University of Victoria Department of Geography Fall 2018 The ... · 2 • explain how the concept...
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University of Victoria Department of Geography Fall 2018 The Anthropocene: Humans at the Helm – GEOG 391 Instructor: Dr. Dennis E Jelinski Office: David Turpin B212 Email: [email protected] CLASS: W 1430-1720 (2:30 pm – 5:20) Place: CLE A303 OFFICE HRS: M 14:30-17:00 and by Appointment “The conquest of the earth . . . is not a pretty thing when you look into it . . .” Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, 1899 COURSE DESCRIPTION: The evidence of humanity’s impact on the plant is overwhelming. It has been suggested we are entering a new period in geological time, the Anthropocene (Age of Humanity) such that humans are now drivers of environmental change on a scale that is unique in Earth’s history. The impacts include climate change, mass animal extinction, alteration to systems of nutrient cycling, massive land-use change and ocean acidification. This course focuses on the following: Major specific areas of inquiry The course is based on three main themes integral to the Anthropocene. Firstly, we examine the major events in human history and pre-history and their impact on the geological record through 5 main periods of transition. This includes Pleistocene impacts especially the megafauanal extinction, origins and impacts of farming, the “Columbian Exchange” of New and Old World species, industrialization and “The Great Acceleration” beginning in the 1950s (e.g., major expansion in human populations, development of plastics and industrial chemicals, defaunation). Secondly, we focus further on the phenomena of defaunation (animal extinctions) including biogeographic patterns, causes and consequences. This includes the examination of the drivers (e.g., overexploitation and habitat loss), cascading effects on other species and ecosystem functions, and evolutionary consequences. We conclude with a critique of ways forward. This includes de-extinction and re-wilding to reverse defaunation. More general discussion considers the bold and innovative actions required by all sectors of society to transform historical relationships between human populations and the planet, and to prevent events that will be catastrophic to nature, the Earth system and humanity. Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
Transcript of University of Victoria Department of Geography Fall 2018 The ... · 2 • explain how the concept...
UniversityofVictoria
DepartmentofGeographyFall2018
TheAnthropocene:HumansattheHelm–GEOG391Instructor: Dr.DennisEJelinskiOffice: DavidTurpinB212Email: [email protected]: W1430-1720(2:30pm–5:20)Place: CLEA303OFFICEHRS: M14:30-17:00andbyAppointment
“The conquest of the earth . . . is not a pretty thing when you look into it . . .”
JosephConrad,HeartofDarkness,1899
COURSEDESCRIPTION:Theevidenceofhumanity’simpactontheplantisoverwhelming.Ithasbeensuggestedweareenteringanewperiodingeologicaltime,theAnthropocene(AgeofHumanity)suchthathumansarenowdriversofenvironmentalchangeonascalethatisuniqueinEarth’shistory.Theimpactsincludeclimatechange,massanimalextinction,alterationtosystemsofnutrientcycling,massiveland-usechangeandoceanacidification.Thiscoursefocusesonthefollowing:
MajorspecificareasofinquiryThecourseisbasedonthreemainthemesintegraltotheAnthropocene.Firstly,weexaminethemajoreventsinhumanhistoryandpre-historyandtheirimpactonthegeologicalrecordthrough5mainperiodsoftransition.ThisincludesPleistoceneimpactsespeciallythemegafauanalextinction,originsandimpactsoffarming,the“ColumbianExchange”ofNewandOldWorldspecies,industrializationand“TheGreatAcceleration”beginninginthe1950s(e.g.,majorexpansioninhumanpopulations,developmentofplasticsandindustrialchemicals,defaunation).
Secondly,wefocusfurtheronthephenomenaofdefaunation(animalextinctions)includingbiogeographicpatterns,causesandconsequences.Thisincludestheexaminationofthedrivers(e.g.,overexploitationandhabitatloss),cascadingeffectsonotherspeciesandecosystemfunctions,andevolutionaryconsequences.
