Courses Related to Scientific Principles in Sustainability
Course offerings are subject to change. We will try to keep this list updated but please verify information in the Undergraduate Catalog if you see a course that is of interest.
Courses listed on this page are related to underlying scientific subjects related to sustainability issues, concepts, and solutions. Subjects range from earth systems to various forms of ecology. These courses do not focus on human, social, or economic sciences in relation to sustainability.
Biology
BIO 455 – Biological Invasions
Analysis of mechanisms behind species establishment in new areas, their impact on native ecology, theoretical bases of invasion-related phenomena, and economic and sociopolitical costs inflicted by exotic species.
Earth and Climate Sciences
ERS 103 – Dynamic Earth
Explores how Earth’s dynamic processes interact with humans by evaluating the interplay between Earth’s interior, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere, the effects and underlying causes of natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves and global warming, Earth’s economic and energy resources, how they form, and how long they will last, and the global environment, as well as how best to interact with it.
ERS 107 – Energy, Environment, and Climate
Explores the Earth Science concepts that underlie energy, energy sources, the environmental impacts of energy use, and the role of energy in climate. We will consider the ways in which society interacts with and extracts energy from the Earth System, the energy balance of Earth, the climate and environmental implications of energy use, and gain an understanding of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
ERS 121 – Humans and Global Change
Explores how Earth’s climate system works and how past environmental changes affected humans on time scales ranging from interannual to hundreds of thousands of years. Topics will range from the development of agriculture at the beginning of the current interglaciation to how humans are now changing global climate through the addition of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere.
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
EES 100 – Human Population and the Global Environment
Introduces the concepts and principles necessary to evaluate contemporary global issues of population growth, natural resource conservation, and environmental protection. Surveys the historical development of environmental awareness in the United States. Develops skills to interpret the diverse types of information available about environmental issues.
EES 117 – Introduction to Ecology and Field Sciences
This course offers an introduction to college and provides an interdisciplinary perspective on ecological and environmental issues. The course will examine ecological systems, the interrelationships between human activities and the environment, and the social, political, economic, and technological factors that affect the use of natural resources. Material is presented via lectures, field trips during class hours and special readings.
EES 351 – Energy, Wealth, and Power: a Biophysical Systems View of Nature and Society
Within the biophysical economics paradigm, energy is the unseen arbiter that drives ecological and economic processes. Biophysical systems of nature and human society are organized according to seemingly universal laws that govern the concentration, conversion, and degradation of energy over space and time. These laws explain historic patterns in ecological and societal evolution, and provide a framework for responding to planetary crises of climate change, peak energy, and unpayable ecological debt. Students will apply biophysical systems principles of energy return on investment (EROI), energy hierarchy, transformity, embodied energy (eMergy), and maximum eMpower to better understand the past and better prepare for the future in a rapidly-degrading ecosphere. Students will read historic and current literature, participate in (and sometimes lead) interactive class discussions, and complete individual- or group-projects.
EES 397 – Topics in Ecology and Environmental Sciences Conservation and Management
The conservation and management of natural resources entail dynamic social, economic, and scientific problems. Students investigate a natural resource topic of current national or international concern.
EES 398- Special Seminar in Ecology and Environmental Science
The conservation and management of natural resources entail dynamic social, economic, and scientific problems. Students investigate a natural resource topic of current national or international concern. Course may be repeated for credit, if topics differ, for a total of 9 completions and 27 credits. Pass/fail.
Geography
GEO 311 – Geography of Climate Change
Introduces students to theories of environmental sustainability transitions and resource use in the context of climate change.
Marine Science
SMS 308 – Conservation and Ecology of Marine Mammals
Examination of variations in ecological strategies in marine mammals and investigation of marine mammal conservation and health issues.
SMS 402 – Oceans and Climate Change
Stresses the interdisciplinary nature of marine science by focusing on comprehensive oceanographic and marine ecosystems that reinforce geological, chemical, physical and biological principles and their linkages. Roles of oceans in regulating global climate will be emphasized. Climatic forcing and its impact on ocean environments and marine ecosystems will be discussed. Variability in the oceans and processes at a range of spatial and temporal scales are considered. Topics include: global carbon cycle and climate change, thermohaline circulation, influence of oceanic and climatic processes on marine populations, world fisheries and marine ecosystems, El Nino and decadal climate variability, Gulf of Maine oceanography and living marine resources, human activities and their impact on the environment.
Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science
PSE 105 – Principles of Sustainable Agriculture
Basic design principles and examples of environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural systems. Describes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but emphasis will be placed on identifying management practices that a) biologically improve soil structure, organic matter content, and fertility; and b) minimize or eliminate the need for chemical interventions for control of insect pests, pathogens, and weeds.
PSE 121 – Human Societies, Soil, and Water: The Unbreakable Link
This course considers the soil and water resources upon which human societies depend. Begins with a survey of basic properties and processes important in understanding soil and water resources. Ethical approaches to resource decision-making are introduced and used. Through the use of many case studies and examples, students are encouraged to clarify and develop their own personal values with respect to human use of the environment.
PSE 264 – Introduction to Composting
This course provides students with tools to understand the composting process including biology, feedstocks, recipe development and types of composting systems. Other topics include managing and troubleshooting compost piles, analyzing compost, and appropriate use are considered.
PSE 265 – Soil Health for Farm Resilience and Climate Mitigation
This course provides students with tools to understand the concepts and practices of soil health in different scales and types of systems. The importance, goals, and challenges of managing soil health are emphasized. Both agronomic and environmental outcomes for soil health practices are considered. Students will build their understanding of, and ability to use, course information through weekly discussions and will critically evaluate the use of soil health practices for climate mitigation.
School of Forest Resources
SFR 108 – Introduction to Arboriculture and Community Forestry
Introductory course in arboriculture (study of trees on an individual basis) and community forestry (management of trees in a community/urban setting). The student studies the management of the urban/community forests, people’s interactions and dynamics when dealing with community trees, and the development and purpose of a community forestry management plan. The course includes identifying valuable features, growth habits, and cultural requirements of urban trees and shrubs.
SFR 455 – Bioenergy Sources, Systems, and Environmental Effects
A detailed introduction to the use of biomass for bioenergy and includes a broad review of biomass sources, processing systems, human health effects, potential environmental damage, pollution abatement, energy generating systems and the general effects of using renewable and non-renewable sources of energy on the human population. Common definitions, units and the basic thermodynamics of biomass use are discussed. Environmental issues including greenhouse gas emissions are examined along with the benefits and environmental concerns related to using renewable sources of bioenergy. Specific examples, volatile organic chemical release and energy use in drying forest resources are included. Scheduled labs involve field trips.
Wildlife Ecology
WLE 230 – Introduction to Wildlife Conservation
Basic principles of wildlife ecology and conservation are illustrated with examples from Maine and around the world.
WLE 323 – Introduction to Conservation Biology
Maintaining the diversity of life forms in the face of environmental degradation involves the study of population ecology, population genetics, and ecosystem ecology plus the socioeconomic and political matrix in which conservation problems must be solved. Class ends before Thanksgiving. Required attendance for one or two Saturday sessions.
WLE 410 – Wildlife Population Dynamics and Conservation
Characteristics of wildlife populations, including principles of population dynamics and population interactions, with application in wildlife population conservation.
WLE 423 – Wetland Ecology and Conservation
Focuses on major concepts in wetland ecology, classification, policy and regulation and issues in wetland conservation. Lecture material focuses on wetland communities associated with hydric soils (forested, shrub and emergent ecosystems). Lecture and field studies.