality - climate change

Chapter 20

14

Dec 05

Politics, Environment, and Sustainability

Chapter 27