Carleton College

ENTS 100. Science, Technology and Public Policy Science and technology have led to profound effects upon public life over the past century. This course will study the social and political impacts of scientific and technological developments on modern life. We will investigate particular cases drawn from across the sciences, such as genetics, energy production and consumption, nuclear weapons, and the information revolution. The relationship between government, the public, and the science/technology enterprise will be examined. What is, and what should be the role of the practitioners themselves? 6 cr., WR; AI, WR1, QRE, Fall—J. Weisberg

ENTS 112. Conservation Biology The current global rate of extinction of species is probably unprecedented in the history of the world, and the rate will increase dramatically in the coming decades. Conservation biology is a new synthetic discipline that emerged in the early 1980s to simultaneously address the scientific and social dimension of biodiversity conservation. The course presents an overview of the founding principles of conservation biology by examining the historic and present-day causes of species extinction, the biological bases central to species conservation, and the social dimension of conservation for sustainable management of biological diversity. 6 cr., MS; NE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

ENTS 120. Introduction to Geospatial Analysis Spatial data analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning, and related technologies are increasingly important for understanding and analyzing a wide range of biophysical, social, and economic phenomena. This course serves as an overview and introduction to the concepts, algorithms, issues, and methods in describing, analyzing, and modeling geospatial data over a range of application areas. 6 cr., MS; SI, QRE, Fall—T. Nega

ENTS 180. Basic Principles of Sustainable Design A holistic and integrated look at the fundamental and interdependent aspects of architecture and sustainable design, the impacts our buildings and choices have on the environment and ecology of the planet, and what we can do to mitigate those impacts. This course will provide students with a basic holistic knowledge of microclimate and siting, energy and resource efficiency, water, waste reduction, materials, and biological influences in sustainable design. 6 cr., ND; NE, Spring—S. Wolbert

ENTS 200. Conservation and Development in Tanzania and Ethiopia Program: Food and Agriculture The production and consumption of food is a seemingly mundane activity in our lives. Yet, how we respond to food and our consumptive practices mirror our sense of place, our capacity for self-control, our health, the ways in which we impact the world food production system, and the natural environment. In this course, students will study modern agro-food systems and their social and ecological impacts in Ethiopia. The group will visit various sites throughout the program, including large and small scale farms, agro-forestry systems, and examples of urban agriculture. 6 cr., SS; NE, Winter—T. Nega

ENTS 215. Environmental Ethics This course is an introduction to the central ethical debates in environmental policy and practice, as well as some of the major traditions of environmental thought. It investigates such questions as whether we can have moral duties towards animals, ecosystems, or future generations; what is the ethical basis for wilderness preservation; and what is the relationship between environmentalism and social justice. 6 cr., ND; HI, Fall—K. Smith

ENTS 237. Writing the Great Plains Writing The Great Plains is a one-credit course exploring the American Great Plains, as laid out in the book by the same name. The course will deal with the problems and opportunities of the modern Great Plains, including the economics and ecology of that threatened and often forgotten region. In addition, Dan O’Brien will talk about the process of conceiving and executing the award-winning book of photography and essays and give insights into why such projects are important. Requirements will include in-class participation and a short impression paper, due at the end of the two week class. 1 cr., S/CR/NC, ND; NE, Spring—D. O'Brien

ENTS 244. Conservation and Development in Tanzania: Biodiversity Conservation and Development How can the need for intensive human social and economic development be reconciled with the conservation of biodiversity? This course explores the wide range of actions that people take at a local, national, and international level to address this question. We will use political ecology and conservation biology as theoretical frameworks to examine the role of traditional and indigenous approaches to biodiversity conservation as well as contemporary debates about integrated conservation development across a spectrum of cultures in North America, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Prerequisite: Sociology/Anthropology 110, 111, or permission of instructor. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Winter—T. Nega

ENTS 246. Environmental and Agricultural Politics of the Americas We will explore policies and political institutions relating to the environment--and particularly agriculture--in North and South America. Topics will include carbon emissions, deforestation, water pollution, and the erosion and conservation of agricultural biodiversity, soil, and wildlife habitat. Using the theoretical perspective of political ecology, the course will investigate agencies, laws, trade deals, and paradigms affecting natural resource use and agri-food systems across the Americas. Key questions of the class are: what constitutes sustainable agriculture and ecological sustainability in general? How is sustainability contested and negotiated through politics? How could it be legislated or facilitated through policy? 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, Spring—T. Graddy

ENTS 253. Social and Environmental Movements of Latin America This course will explore influential social justice movements in Central and South America and the Caribbean, such as the Landless Peasants Movement of Brazil, the Zapatistas of southern Mexico, Via Campesina, Cuban urban garden projects, and Andean native seed activism. Topics will include land tenure, indigenous rights, development, community food security and sovereignty, racism, gender equity, labor, and the revaluation of "traditional ecological knowledges." Key questions include how are such movements articulating and actualizing alternative conceptions of "nature," and to what effect? After familiarizing ourselves with the issues, we will communicate with members of these movements, via teleconferencing. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, Spring—T. Graddy

