- MATERIALS ONLINE
FOR HOMEWORK. Start exploring those materials listed under
TOOLS
and see also Resources by THEME.
- COURSE
FORMAT: The class will be taught in a seminar mode--some
lectures, considerable discussion, occasional case study analysis and
presentation by students, and use of simulation games/computer database
activities.
- ASSIGNMENTS:
Grades will be based upon performance in THREE areas:
1. (10%) Active participation and attendance to lectures and class discussions face-to-face as well as faithfully submitting reviews online via BLACKBOARD as assigned by the instructors!
2. (40%) Class presentations/discussions bi-weekly ("a") and ("b") reviews of online resources submitted via BLACKBOARD:
- KEY ASSIGNED READINGS and CLASS DISCUSSION on four KEY TOPICS) led alternatively by Robert Ford and Stephen Dunbar. 60-90 MINUTES of discussion on days listed in SCHEDULE. Students will have read BEFORE arrival and come ready to answer questions and participate intelligently in the analysis of the report/readings :
b. In-Class-lab activities and online REVIEWS OF KEY RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS (to be explained in class). These activities will occur on alternate weeks from the formal discussions/readings assigned under "a" above.
3. (50%) Research Paper and Powerpoint Presentation: Overview Powerpoint presented on December 5, 2007 while final WRITTEN PAPER submitted no later than 5:00 PM December 14 online via BLACKBOARD.
- The written paper should be a minimum of 12-15 pages for the "core/essay" material - excluding title page, bibliography, and supplementary illustrations in the Appendix.
- DO NOT fill your 12-15 pages with illustrations only. Most illustrations should be in the Appendix or you should extend the length of the paper if your illustrations are included interspersed in the document itself!
- You will submit your Revised Powerpoint with the Paper (in either Microsoft WORD or PDF file format) via BLACKBOARD no later than 5:00 PM December 14.
- Grading of your paper and presentation will utilize the following Criteria-Rubric. We will also ask students to evaluate your powerpoint presentation and oral style as well.
Each student will select a specific problem or issue within the arena of Biodiversity and Conservation to explore in more depth. Your instructors will help you choose, and you must get persmission before finally choosing a topic. Changes may me made in choice of final project, but no later than OCTOBER 17 - approximately half way through the course
Some suggestions for possible topics:
-geo-information science, regional science and biological conservation
-wildlife conservation and sustainable livelihoods
-international conventions for species conservation policy issues
-land and property rights, entitlement issues in conservation
-knowledge management and information technology applied to conservation
-population-land-environment interaction
-sustainable agricultural production and agro-ecosystems
-poverty reduction and trade competitiveness and conservation
-women, gender and biodiversity conservation
-risk assessment, industrial ecology and pollution
-Carrying capacity, land degradation and population pressure
-political (cultural) ecology theory and history in biodiversity
-global health and disease and biodiversity
-biotechnology and genetic resources
-global environmental governance and security and biodiversity
-ethno-ecology and ITK (indigenous knowledge systems)
-regional and sectoral natural resource management issues such as:
- agroforestry,
- drylands goods and services,
- mountain development,
- river basin water resource management,
- sustainable tourism and biodiversity
- coastal and insular zone management,
- Antarctica and polar zone issues
