Environmental Studies

This course provides a background on the essentials of planet Earth's natural dynamics, and which processes are currently altered through human activity, by explaining how geological processes have shaped the Earth into its present state, and how current human activities are interfering with natural processes in Earth's ecosystems. Why the Earth's surface looks the way it does can largely be understood from Earth's internal structure dynamics. Aspects of the Geosphere that are discussed in class include the formation of planet Earth, the rock cycle, geological time, the inner Earth, plate tectonics, deformation, mountain building, and sedimentation and sedimentary basins. Emphasis is placed on the role of geological observations as evidence of processes that contributed to shaping the surface of the Earth. In addition, the course discusses the diversity of Earth's ecosystem and the importance of conserving biodiversity. The scientific aspects of global climate change are addressed, along with the way climate change is discussed and presented in the popular media.

This course provides a people-oriented global approach to sustainable environmental resource management and an introduction to essential contemporary issues related to global forests. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between people, environmental resource use, and conservation, with a particular focus on forests. Central topics include the ideas and views that guide forest use and conservation; how people rely on environmental resources and the relationships between forests and human health; how a price is placed on environmental products and their importance to local people is made visible; quantifying forest cover; deforestation and what can be done; the existence and effectiveness of national and global policies; and sustainable forest management. The course offers a combination of guided readings, in-class discussions and exercises, online discussions, and detailed feedback on two individual essays.

This field-based research project course engages in all stages of earth and environmental science field investigations and allows students to gain an understanding of different research methodologies: from design to implementation, through collection and analysis of data that addresses specific research questions, identified independently by each student. The course also allows students to experience collaborative research work with clear objectives and milestones. Students draw upon the knowledge and practical skills gained during the “Volcanology of the Mediterranean” course to identify case-studies and research themes of interest to study in-depth, choosing from the wide range of geological and man-made processes and environments which students are exposed to throughout the program. During the results interpretation stage the attention is focused on developing skills for reporting field results in the format of scientific publications. While the majority of the research work is self-directed, a research advisor is assigned to each student, who provides guidance during scheduled appointments on how to locate resources and collect data, as well as review the appropriateness and feasibility of the research methods and tools in a collaborative manner with the student. Earth science and Environmental science disciplines are grounded in observations at all scales, from satellite and drone imagery to microscopic sampling; upon placing the results of such observations into geographic, spatial, and temporal frameworks, conclusions may be drawn about the processes that occur within complex environmental systems, and predictive models may be developed to assess the effect of human interactions. This course provides students with an opportunity to practice and hone key skills in gathering and analyzing data from primary sources, as well as developing a coherent and compelling argument in a scholarly manner.

This course explores the philosophy and politics of food and agriculture from international and comparative perspectives. It examines global food systems; their role in the transformation of agrarian societies, and their environmental effects. The political portion of the course focuses on governance, development, and the role of key institutions in shaping food systems. The philosophical portion of the course explores the values underlying food and agriculture in the United States and Japan, along with efforts to develop more just and sustainable food systems. The course also discusses genetically modified plants, food safety, agricultural intensification/Industrialization. 
 

The course discusses common concepts in economics to learn why we harm the environment and overuse natural resources, and what we can do about it. The course discusses different types of environmental policy, how they work, and for what problems they are suitable. The course discusses whether and how we can put a dollar value on nature and ecosystem services. The course studies cost benefit analysis, international treaties, pollution in general, and climate change. The course takes an economic approach to global sustainability, and studies the relationship between the environment and economic growth and trade. This course takes a tour of the fields of environmental economics.

This introductory course examines the unsustainable culture of contemporary society, and explores the roles of design for more sustainable ones. The course provides a systemic overview of the environmental and social challenges that we face today, a series of dialog on our unsustainable culture and behavior, ongoing efforts to change them particularly through design interventions, and a hands-on experience to design products, services, and systems that influence and shape sustainable production and consumption.

The main focus of this course is on the interactions between people and their environment. It covers topics such as perception of environment, the origin of the earth, the evolution of the earth environment, and the earth as the home of human beings. Discussion about atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere are oriented to human history. They are considered either as natural resources or natural hazards. Historical events are used to illustrate how human history was affected by environment and how the environment affected historical events. Global change and sustainable development are the two main concepts that underlie such discussions. The course uses literature, art and archeological findings along with videos from Discovery and National Geographic Society.