On-line Courses in Global Sustainability: Winter 1999

The following three undergraduate courses are available on line from the University of California, Irvine. They can be taken individually or as a sequence.  If you are interested, read the instructions (http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/instructions.html) on how to register and take the courses.
    State of the World (Bio 169 section B; 4 units) taught by Dr. Peter Bowler (pabowler@uci.edu). An in-depth interdisciplinary examination of global issues important into the 21st century of water, pollution, habitat transformations, biological transformations, food, waste, energy, health, and communities. The first part of the course examines the theoretical and applied concepts of sustainability, natural and social ecology, ecosystems management, ecological engineering, and regenerative studies. In the second half, the course will cover the tools and practices of sustainability using new ecotechnologies and social science methods. Applications of solar energy, agroecology, ecological aquaculture, biological wastewater treatment, restoration ecology, and community-based social rehabilitation tools for a sustainable society will be emphasized.

    Bio65 - Biological Conservation (Bio 65; 4 units), taught by Dr. Peter Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu).  A biological perspective on the current environmental crisis. The origin, evolution, and value of biological diversity. Extinction and depletion caused by overexploitation, habitat loss, exotic introductions and pollution. Special problems and solutions in selected habitats. Conservation through habitat preservation and restoration, captive breeding, and reintroduction. Students develop skills in analyzing and acting on conservation issues at local, national and international levels. They are required to contribute a research paper dealing with a conservation issue in their region.  Uses the Biodiversity and Conservation hypertext book authored by the instructor.

    Sustainable Oceans and Coastal Zones (Bio 169 section A; 4 units), taught by Dr. Peter Bowler (pabowler@uci.edu).  This course will examine first the major physical and biogeochemical processes in the world's oceans, with an emphasis on tropical and sub-tropical coastal zones. Next, we will review coastal biophysical and chemical processes, and changes caused by El Niño, pollution, habitat destruction, and overfishing. Students and faculty will work closely on projects to review the current status of coastal zone natural and social ecosystems in coastal areas of many parts of the world, and write reports on proposed models for sustainable, community-based, aquaculture ecosystems in the coastal zones that are conservative of ecosystem services.

    For more information, please contact the instructors:
     

    Dr. Peter J. Bryant
    School of Biological Sciences
    University of California, Irvine
    Irvine, CA 92697-2275, USA
    Phone: (949) 824-4714
    Fax: (949) 824-3571
    e:mail: pjbryant@uci.edu
    Peter A. Bowler 
    School of Biological Sciences
    University of California, Irvine
    Irvine, CA 92697-2275, USA
    Phone: (949) 824-5183
    Fax: (949) 824-2181
    e-mail: pabowler@uci.edu