Changing Our Impact on the Ocean: An Interactive Deep Dive

We will explore, through geographic case studies, how humans impact the ocean, what happens scientifically as result of those impacts, and how local to international communities respond to them. Topics covered will rotate by week: 1) Nutrient pollution: the Gulf and Chesapeake Bay, 2) Ocean Acidification: Washington and Maine, 3) Ocean Temperature: the Caribbean and Alaska, and 4) the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Students will write short position papers, do projects in small groups, and make at least one presentation to the class related to the four main topics. Each week we will have a mock “policymaking” session. Readings will include primary, gray, and popular literature. This course counts as a cognate for ENVS majors who have a focus in the natural sciences.