Biology 490: Evolution: Spring 1999

Biology 490: Senior Seminar Winter 2011

Instructor: Dr. Kenneth Gobalet, 205 Science 1, Phone: 664-3038 email: [email protected]

Required Book: Brown, L.R. 2009. Plan B 4.0, Mobilizing to Save Civilization. or Download from www.earthpolicy.org at no cost Readings: The following articles are available electronically by going to Ken Gobalet’s Web Page or the CSUB home page, clicking on Walter Stiern Library, clicking on quick link “Course Reserves” and scrolling to Biology 490. Chouinard, Y. 2006. Let my People Go Surfing: the Education of a Reluctant Businessman. Pages 187-246 Casten, T.R. and P.F. Schewe 2009. Getting the Most from Energy. American Scientist 97:26-33 Diamond, J. 2003. The last Americans: environmental collapse and the end of civilization. Harper’s Magazine 306(1834): 43-51. Diamond. J. 2005. Collapse. Pgs 486-525: The world as a polder Ellis, R. 2008. Tuna, a Love Story. Pgs 237-281: Can we save the bluefin? Fagan, B. 2000. The Little Ice Age. Pgs. 201-217. Gleich, P.H. et al. 2010. Climate change and the integrity of science. Science 328: 689-690. Guha, R. 2006. How Much Should a Person Consume? Pgs 220- 250 Hardin, G. 1968. The tragedy of the commons. Science 162: 1243-1248. Wilson, E. 2002. Future of Life Pgs 103-128: How much is the biosphere worth? Recommended: Jones, Ellis. 2006. The better world Shopping Guide Chouinard, Y. 2006. Let my People Go Surfing: the Education of a Reluctant Businessman. Diamond, J. 2005. Collapse, How Societies Chose to Fail or Succeed. Fagan, B. 2000. The Little Ice Age. Flannery, Tim. 1994 The Future Eaters Flannery, Tim. 2005. The Weather Makers. The History and Future Impact of Climate Change. Kolbert, Elizabeth. 2006. Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change. Montgomery, D. 2007. Dirt, the Erosion of Civilizations. Roberts, Callum. 2007. The Unnatural History of the Sea. Roberts, Paul. 2005. The End of Oil.

General: Since this is a seminar, the success or failure of the course depends upon participation. Students will give a 20-minute presentation and lead discussions as groups on assigned readings. A 15- minute introduction/ summary should start the discussions. Outside sources will enhance the content. Unannounced quizzes will be given. Students will evaluate peer presentations. Missed classes will count against the course grade. A take-home final will be used to evaluate proficiency of course readings and discussions but not the student presentations. Summary of Activities Point value Student presentation 150 Quizzes/ discussion leaders/ attendance ~100 Final Examination 50 total ~300 Biology 490 Student Oral Presentation Each student is required to give a 25-minute oral presentation to the class. The presentation is to be based on original work (e.g. Bio 480), an updated version of a research- based project from another course (e.g. Bio 310 or 4XX) or a non research-based topic in biology of the student’s choosing. The non-research based talk should have a significant biological component. The topic and title must be provided to and approved by Gobalet via email by Jan 20. The presenter must use PowerPoint and if the talk is research based, it must be given with the introduction / methods / results / discussion format of a written scientific research paper. The presenter is required to provide Gobalet with an electronic version of an abstract (including the title) and a list of the appropriate literature via an email attachment one class period prior to the presentation. Gobalet will email the attachment to the class. The literature list should include at least 15 journal articles and additional bibliographic sources. The sources should be listed following the format on page six of “Format for Laboratory Reports.” Note: Presentations substantially shorter than the required 25 minutes will receive at best a “D” grade (97 of 150 points) because the assignment was not fulfilled.

This presentation will be evaluated as follows:

Abstract and literature 25 points Evaluation by peers (averaged) 25 Instructor’s evaluation of content 75 Instructor’s evaluation of presentation 25 Total 150 points

Biology 490 (Winter 2011) SCHEDULE

Week Topics Presenters

Jan 6 Introduction and Video “An Inconvenient Truth” (individual introductions-get email class list)

Jan 11 Plan B. Preface, Ch 1 Raquel Aguiar, Diamond 2005: The world as a polder Arinola Alade, Hardin 1968: Tragedy of the commons Chris Monetcino Jeanna Palomo

Jan 13 Plan B. Preface, Ch 2 Michael Arraztoa Diamond 2003: The Last Americans Simran Bains Nicole Blackhawk

Jan 18 Plan B. Ch 3 Amanda Pennick Fagan 2000: a warmer greenhouse Brittani Busby-Rynders Gleich et al. 2010 Michael Cecil Jan 20 Plan B. Ch 4 Amy Cracchiolo Casten & Schewe 2008: Getting the Most Kelcy Davis from energy. Amanda Faivre Presentation subject due via email to Dr. Gobalet Oliver Reyes

Jan 25 Plan B. Ch 5, 6 Stephanie Ford Marlyng Gama Zulema Garcia Taniya Roussel

Jan 27 Plan B. Ch 7, 8 Anna Hernandez Wilson 2002: How much is the biosphere worth? Lisa Sandoval Quinn Holsonbake

Feb 1 Plan B. Ch 9, 10 Zabrina James Ellis (2008): Can we save the bluefin? Francisco Millan Donna Noce Jennifer Spink

Feb 3 Student Presentation (3) Travis Tolliver Lawrence Torres Amanda Penick

Feb 8 Student Presentation (3) Raquel Aguiar Arinola Alade Chris Monetcino

Feb 10 Student Presentation (3) Oliver Reyes Amanda Faivre Kelcy Davis

Feb 15 Student Presentation (3) Michael Araztoa Simran Bains Nicole Blackhawk

Feb 17 Student Presentation (3) Brittani Busby-Rynders Zulema Garcia

Feb 22 Student Presentation (3) Michael Cecil Amy Cracchiolo Andrea Troupin

Feb 24 Student Presentation (3) Jennifer Spink Donna Noce Francisco Millan

March 1 Student Presentation (3) Zulema Garcia Marlyng Gama Stephanie Ford

March 3 Student Presentation (3) Taniya Roussel Anna Hernandez

March 8 Student Presentation (3) Zabrina James Lisa Sandoval Quinn Holsonbake

March 10 Student Presentation Jeanne Palomo

March 15 Chouinard 2006: 186-247 Environmental philosophy Andrea Troupin

Guha 2006: How much should a person consume? Lawrence Torres Travis Tolliver

March 17 Take-Home Final due (5:00 am) electronically to [email protected]