Faculty Contact Information:
Tel 09543 9524
0170 5300881
Address: Richard fry
Geisfelder str 9
96129 Rossdorf.a.F
Contact hrs: 30min before class, or as needed
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Course Materials:
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Environmental Science, 11th Ed., Miller, Thomson Learning, 0-534-42250-0.
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Course Description:
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(Fulfills the civic responsibility requirement.) A survey of ecological principles as they apply to the interrelated dilemmas of sustainability. These problems include overpopulation, pollution, over-consumption of natural resources, and the ethics of land use. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BIOL 211, BOTN 211, or PBIO 235.
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Course Goals/Objectives:
After completing this course, students should be able to do the following:
* define pertinent terms in environmental science
* present and interpret quantitative information
* explain the scientific and social principles of sustainability
* delineate the reasons behind population growth, quantify population growth, detail the impacts of human population growth on the planet, and recall the various means to stabilize population growth
* outline the scientific method and use critical thinking to understand environmental problems and discoveries
* explain the basic principles of ecology
* describe the key points of U.S. government resource management practices and policies, the history of the U.S. environmental movement, and critical national environmental legislation
* analyze American energy use, list problems associated with energy use, and state specific sustainable strategies for energy usage in the U.S. and around the world
* explain biodiversity, the many benefits of biodiversity and provide the main reasons for species loss
* explain the principles of evolution, including the mechanisms of speciation and extinction
* delineate the principles of modern agriculture, including the Green Revolution, and describe the impact of agriculture on ecosystems
* interpret how environmental contaminants affect ecosystems and human biological functions
* clearly and effectively communicate scientific discoveries and controversial environmental issues, both verbally and in writing
* explain specific western societal values and environmental ethics and their relationship to the current environmental situation
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Course Introduction:
The purpose of this course is to provide a basic introduction to ecological systems and
environmental issues. We will study the impact of humans on ecosystems, with a focus on environmental problems and sustainable solutions. After a brief review of basic scientific and ecological concepts, we will cover the three fundamental aspects of environmental studies - population, resource depletion, and pollution. The course is designed to facilitate knowledgeable opinions and meaningful decisions about today's environmental issues.
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Grading Information and Criteria:
Grades in this course will be determined as follows:
3x20% quizzes
30% Final Exam
10% particiapation/attendance
The grading scale in this course will be determined as follows:
A = 90%-100%
B = 80%-89%
C = 70%-79%
D = 60%-69%
F = 0%-59%
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Other Information:
I want to keep this course as up to date as possible. By that I mean that I will have my laptop with me at all times. With this we will be able to go online and do any research, and also see what is in the news on the day of the class (you can't get much more up to date than that:))
I also have lots of powerpoint presentations. After each lecture you will able to access these from my webpage (address will be supplied). I hope this will help, especially if you have to miss a class.
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Project Descriptions:
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Quizzes/exams will include the topics and skills covered in the required readings, lectures, and class discussions.
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Academic Policies:
Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines.
See the UMUC policies at the following URL:
http://www.umuc.edu/policy/
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Course Schedule:
Session 1
Topics: The Scientific Method & Environmental Science
Session 2
Topics: Environmental Problems, Economics, Politics, and Global Perspectives
Session 3
Topics: Principles of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
Session 4
Topics: Ecosystems and the Flow of Energy & Resources
Session 5
Topics: Evolution and Biodiversity
Quiz 1
Session 6
Topics: Community Ecology
Session 7
Topics: Population Dynamics
Session 8
Topics: Principles of Geology
Session 9
Topics: Human Health & the Environment
Quiz 2
Session 10
Topics: Population Growth & Distribution
Session 11
Topics: Air Resources & Pollution
Session 12
Topics: Water & Earthen Resources & Pollution
Session 13
Topics: Sustaining Biodiversity
Quiz 3
Session 14
Topics: Energy Resources and Uses
Session 15
Review for Final
Session 16
Final Exam
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Faculty Bio:
Lecturer: Associate Professor Richard Fry
Richard Fry obtained a Bsc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of Stirling in 1987. Awarded a Science and Engineering Council Award and a CASE scholarship in the same year to do postgraduate research for Smith Kline French pharmaceuticals (Dept of clinical pharmacology) and the Royal Veterinary College London (Dept of Biochemistry). Papers were presented at several British Biochemical society meetings and at the International Biochemical Society meeting in Rome (1989). Publications followed in the Transactions of the British Biochemical Society and Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.on the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis. After some teaching at thee RVC Richard Fry joined UMUC in 1991
Outside of work I keep sane by playing with a jazz trio and I live with my girlfriend and a very large hairy black dog called Einstein (audio of the band and assorted home life pictures will be available on my website)
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