Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2023 - REM 631 G100

Climate Change and Environmental Management (5)

Class Number: 2736

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Tue, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Reviews how climate change is impacting multiple facets of earth system (e.g atmosphere, oceans, and freshwater systems). Examines challenges faced by environmental managers as they attempt to mitigate or adapt to these changes.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course introduces students to physical processes that are either affected by climate change (e.g. sea level rise, extreme weather, fire) or may help to mitigate climate change (e.g., carbon cycling in forests and wetlands, new (green) and old (dams) infrastructure, geoengineering). By the end of this course, students will be able to consider the science behind these processes in a more in-depth manner, and to place their scientific understanding within the context of ecology, policy, economics, and culture.

My approach for each unit is to: (a) address the scientific basis of a problem exacerbated by climate change, (b) examine the natural and societal factors contributing to the problem, (c) identify potential impacts, (d) consider the portfolio of policy, planning, and engineering solutions that help to adapt, mitigate, or alleviate the problem. Students play a role in shaping the material we cover by actively contributing to discussions that improve their ability to comprehend, synthesize, and communicate ideas. Guest lecturers provide students with applied examples of how earth system issues are managed in a world with climate change.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

1. To understand terminology, concepts, and current issues pertaining to environmental processes being affected by climate change
2. To access and critically assess the relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature
3. To develop an integrative and holistic approach to understanding the interactions between climate change, earth system processes, and how we manage them.
4. To communicate the importance of climate change and its links to environmental management clearly (through writing and presentation) to people from a range of backgrounds and disciplines.

Grading

  • Written Assignments 20%
  • Quizzes: 20%
  • In-Class Presentation of Literature Review 25%
  • Briefing Note 20%
  • Briefing Note Presentations 15%

NOTES:

Please note that this course combines both graduate and undergraduate students and that the grading scales, expectations, and marking criteria for graduate and undergraduate students are different.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All course materials will be made available on canvas.sfu.ca.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html