EES 214: Environmental Geology

Meeting times: T&R 09:40-10:55 in Hylan 102
Instructor: Professor Howie Scher (howie@earth.rochester.edu)

Office hours: T 1300-1400, R 1400-1500 in Hylan 309

Syllabus (pdf)
Lecture schedule (updated September 6)
Course reserves
Problem sets
Exams
Grades
Useful links
Professor Scher

Primary textbook: Environmental Geology 8th edition by Edward A. Keller CARLSON RESERVES
(ISBN 0-13-022466-9)
Optional textbook: Natural Hazards by Edward A. Keller and Robert H. Blodgett CARLSON RESERVES
(ISBN 0-13-030957-5)

Other required readings will be put on reserve at Carlson library or can be found on the World Wide Web (WWW).

Course description: This course is designed for students with a background in geology and environmental science. It is assumed that you have been introduced to fundamental concepts on physical geology, are familiar with geologic time, and have been introduced to the unique way that geologists study the Earth, if not in practice then in theory. The topics covered in this course will cover the fundamental principles of geology, but discuss them in the context of the interaction with society. The need to understand Earth processes in this context has been exceptionally poignant in the last few years with:

1) An increase in the frequency and magnitude of Atlantic hurricanes which have wrought incredible damage the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic
2) The release of seismic energy resulting from motion between two tectonic plates in the Indian Ocean that triggered a tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean resulting in the death of nearly one quarter of a million people living in low lying areas in the circum-Indian
3) Increased frequency and size of wildfires in the American west
4) The impending resource crisis that is intrinsic in the manner in which society consumes Earth's natural resources; i.e., at a rate much faster than the rate at which they are created by natural processes

The grade you receive in this course will be determined by:

2 midterms and a cumulative final
10 problem sets/small projects
Research paper
Oral presentation (10 minutes, material to be a synopsis of research paper)

Grade calculation: lower midterm (20%), higher midterm (25 %), cumulative final (25%), problem sets (10%), research paper (10%), presentation (10%) = 100%

90-100 (A), 80-89 (B), 70-79 (C), 60-69 (D), <59 (E)

Any student found in violation of the policy for academic honesty will automatically receive a failing grade and will be reported to the College Board on Academic Honesty.

Academic Honesty webpage: http://www.rochester.edu/College/honesty/