 |
GES 120
Introduction to Environmental Science & Conservation
This course introduces the fundamentals on how earth systems and ecosystems work, how they are interconnected, and how humans utilize and impact natural resource systems. Environmental problems and solutions are examined and natural resource conservation strategies and policies are reviewed. Topics include ecosystem processes, climate and climate change, biodiversity and endangered species, land degradation and deforestation, human population growth, agriculture, and water and soil resources.
[3 credits] |
|
|
GES 305
Landscape Ecology
Landscape ecology is a new, integrative,
discipline that explores the spatial patterning of ecological
processes across living landscapes. This course introduces the
fundamentals of ecology within a landscape ecology context and
then applies these concepts as tools for sustainable management
of landscape structure and function at local, regional and
global scales. Prerequisites: GES 308 or GES 313 or BIO 301, and
GES 110 or 120. [3 credits] |
|
|
GES 405/605
Applied Landscape Ecology
This course applies the tools of landscape
ecology, including GIS, GPS, remote sensing, aerial photography
and landscape classification to explore the spatial patterning
of ecological processes across landscapes at different scales.
Hands-on lab and field exercises are used to develop
understanding and skills necessary for students to plan and
conduct their own investigations of landscape pattern, process,
and change in local and regional landscapes in collaboration
with the instructor. The course includes 4 full day Saturday
field trips, scheduling to be arranged. Students enrolling for
graduate credit will guide the design and execution of original
group research projects. Prerequisites: GES 305 or GES 313
(undergraduates) and GES 386/686, or permission of instructor.
[4 credits]
|
|
|
GES 412/612
Biogeochemical Cycles in the Global Environment
This course explores the chemistry and cycling
of elements across the Earth's surface and atmosphere, with
special emphasis on human-induced changes in biogeochemistry
that are driving global warming, ocean acidification, acid rain,
ozone depletion, water pollution, and nutrient saturation of
freshwater, estuarine and coastal environments. Basic
biogeochemical processes will be introduced and then integrated
to explain the global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen,
phosphorus and sulfur and how these are changed by human
activities. Students enrolling for graduate credit are required
to design an original research project relating to their Thesis
or Dissertation work. Prerequisites: GES 110, 111 or 120, GES
308 or BIO 301, and CHEM 102, or permission of instructor. [3
credits] |
|
|
GES 485/685 Field Methods in Geography & Environmental Systems
Environmental Mapping of Local Landscapes
Students gain hands-on experience with field methods for
environmental mapping, including sampling, mapping, and spatial
analysis of soils, vegetation, soil organisms, and land use
patterns in local landscapes using GIS, GPS, imagery, and other
techniques. The class will meet one session each week and four
full-day Saturday sessions; scheduling to be arranged. Students
will work in teams and prepare final projects that will be
presented as scientific posters and on the web. Students
enrolling for graduate credit are required to design an original
research project relating to their Thesis or Dissertation work.
Prerequisites: senior or graduate standing, GES 386, and at
least one 300 or 400-level physical geography or environmental
science course, or permission of instructor. [3 credits] |
 |
GES 400/600 (special topics)
Anthropogenic Biomes:
Global Ecology of the Human Biosphere
Humans have fundamentally altered ecological patterns and
processes across most of the terrestrial biosphere, including
biodiversity, primary productivity and the cycles of carbon and
other elements. This course will investigate these new global
ecological patterns and processes using the concept of
Anthropogenic Biomes: the global ecological patterns created by
sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems. Coursework
will combine readings from the primary scientific literature
with discussions and written work to build a more complete
scientific framework for understanding the global ecology of the
human biosphere. Prerequisites: GES 110 or 120 and GES 308, GES
313, or BIO 301, or permission of instructor.
[3 credits] |
|
|
GES 483: Geographic Information System (GIS) Internship
Students do technical work using
GIS in
our lab, on
projects we are currently working on
GES 491: Independent Study
Students develop their own research projects and conduct them in collaboration with me and others in our lab. Topics depend on
overlapping interests between me and the student.
GES 497: Research Internship
Students work together with me and others on current research projects in our lab.
|
|
|
Harvard Graduate School of Design: GSD 6241
Ecologies, Techniques, Technologies III
Introduction to Ecology
Lectures, discussions, and readings introduce the fundamentals
of ecological science as a foundation for investigating,
understanding, and shaping landscape structure, function and
change. Readings present background for each lecture while
challenging students to synthesize basic ecological principles
from scientific readings. Exercises evaluate students' ability
to apply ecological principles in landscape contexts.
Fall 2013, 2014 and 2015 with Peter Del Tredici at Harvard
Graduate School of Design |