Course Description
This course will provide students with a history of the biophysical evolution of the Great Lakes Basin, its history of human population growth and industrial and urban development and the consequences of that development on the ecological health of the Basin. There will be a discussion of basic lake ecology, with emphasis on the unique characteristics of the Great Lakes. The course will examine the various stresses past, present and future (climate change, new chemicals) that have or could impact upon the Basin. The complex governance issues in the Basin (two countries, eight states, one province, hundreds of municipalities, First Nations) will be considered, along with the management programs put in place to deal with the effects of human activity on the ecosystem. The sustainability of the Great Lakes basin will also be discussed in the context of present and future stresses.
Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Lecture hours: 24
Exclusion: None
Prerequisite: 9.0
Core Skills Developed
- knowledge of the history of the biophysical evolution of the Great Lakes Basin and the history of human population growth and industrial and urban development
- understanding of the various stresses’ past, present and future (climate change, new chemicals) that have or could impact upon the Basin
- understanding of the complex governance issues in the Basin and management programs put in place to deal with the effects of human activity on the ecosystem
- written, communication and analytical skills through a series of briefing notes