ENTS 254. Topics in Landscape Ecology Landscape ecology is an interdisciplinary field that combines the spatial approach of the geographer with the functional approach of the ecologist to understand the ways in which landscape composition and structure affects ecological processes, species abundance, and distribution. Topics include collecting and referencing spatial data at broad scales, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), landscape metrics, simulating change in landscape pattern, landscape connectivity and meta-population dynamics, and reserve design. Prerequisites: Biology 125 and 126. 6 cr., MS; SI, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

ENTS 260. Comparative Agroecology As the world human population continues to expand, while at the same time the arable land base and fossil fuel supply shrink, the need for a sustainable food system is imperative. This course explores factors influencing food production and distribution at both local and national levels, with an eye towards how these factors affect choices made by the ultimate stewards of the land--the farmers. While the course focuses on the scientific aspects of agroecosystem sustainability, comparisons will be made among various production models both in the United States and China, bringing in social, economic and policy issues. Prerequisites: Biology 125 or 126 or Chemistry 123 or 128 or Geology 110 or 120 and permission of the instructor. This course is part of the OCS winter break China program, involving two linked courses in fall and winter terms, this class is the first class in the sequence. 6 cr., MS; NE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

ENTS 261. Field Investigation in Comparative Agroecology This course is the second part of a two-term course sequence beginning with Environmental and Technology Studies 260. The course begins with a two-week visit in December to Beijing and Sichuan province. Field work will include visits to Chinese farms at the forefront of an incipient sustainable agriculture movement in China, as well as discussions with Chinese sustainable agriculture researchers. In regular weekly meetings during the winter term on campus, data will be analyzed and presented in oral and written reports. Prerequisite: Environmental and Technology Studies 260. 6 cr., MS; NE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

ENTS 271. Environmental Economics and Policy This course will explore the economic and political institutions affecting the environment. The major questions of the course will be: When are individual economic incentives not aligned with society's environmental interests? How can policies and regulations be changed to best accomplish environmental goals? Will the economic development of economies like India and China lead to more or less environmental destruction? How can we best balance costs and benefits over long time horizons as we must in issues of non-renewable resource management and climate change? Topics to be discussed may include: climate change, agriculture, transportation, energy efficiency, population growth, and water. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Spring—A. Swoboda

ENTS 280. Conservation and Development in Tanzania:Research Methods on Conservation and Development This course will cover basic research methods in the social and natural sciences including how to collect, analyze, integrate, and report social and ecological data to critically understand and evaluate environmental issues in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Participants will work in small groups to develop and execute research projects which will be conducted in both countries in consultation with local faculty. 4 cr., SS; NE, Winter—T. Nega

ENTS 284. Conservation and Development in Tanzania: Cultural Studies This interdisciplinary course will use readings, meetings with local experts, guest lectures, and visits to cultural sites and museums to examine cultural practices in Tanzania and Ethiopia. 2 cr., S/CR/NC, ND; NE, Winter—T. Nega

ENTS 288. Abrupt Climate Change The field of abrupt climate change seeks to understand very fast changes, or "tipping points," in historical climate records. Course topics will include interpretation of historical climate data, methods of measuring abrupt changes in ancient climates, theories for abrupt change, the role of complex earth systems, and the connection to current trends in global climate change. The course will also directly address our future vulnerability to abrupt climate change through cases studies of past human civilizations (Mayans, Anasazi). Prerequisites: One introductory course in Biology (125 or 126), Chemistry (123 or 128), Geology (110 or 120), or Physics (two five-week courses from 131-162). 6 cr., MS, WR; NE, WR2, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

ENTS 301. Science and Society Science today is hardwired into virtually every aspect of our lives and the world we inhabit so much so that there is no 'space' outside science. Our societies can equally well die of the production of science (e.g., global warming, species extinction) or safeguard itself from them. In such a context, how we understand science and with what tools is a key question. The aim of this course is to explore major approaches for understanding and explaining scientific knowledge and the implications of these approaches for understanding the place and importance of science in an age of global environmentalism. Prerequisite: Sociology/Anthropology 110, 111, or permission of instructor. 6 cr., ND; SI, Not offered in 2010-2011.

ENTS 395. Senior Seminar This seminar will focus on preparing Environmental Studies majors to undertake the senior comprehensive exercise. The seminar will be organized around a topic to-be-determined and will involve intensive discussion and the preparation of a detailed research proposal for the comps experience. The course is required for all Environmental Studies majors choosing the group comps option. Prerequisite: Completion of all other ENTS core courses except comps. 3 cr., ND; SI, Fall—G. Vrtis

ENTS 400. Integrative Exercise In this course, ENTS majors complete a group-based comprehensive exercise. Each group is expected to research and execute a group project on the topic chosen by the group, under the guidance of an ENTS faculty member. Toward the end of winter term, all groups present their research at a Symposium sponsored by ENTS. Prerequisite: Environmental and Technology Studies 395. 6 cr., S/NC, ND; NE, Winter—Staff