Class Description & Learning Objectives

Pollution is one of the most important factors influencing the quality of life and the degradation of ecosystems. This course will focus on the ecology of pollution with an overview of representative local, national, and global pollution problems through a service learning and hands-on approach. Our emphasis will be on the science of the problems, working with local organizations and scientists on real data, and producing products that will be useful beyond the bounds of our classroom. The course will examine topics including (but not limited to): noise pollution, marine debris, microplastics, water quality, and pharmaceuticals among others. We will also discuss the relations between consumption of resources and pollution, and the role of science in environmental public policy, generating solutions, and decision making.

Students will be able:

• To describe and discuss the way scientists study different sources of pollution in our local environment.
• To collect and analyze scientific data to study these different sources of pollution.
• To prepare written and visual materials communicating our in-class lab activities and the findings of their small-group scientific research project.