Geology 355 -- Seminar in Environmental Geology
1 to 3 credits
Paul Bierman
203 Perkins Hall
656-4411
pbierman@zoo.uvm.edu
Stephen Wright
205 Perkins Hall
656-4479
swright@zoo.uvm.edu
OBJECTIVES
This course will use the reading and discussion of journal articles and professional papers to further our understanding of the recent events in geologic, climatic and ecological history as they relate to the environment around us. Each week, the group will read several papers in detail and spend Monday evening discussing not only the content of these papers but the approach that the author took to collecting and presenting data and opinions.
By the end of the semester, not only should we have learned more about Earth's environment but you should have more confidence in reading and criticizing professional papers.
YOUR DISCUSSION TOPIC and ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
During the course of the semester, each one of you will pursue in greater detail a topic of interest to you that is related to the general theme of the seminar. You will be responsible for finding and reading thoroughly, 6 to 10 papers dealing with your selected topic. After reading these papers, you should summarize each one in an annotated bibliography and select the one most interesting, for reading by the entire group.
The annotations in your bibliography should be two paragraphs long. The first paragraph should summarize the author's most important data and interpretations. The second paragraph should reveal you subjective opinion on the scientific quality and "readability" of the paper.
One week prior to the discussion of our paper, it is your responsibility to post a copy of your annotated bibliography on the class board (outside my office, Perkins 203) and to give me a copy on disk in Microsoft Word for the Macintosh or PC. I'll post the bibliographies to our class web site so that all of you can read them and print copies if you require.
On the Monday evening before it is your turn to lead the discussion, you should distribute a copy of your chosen paper (double sided if possible) to each member of the class. Please post a copy of your paper outside my office door if anyone needs to make an extra copy. The week before you discuss your paper, you will be responsible for making a 10 minute presentation with sufficient detail to bring your classmates "up to speed" on what they need to know to read the paper. This introduction is particularly important as we are a diverse group! Most weeks, two people will be presenting together on similar topics. There is no formal page limit but try to keep the total reading load reasonable.
As discussion leader, you will be responsible for directing the discussion of the paper. Typically one might begin the discussion with a summary of the author's approach and findings. I find it useful to prepare a list of questions to pose to the group and to stimulate discussion when that awkward silence falls over us. Because you will have read a number of related papers in order to prepare your bibliography, you will most likely have a much deeper knowledge of the particular subject matter than the rest of us and should be able to offer explanations and background material to the group. You may wish to coordinate your discussion with the other person leading that particular week. Interactive exercises are encouraged! Get and keep all of us involved.
PARTICIPATION
The involvement and participation of each and every one of us is critical to the success of this seminar. Most importantly I expect that all read the assigned paper each week. I suspect that it will take two to four hours to read and understand thoroughly each paper. Don't be surprised if you need to read some papers twice, once lightly to figure out what the author is trying to say and a second time to really understand what the data mean and how the author has interpreted them. During the week that you are leading the discussion, your preparation time will probably be twice as long.
Your grade (ugh...something at a grad level I could just as well dispatch with) in this seminar will be based on several factors:
1. Timely and thorough preparation of annotated bibliography.
2. Your attendance and participation each evening.
3. The questions you pose to the group each week.
4. The thoroughness with which you have prepared as discussion leader.
Some ideas for your annotated bibliography....Feel free to come up with your own! Topics related to your thesis research or professional interests are strongly encouraged.
Landslide hazards, slope instability and hillslope processes
Flooding hazards and paleo flood records
Geologic influences on waste disposal strategies
Radon
Land subsidence -- withdrawal of fluids, mine and cave collapse
Interaction of streams, fish, logging and woody debris
Volcanoes and associated hazards
Resource extraction - mine drainage and tailings, strip mining, clear cutting
Geothermal development and impact on natural features
Native American impact on geomorphology
Neotectonics of New England
Stratigraphic control of groundwater distribution
Asbestos
Water budgets in arid regions
Erosion and gullying