ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: Ecology and the Biosphere

Research Projects

1. Conduct library research on one of the major naturalists, and describe t he development of his or her individual philosophy. Some come to environmental issues as artists, others as scientists, others as policy makers, and others as ordinary citizens. Briefly describe the work for which this person is known, and the impact this work has had or continues to have on the science and/or politics of environmental protection and conservation. Choose from the various persons featured in your textbook, or from the list below. Use two references (not including the textbook) and be sure to include a bibliography.

Rene Dubos, Jeremy Rifkin, Maurice Strong, David Brower, James Lovelock, Lynn Margulis, Raymond Dasmann, Jonathan Schell, Hazel Henderson, Jacques Cousteau, Gifford Pinchot, Bob Marshall, Howard Zahniser, Rachel Carson, Henry Thoreau. (Minimum length: 2 pages, double-spaced.)

2. This is an outdoor activity: Participate in a local habitat modificatio n project aimed at increasing the numbers of certain kinds of organisms or cleaning up a degraded area. Examples include fish habitat enhancement, tree planting, and alien species removal. Document your experience by including the history of the project, the breadth of its involvement in your area, and the kinds and relative amount of support it has from citizens, businesses, schools, and governments. include a brochure or pamphlet if possible. The keywords here are participate and local. If your local public or school library, Chamber of Commerce, City, County, or State government offices on parks, water quality, open space policies, etc. have no information for you with which to get started, contact me immediately. Several national organizations, such as Wilderness Society, Greenpeace, Public Interest Groups (i.e., WASHPIRG) have local chapters. This is a good place to start. See Chapter 7 in the textbook for additional reference. (Minimum length; 1 page, double-spaced.)

3. This is an outdoor activity: Find a road cut in a suburban or rural are a and identify the different layers of the soil profile you will see. The profile should be between two and three feet in depth, and have a variety of soil types present. Look for the presence of leaf litter, organisms (worms, larvae, bugs, etc.), humus, colors, cobbles, boulders, etc. Draw the profile with descriptors identifying the various soil types and components. If possible, take a color photo and label the profile. See Chapter 12 in the textbook for reference. (Minimum length: 1/2 page.)

4. Do an inventory of the hazardous chemicals in your home. Include substances found in the garage, basement, kitchen, bathroom, garden, etc. Determine and describe the proper disposal method for each substance. The Solid Waste utility or comparable city or county agency in your area can help you with this determination. Try to follow through on the proper disposal method when the time comes. See Chapter 13 in the textbook. (Minimum length: 1/2 page.)

5. This is an outdoor activity: Attend a public hearing at the city, count y or state level on an environmental issue associated with land us and land use planning. Summarize the proceedings objectively, as if you were reporting for a newspaper. Then write your own personal opinion of the issue itself, and the approaches to the issue taken by policy makers, the media, and the public. Public hearing announcements can usually be found in the classified section of the newspaper, or by phoning the city or county clerk office. See Chapter 7 in the textbook. (Minimum length: 1 page.)

6. This is an outdoor activity: Pick up litter along a road or section of beach or inland waterway. Inventory the waste you find, identify the causes of he litter, and suggest solutions to the problem. If possible, take photos both before and after your clean-up activity. Take the results of your clean-up and investigations to local officials or a citizens action group and encourage them to instigate a regular clean-up (weekly, monthly, seasonally, yealy, as appropriate) of the road or beach. See Chapter 13 in the textbook. (Minimum length: 1 page.)