A five-week short course at Pratt Institute appropriate for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
A recommended course in the undergraduate Sustainability Studies Minor and in the Sustainable Environmental Systems graduate program.
This one-credit course focuses on toxic and hazardous substances in the environment, with particular emphasis on trace metals and organic compounds associated with construction materials and the urban/industrial environment. It examines issues such as urban air quality and indoor air pollution, the persistence of toxic chemicals in the environment, and the regulation and cleanup of toxic substances. Case study discussion focuses on sources and exposure to toxic substances in the built environment in general, and the New York City urban environment in particular.
By taking this course, students will...
become familiar with concepts, literature and practices — both historical and current — relating to the sources, occurrence and regulation of toxics substances at local, regional, national, and global levels;
develop an understanding of how scientific methods are used to construct knowledge of the toxic potential of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the environment;
become familiar with some of the major toxicological and pollution challenges facing the Earth today, and the important research which needs to be done to address these concerns;
develop a deeper understanding of how human activities impact natural systems;
gain a greater appreciation of how science can inform policies that will shape a sustainable future;
become familiar with ecological justifications for sustainable practice in building and design.
By the end of this course, students will be able to...
demonstrate understanding of the major factors that contribute to the toxicity of natural and human-manufactured substances;
demonstrate understanding of the major factors that can influence how human health might be impacted by the presence of toxic substances in the environment;
demonstrate understanding of global/national trends in air, water, soil, and sediment pollution;
apply your knowledge to describe strategies for continued improvement in environmental quality;
describe and debate how to design effective environmental monitoring field studies;
demonstrate understanding of the major ideas of community exposure and comparative risk with respect to toxic substances;
demonstrate understanding of the toxicological basis of "green" movements in design and manufacturing;
describe and debate the strategies by which a more "toxic-free" future can actually be achieved, and describe the limits that should be placed on our expectations.
The calendar below is an example of how this Fall semester, non-studio course has been structured in the past. This one-credit short course meets for five sessions of three hours each: An introductory class, three lecture/seminar classes, and a final integrative class with graduate student presentations.