ENV-109: The Future of Sustainability

January Term 2006

Classroom: Interpretive Center MTWRF 1:30-3:30

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Jeremiason, NHS 106C, Office hours 9-10 or by appt

Web Site: http://homepages.gac.edu/~jjeremia/ENV109/ENV109.htm

Readings:

Hanson, Barry J. 2004. Energy Power Shift: Benefiting From Today’s new Technologies. Lakota Scientific Press.

Orr, David, W. 2005. The Last Refuge: Patriotism, Politics, and the Environment in an Age of Terror. Island Press.

Edwards, Andres R. 2005. The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift. New Society Publishers.

Additional readings will be placed on reserve or be available on the course web site.

Tentative Schedule

Week 1: Jan 3-6

Tuesday Overview of Environmental Issues

Wednesday Introduction to Sustainability Edwards, through Ch 2; Taking Sides

Issue 2 (on web); Pacific Institute

Water Issues – Waste Water Treatment

Choose articles for Friday presentations

Thursday Field trip to St. Peter Wastewater Treatment Plant; leave from IC at 1:30

Friday Sustainability Edwards 3-4; MN DNR and MN PCA web site readings

Water Issues in the Minnesota River Valley

Student Presentations

Topic Selection due

Week 2: Jan 9-13

Monday Sustainability Edwards 5-6; Student Presentations

Water Issues

Tuesday Energy Basics Hanson 1-91

Wednesday Biodiesel and Ethanol background Hanson 93-146

Thursday Ethanol and Biodiesel Field Trips (Note: Leave early A.M., return late afternoon)

Friday Hanson 146-end

Week 3: Jan 16-20

Monday Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology, Last Refuge Part 1

Tuesday Barry Hanson visit? Last Refuge Part II

Wednesday Waste Issues Last Refuge Part 1II

Thursday CERTs meeting in am

Field Trip to Mankato Refuse Derived Fuel Plant

Friday Wind Energy

Week 4: Jan 23-Jan 27

Monday Wind Energy

Tuesday Field Trip SW Minnesota – Wind Turbines (Note: Leave early A.M, return late afternoon)

Wednesday Student Presentations

Thursday Student Presentations

Friday Future of Sustainability

Grading

Points

Reading Quizzes (4-6): 20%

Memoranda (4): 20%

Group Project: 40%

Participation: 20%

Class participation: The success of this class depends upon your active engagement. Attendance at all lectures and field trips is required. Each unexcused absence results in a 1 letter grade decrease in your final grade. To get full credit for this portion of the grade you are encouraged to participate actively by engaging in group work in class, by raising questions and debating issues both in class and on the field trips.

Reading Quizzes: You are expected to read the assigned readings prior to attending class. Quizzes will cover the assigned reading material and “lectures” since the last quiz.

Memorandums: After each site visit, you are to write a two-page (or longer), double-spaced, memorandum summarizing the content of the site visit, and your reactions to it. Begin by describing the project(s) you visited, the purpose of the project, the technologies used, the parties involved in the project. Then, offer your own evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the project(s). Then offer your personal reactions to the site visit. What recommendations would you offer? How do the issues raised on the field trip relate to the readings and lectures? What questions does the field trip raise for you?

Final Project: Working in groups, you will prepare a data-intensive analysis of an environmental issue related to the topics of the course. Projects will be presented to the class during the last week. See web site for further guidelines