Courses Taught
IST480/ES583 Aquatic Toxicology: This course will introduce students to the regulatory and laboratory principles of aquatic toxicology. Discussions will focus on the sources of contamination, need for regulation, and development of laboratory testing. The course will cover methods used to measure organism and community level response to environmental stressors including physical and chemical stressors. Topics will include laboratory testing, in-situ evaluations, bio-assessment and bio-monitoring methods using multiple species. State and federal requirements for permitting and monitoring of toxics will also be discussed.
ES646 Ecosystem Dynamics: The purpose of the course is for students to gain a working knowledge of important ecological concepts, to examine the different ecosystems, to understand the cycles that are important in maintaining each ecosystem type, and to appreciate structural and functional diversity within each ecosystem type. Time will also be spent exploring how to measure and model the abiotic components of ecosystems, and the biological components at various scales (biological processes, organism responses, community interactions). By the end of the course, students should be able to discuss ecological concepts as they apply to any ecosystem and should be able to anticipate the effects that ecological stressors (such as pollution, poor management practices, etc...) may have on any given system. Topics covered will include: species interaction; population, community and ecosystem ecology; productivity; nutrient cycling; physiological ecology, population dynamics; pollution and conservation; and aquatic, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
IST 490 Senior Project I: The focus of this course is preparing students for both the senior project and internship requirement and for careers beyond graduation. Life skills are introduced by building on communication, organization and project management skills necessary for completing the IST project requirements.
ES582/IST425 Impact Assessment Documentation: The course will cover implementation of major regulations affecting aquatic ecosystems including examining the relationship between state and federal oversight. Discussions will also focus on regulation of point and non-point pollution. Significant programs discussed will include: 303d, TMDL, NPDES, storm water, and water quality standards development.
ES583 Watershed Protection and Stream Restoration: This course evaluates the complex processes (biological, chemical, geological, physical) governing the cycling of water at the watershed scale and the factors affecting the process. Key components of watershed structure and function will be reviewed before applying concepts for managing and restoring aquatic ecosystems. Topics include designating uses, protecting uses, prioritizing competing interests, recognizing disturbance types and effects, and selection and implementation of appropriate restoration techniques.
ENVE665 Water Resource Management: This course will introduce students to both the science and policy influencing the allocation and management of the critically limited resource, water. Discussions will focus on availability of water resources on a global, national and local scale. The purpose of the course is to familiarize decision makers with the variables to be considered in scientific and policy decision-making. We will also be focusing on highlighting the limitations of current water resource management strategies to provide opportunities for considerations of alternative strategies.