Weconcludewithacritiqueofwaysforward.Thisincludesde-extinctionandre-wildingtoreversedefaunation.Moregeneraldiscussionconsiderstheboldandinnovativeactionsrequiredbyallsectorsofsocietytotransformhistoricalrelationshipsbetweenhumanpopulationsandtheplanet,andtopreventeventsthatwillbecatastrophictonature,theEarthsystemandhumanity.
LearningOutcomes:Uponcompletionofthecoursestudentsshouldbeableto:
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• explainhowtheconceptoftheAnthropocenearose• identifytheenvironmentalconditionsandindicatorsassociatedwiththeAnthropocene• summarizethevariousargumentsandevidenceastowhentheAnthropocenebegan• compareandcontrastthewaysinwhichdifferentscientific-basedperspectives
understandandapplytheAnthropoceneconcept• understandhowdefaunationfrombiodiversity,ecosystemservicesandbiogeographic
perspectiveshasbeenparticularlyaffected• reflectuponandhelpidentifythewaysforwardforsocietiesandindividualstoadjustto
andcopewiththeAnthropoceneCoursePhilosophy:
Teachersopenthedoor,butyoumustenterbyyourself
ChineseProverb
GREATRESOURCESFORASSISTANCEWITHWRITING–Strunk,W.andE.B.White.1999.ELEMENTSOFSTYLE,4THEDITION.Availableinmostbookstoresandon-line.and/or–Fish,Stanley.2012.HowtoWriteaSentence:AndHowtoReadOne.1stEdition.HarperCollins,NewYork.Availableinmostbookstoresandon-line.TEACHING/LEARNINGMETHODSLectures.Attendingclassregularlythroughoutthetermisintegraltosuccessfullycompletingthiscourse.Power-pointandoverheadmaterialsarenotavailableoutsideofclass.Pleasearriveontime.Dropmeanemailifyoucannotmakeclass.CourseSpaceslearningmanagementsystems(LMS)willserveasamajorconduitofinformationinthiscourse(http://coursespaces.uvic.ca).ThisiswhereIwillpostimportantresourcesthatshouldhelpyouandincludescourseinformation,selectedlectureoverheads,andimportantdates/announcements.Pleasevisitoften.Ifyouarehavingdifficultylogginginorpasswordproblems,contacttheComputerHelpDeskEmail:[email protected],Tel:250-721-7687
Cellphonesmustbeturnedofforsilencedduringlectures.
CourseGradingExam1–October10 20%ThreepageannotatedproposalANDoutlineforTermpaper 10%–October17
Exam2–November21 25%PechaKucha-November26–Dec3 10%
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2PersonGroupCreativeProjectorIndividualPersonalManifesto Nov28 10%ResearchPaper–December5 20% Attendanceandparticipation 5%PersonalManifestofor“LiivingtheAnthropocene”—Youwillarticulatethroughwriting,video,orothermediahowtheAnthropoceneguidestheobligations,responsibilities,ambitions,hopes,strategiesandpracticesyouwouldliketoembraceforlivingintheAnthropocene.(IdeaforPersonalManifestothankstoDr.StephenZavestoski,UniversityofSanFrancisco)
CreativeProject-Youwillcreateavisualization,amap,aninfographic,anartwork,aninteractivewebsite,oranotherwayofgraspingandconveyingtheeffectsoftheAnthropoceneonsocietyand/ornature.Termpaper–YouwilladdresshowtheAnthropocenehasormightshapeourunderstandingofacoreconceptinenvironmentalmanagement.Participation:thisclassrequiresyourattendanceandengagedparticipation.Everyoneisallowedtwofree,no-questions-askedabsencesoverthecoursesofthesemester.Usethemwisely.Everysubsequentabsencewillnegativelyaffectyourparticipationgrade.
PolicyonLateAssignments
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Lateassignmentswillbepenalized20%perday(includingweekendsandholidays).Exceptionswillonlybegrantedfordocumentedmedicalorcompassionatereasons.Pleaseinformmeofyoursituationpromptlyandpresentwrittenproofwithinfiveworkingdays.
Conflictswithholidaysortravelplansarenotconsideredanacceptablereasontoapplyforadeferredexamorassignmentextension.
