ENV221H1F: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on the Environment
Fall 2018
Last Updated: October 18, 2018
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: ES 1050 - Earth Sciences Auditorium (enter via Bancroft)
Tutorials: Four tutorials are scheduled through the term: week of Sept 25, Oct 9, Oct
30 and Nov 27.
Instructor: Karen Ing, ES2098, 416-978-4863;
Office Hours: by appointment, and usually available after lectures
Teaching Assistants:
Course administration, such as request for extensions on assignments or missed midterms should
be addressed to the Head TA (Mark Horsburgh, ). Issues
associated with final exams should be directed to your college registrar.
Mark Horsburgh (head TA)
Jillian Bieser
Susan Frye
Brian Pentz
Course website: Quercus
Required Text:
There is no textbook or hard copy reader for this course. Instead course readings have been
drawn from a variety of sources that are electronically accessible and listed below along with the
lecture schedule.
Course Evaluation
Midterm, 45min in-class Oct 18 20%
Written Assignment Nov 14 30%
Final Exam Dec exam period 40%
Tutorial Attendance & Participation 10%
Course Subject
This course addresses the causes and nature of current environmental problems from several
interrelated perspectives, including: the scientific analysis of particular ecological challenges;
factors such as jurisdiction and lobbying which influence the ways in which governments and
non-state actors are confronting those concerns; relevant ethical issues respecting the rights of
humans and other species, and the major ideas (assumptions, values and norms) which influence
our approach to those problems.
An appreciation and recognition of the complex of disciplines needed to address current
environmental problems and the linkages and communication required from practitioners within
1
, these disciplines are the primary focus of this course. We will explore these linkages through the
use of three case studies: climate change, environmental health, and biodiversity.
Course Format
The course begins with an examination of the contribution various disciplinary perspectives
bring to the study of the environment. Three current issues are then examined as case studies.
Each case study will be approached from a variety of disciplinary perspectives: the physical
nature of the issue; the action addressing the issue by governments and others; and the cultural,
ethical and philosophical dimensions of the issue. Throughout the presentation of the various
disciplinary approaches there will also be explicit identification and discussion of the
interdisciplinary linkages amongst these approaches.
The case studies are intended to help students gain a deeper understanding of the specific issues
addressed in the course and to appreciate the broader ideas and frameworks that underlie these
issues. It is also hoped that students, through this approach, will gain a fuller sense of the
interdisciplinary nature of environmental studies.
Educational objectives
ENV221H is meant to provide an introductory foundation for all students interested in studying
the environment. The purpose of this course is twofold:
1. to give students introductory knowledge concerning specific issues in environmental
science, thought and policy;
2. to promote greater appreciation and understanding of the relationships and linkages
within the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies.
The course objective is to introduce students to approaches and information from the fields of
environmental sciences, policy and ethics and to introduce the ways in which these and other
areas of expertise are being woven together to create the emerging interdisciplinary field of
environmental studies.
It is expected that students who complete this course will be able to do the following in an
introductory manner:
1. describe the complex interdisciplinary nature of the field of environmental studies, and
discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in interdisciplinary work;
2. understand some basic aspects of environmental science, environmental philosophy and
environmental policy as presented in class;
3. discuss the nature of three specific environmental problems facing contemporary society
( climate change, environmental health, and biodiversity) using scientific, philosophical
and political science frameworks;
4. provide analysis of environmental problems (for example, those listed above) that
integrates scientific, philosophical and environmental policy perspectives into an
interdisciplinary view of both the problems and possible solutions.
2
Fall 2018
Last Updated: October 18, 2018
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: ES 1050 - Earth Sciences Auditorium (enter via Bancroft)
Tutorials: Four tutorials are scheduled through the term: week of Sept 25, Oct 9, Oct
30 and Nov 27.
Instructor: Karen Ing, ES2098, 416-978-4863;
Office Hours: by appointment, and usually available after lectures
Teaching Assistants:
Course administration, such as request for extensions on assignments or missed midterms should
be addressed to the Head TA (Mark Horsburgh, ). Issues
associated with final exams should be directed to your college registrar.
Mark Horsburgh (head TA)
Jillian Bieser
Susan Frye
Brian Pentz
Course website: Quercus
Required Text:
There is no textbook or hard copy reader for this course. Instead course readings have been
drawn from a variety of sources that are electronically accessible and listed below along with the
lecture schedule.
Course Evaluation
Midterm, 45min in-class Oct 18 20%
Written Assignment Nov 14 30%
Final Exam Dec exam period 40%
Tutorial Attendance & Participation 10%
Course Subject
This course addresses the causes and nature of current environmental problems from several
interrelated perspectives, including: the scientific analysis of particular ecological challenges;
factors such as jurisdiction and lobbying which influence the ways in which governments and
non-state actors are confronting those concerns; relevant ethical issues respecting the rights of
humans and other species, and the major ideas (assumptions, values and norms) which influence
our approach to those problems.
An appreciation and recognition of the complex of disciplines needed to address current
environmental problems and the linkages and communication required from practitioners within
1
, these disciplines are the primary focus of this course. We will explore these linkages through the
use of three case studies: climate change, environmental health, and biodiversity.
Course Format
The course begins with an examination of the contribution various disciplinary perspectives
bring to the study of the environment. Three current issues are then examined as case studies.
Each case study will be approached from a variety of disciplinary perspectives: the physical
nature of the issue; the action addressing the issue by governments and others; and the cultural,
ethical and philosophical dimensions of the issue. Throughout the presentation of the various
disciplinary approaches there will also be explicit identification and discussion of the
interdisciplinary linkages amongst these approaches.
The case studies are intended to help students gain a deeper understanding of the specific issues
addressed in the course and to appreciate the broader ideas and frameworks that underlie these
issues. It is also hoped that students, through this approach, will gain a fuller sense of the
interdisciplinary nature of environmental studies.
Educational objectives
ENV221H is meant to provide an introductory foundation for all students interested in studying
the environment. The purpose of this course is twofold:
1. to give students introductory knowledge concerning specific issues in environmental
science, thought and policy;
2. to promote greater appreciation and understanding of the relationships and linkages
within the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies.
The course objective is to introduce students to approaches and information from the fields of
environmental sciences, policy and ethics and to introduce the ways in which these and other
areas of expertise are being woven together to create the emerging interdisciplinary field of
environmental studies.
It is expected that students who complete this course will be able to do the following in an
introductory manner:
1. describe the complex interdisciplinary nature of the field of environmental studies, and
discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in interdisciplinary work;
2. understand some basic aspects of environmental science, environmental philosophy and
environmental policy as presented in class;
3. discuss the nature of three specific environmental problems facing contemporary society
( climate change, environmental health, and biodiversity) using scientific, philosophical
and political science frameworks;
4. provide analysis of environmental problems (for example, those listed above) that
integrates scientific, philosophical and environmental policy perspectives into an
interdisciplinary view of both the problems and possible solutions.
2
