Washington and Lee University
ENV 210: Spring 2010 Biogeography and Sense of Place (4). Through field studies of plant species, complemented by discussions of readings that describe the history of the field of biogeography, from the early 19th century to the present, we explore the underlying evolutionary and ecological processes responsible for patterns of distribution, and the lessons this information provides for species conservation. We focus most especially on the work of Charles Darwin in his groundbreaking narrative, The Voyage of the Beagle. Students practice a variety of writing techniques to develop their own skills in observation and interpretation. Warren.
ENV 295 - Remote Sensing and Environmental Risk - topical description - This course examines the use of radar-based remote sensing to detect environmental problems and support the remediation of environmental problems. Specific examples are drawn from the petroleum and natural-gas sectors, with case studies from the Brazilian coast, the Brazilian Amazon, and the Gulf of Mexico. The course meets for only the first six weeks of the semester, for six hours per week. The course is taught by one of the world's experts in this area, Professor Fernando Pellon de Miranda of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and Petrobras. Spring 2008
ENV 295: The Chesapeake is What We Eat (3). No prerequisites. How does what we eat affect our upstream and downstream neighbors? This seminar examines the ways our foodshed and watershed are interrelated. It also will explore cultural attitudes and practices of eating and their consequences related to individual human health, the health of communities, and the health of land and waters
ENV 295A: Winter 2010 Special Topics: Landowners and Water Quality: Stories of Changing Relationships (3). This seminar investigates relationships between local landowners and waterways in Rockbridge County in the context of a political mandate to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Students learn about the natural and human history of the area, the development and implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Act, and the current residents' changing relationships with the land and water in Rockbridge County. Henry-Stone.
ENV 295B: Winter 2010 Nature and Place (3). Students may not also register for REL 295. This course explores a variety of ideas about and experiences of nature and place through a consideration of work drawn from diverse disciplines including philosophy, religion, literature, art, and anthropology. What is the nature of place in our societies, and is there a place for nature in our cultures? How have human beings made places for themselves to dwell in or out of nature? What might make a place a sacred place? (HU, GE4d) Kosky.
ECON 385-386- Spring Semester in the Amazon - Spring 2010
ENV 395: Biodiversity: Ethics and Conservation (3). No prerequisites. What is biological diversity, where did it come from, where is it going, and why should we care? In this course, we examine the interface between ethics and science with regard to the current mass extinction, the role that humans play in it, and the implications for environmental policy. Cooper and Hurd
ENV 397 - The Environmental Studies Capstone Course is an interdisciplinary course intended for students in the program in environmental studies. Students analyze a particular environmental issue and attempt to integrate scientific inquire, political and economic analysis and ethical implications. The issues under examination change annually during the winter term.
BIOL 325: Spring 2010 Ecological Modeling and Conservation Strategies (4). Prerequisite: MATH 101 or higher and BIOL 111 and 113, or permission of the instructor. Can be used in place of GEOL 260. This course is an intensive introduction to foundational methods in ecological modeling and their application, with emphasis on the dynamics of exploited or threatened populations and developing strategies for effective conservation. Topics include managing harvested populations, population viability analysis, individual based models, and simulation modeling for systems analyses. Laboratory course. Humston.