UVicGradingSystemAsnotedintheUViccalendar“Aprimarypurposeofevaluationandgradingistofurthereffectiveteachingandlearning.Thetableonthiswebpageshowstheofficialgradingsystemforfinalassessmentsofstudentperformance.“https://web.uvic.ca/calendar2018-05/undergrad/info/regulations/grading.html
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GradingScale:
AcademicIntegrity
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Plagiarism
PlagiarismisnottoleratedattheUniversityofVictoria.Plagiarismsometimesoccursduetoamisunderstandingregardingtherulesofacademicintegrity,butitistheresponsibilityofthestudenttoknowthem.Ifyouareunsureaboutthestandardsforcitations,forreferencingyoursources,orunauthorizeduseofaneditor,pleasefamiliarizeyourselfwiththeUniversitypolicyonacademicintegrityfoundintheUndergraduateCalendaratthefollowingwebsite.http://web.uvic.ca/calendar/undergrad/info/regulations/academic-integrity.html.
InfractionswillbedealtwithinaccordancewithUniversitypolicy.Commonly,thepenaltyforanyformofcheating/plagiarismisagradeofFonthetestsorlaboratoryassignments,orafinalgradeofFinthecourse.However,dependingontheseverityofthecaseotherpenaltiesmayincludearecordonthestudent’stranscriptorexpulsion.
Tohelpavoidplagiarismandcheatingpleaseseethisguide(http://library.uvic.ca/instruction/cite/plagiarism.html).
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AccessibilityStudentswithdiverselearningstylesandneedsarewelcomeinthiscourse.Inparticular,ifyouhaveadocumenteddisabilityorhealthconsiderationthatmayrequireaccommodations,pleasefeelfreetoapproachmeand/ortheCentreforAccessibleLearning(CALassoonaspossiblehttps://www.uvic.ca/services/cal/).TheRCSDstaffisavailablebyappointmenttoassessspecificneeds,providereferrals,andarrangeappropriateaccommodations.Thesooneryouletusknowyourneeds,thequickerwecanassistyouinachievingyourlearninggoalsinthiscourse.
CourseEvaluation
Towardstheendofterm,asinallothercoursesatUVic,youwillhavetheopportunitytocompleteananonymoussurveyofyourlearningexperience.Thesurveyisvitaltoprovidingmewithfeedbackonthecourseandmyteaching,aswellastohelpthedepartmentimprovetheoverallprogramforfuturestudents.ThesurveyisaccessedviaMyPageandcanbedoneonyourlaptop,tablet,ormobiledevice.Iwillremindyouandprovideyouwithmoredetailedinformationnearerthetimebutpleasebethinkingaboutthisimportantactivityduringthecourse.
HelpwithWriting?
CentreforAcademicCommunication(CAC)uvic.mywconline.com
CACtutorscanhelpyoucomposebetteressays,integrateyourresearchandideas,andbecomeamoreefficientwriter.Wealsohelpstudentswithallareasofacademiccommunication,includinggivinggreatpresentations,understandingacademicintegrity,andknowingtheacademicexpectationsofundergraduateandgraduatework.Wewillhelpyouacquiretheskillsnecessarytobeaneffective,efficientcommunicatorintheuniversityenvironment.Wewon'teditorfixyourworkforyou;rather,wefocusonyourroleintheprocess,allowingyoutodevelopyourabilitiesandconfidenceasacommunicator.
ImportantDatesWinterSession-FirstTermSep3MondayLabourDay(Universityclosed)Sep5WednesdayFirsttermclassesbeginforallfacultiesSep18TuesdayLastdayfor100%reductionoftuitionfeesforstandardfirsttermandfullyear courses.Sep21FridayLastdayforaddingcoursesthatbegininthefirstterm.Sep30SundayLastdayforpayingfirsttermfeeswithoutpenaltyOct8 MondayThanksgivingDay(Universityclosed)Oct31WednesdayLastdayforpayingfirsttermfeeswithoutpenaltyNov12-14Mon-WednesdayReadingBreakDec5 WednesdayLastdayofclassesinfirstterm NationalDayofRemembranceandActiononViolenceAgainstWomen. Classesandexamscancelledfrom11:30am-12:30pm
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