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NCPH 001 The Earth: An Owner's Manual Course Description: This course is designed for anyone interested in the health of our planet. It will explore a variety of current environmental issues such as global warming, pollution and overpopulation. Through lecture, class discussion, short audiovisual presentations, and the reading of brief essays on environmental topics, we will study the scientific and political basis for these problems in order to better understand the public policy debates surrounding them. The first part of the course is a primer on the basic chemical, biological, and geological organization of the earth’s crust, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere. The student is introduced to ecological systems, energy budgets, the nitrogen cycle, the carbon cycle, trophic levels, the Gaea Hypothesis, and the history of the earth’s climate. We will then turn to human impact on the planet. Topics include overpopulation, global warming, pollution, species extinction, and the consequences of modern agriculture and globalization, as well as deterioration of quality of life. The final session will be a class discussion of national and global environmental policy, war, energy and economics. What is the extent of the damage? What are the solutions? Is it too late? Prerequisites: Courses available for registration:
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