Toxics and Hazards in the Environment: Syllabus (Fall 2009)

Mini-Course description:

This course will focus on toxic and hazardous substances in the environment, with particular emphasis on trace metals and organic compounds associated with construction materials and the urban/industrial environment. We will examine issues such as urban air quality and indoor air pollution, the persistence of toxic chemicals in the environment, and the regulation and cleanup of toxic substances. Case study discussion will focus on sources and exposure to toxic substances in the built environment in general, and the New York City urban environment in particular.

Each EMS-621 Mini-Course is taught by a visiting Professor/Instructor who is a leading professional in their field. Professors will be assisted in preparing for and conducting the Mini- Courses by the Environmental Planning Coordinator. The Coordinator will also be available, as needed, to assist and advise students. Course Coordinator: Eva Hanhardt evahanhardt@nyc.rr.com (home) ehanhard@pratt.edu (work)

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Instructor information:

Dr. Damon A. Chaky
Associate Professor, Department of Math and Science

URL: http://pratt.edu/~dchaky
E-mail: dchaky@pratt.edu
Phone: 718-636-3762
    x 3762 from the Brooklyn campus

Office: ARC Lower Level G-43
Office Hours:
     Monday 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
     Wednesday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
    OR BY APPOINTMENT

E-mail is the best (and preferred) way to reach me for a question or to schedule an appointment outside of class.

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Class meeting time:

Monday 6:00 pm – 7:50 pm in Higgins Hall South, Room 210

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Course Requirements:

The class will include readings, lecture and class discussion.

• All readings are available for download at the course website on Pratt's Learning Management System http://LMS.pratt.edu (log in with your Pratt userid).
• Additional selected individual readings will be handed out weekly.
• Students will be provided with a listing of web pages and optional readings relating to each of the topics

Students are expected to complete all assigned readings and participate in class discussions. Students must stay current with required readings as the quality of class discussions depends on all students staying abreast of the reading. Most of the required readings are posted on the course website (http://LMS.pratt.edu), although additional readings may be handed out in class.

For some longer readings and web references, students are not expected to read every word, but should have a good grasp of the material and read thoroughly those parts that will assist in class discussions.

All students are expected to submit weekly reading reports via email and turn in a final paper at the end of the course (undergraduates may choose to complete project instead of a paper). Graduate students are expected to make a formal presentation of their research paper in class. [See "METHODS OF ASSESSMENT" section below for details]

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Course Outline:

The mini- course will have 5 sessions - An Introductory class, three Lecture/Seminar classes, and a final integrative class with graduate student presentations. Consult the course website (http://LMS.pratt.edu) for the readings that accompany each week's material.

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Goals/Learning Objectives:

As an environmental specialty Mini-Course, the goal of the class is to familiarize students with relevant concepts, literature, and practices, both historical and current, relating to the sources, occurrence, and regulation of toxic substances at the local, regional, national and global levels. Taught by leading NYC practitioners in the field, the mini-courses give students concrete technical and analytical skills and an understanding of real world applications that will be important to their work as planners, architects, designers and/or environmentalists. Professors/Instructors have been selected who have significant professional experience with the topic they are teaching. Students will be required to critically evaluate what they have read and heard. In addition, the class will give students an opportunity to learn how to express their ideas verbally and through the final application assignment.

The purpose of the final assignment is to give the students personal experience in applying the knowledge and skills presented in the course to an area of their own expertise. Students will learn the fundamentals of gathering and applying environmental information; evaluation of appropriate methods and technologies; and presentation of ideas in verbal, visual and written form.

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Methods of Assessment:

Graduate students enrolled in EMS-621G / MSCI-536P	Undergraduate students enrolled in MSCI-436P
40% reading reports (4 @ 10% each) 25% Class participation 25% Final case study 10% Final presentation	40% reading reports (4 @ 10% each) 25% Class participation 25% Reflection paper/project 10% Constructive critique of graduate student presentations

 

Reading reports: (Graduates and Undergraduates)

Before 8am on the morning of class, all students will send me a brief email (two short paragraphs are sufficient; my email is dchaky@pratt.edu) answering the following questions:

1. In your opinion, what is the most interesting, disturbing, or encouraging information you gained from today's assigned reading? Why?
2. Which specific aspect of the assigned reading do you especially hope is addressed in class, and why? [You may choose to focus on something that confuses you; something you disagree with; something you want more information on; .... ]

Participation: (Graduates and Undergraduates)

Timely attendance, attentiveness and engagement in class discussions

Final case study: (Graduates only)

A 5–7 page research paper on a toxic substance of specific relevance to your field of study (see me for ideas). The research paper should incorporate themes from the class such as environmental presence and persistence, human exposure routes, industrial ecology and regulation. A bibliography is required, and must include at least TWO references from outside the required course reading list. (A list of suggested references will be provided at the course website.)

Reflection paper/project: (Undergraduates only)

• Option I (paper): A brief (3–5 page) reflection paper expanding on/inspired by one of the themes of the course. Reflection papers should include a bibliography and at least ONE required course reading and at least ONE outside reference.
• Option II (project): A creative work inspired by the course; this project must be accompanied by a 1-page gallery statement explicitly defining the connection between your work and the course. Project gallery statements must include a bibliography and at least ONE required course reading and ONE outside reference.

Final presentation: (Graduates only)

A 10–15 minute presentation of the final case study, delivered in class using PowerPoint/Keynote and/or appropriate visual aids, and accompanied by a question-and-answer period of up to 5 minutes. The presenters will be leading the class, and trying to convince their audience of the importance and relevance of their case study research; presenters are expected to prepare accordingly. All presentations will be given on the last day of class.

Constructive critique: (Undergraduates only)

While undergraduates are not expected to present their own final projects, they are expected to be an attentive and thoughtful audience for the graduate students as they present their case study research on the last day of class. Undergraduates will be expected to fill out and turn in an evaluation survey of each graduate student presentation. This survey will ask for constructive feedback on clarity, manner of presentation, and other presentation skills. Surveys will be turned in TO ME, and I will re-type and forward the (anonymous) feedback to the graduate students after class ends.

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Supplementals: Bibliography – other references

A list of supplemental/optional readings will be maintained on the course website (http://LMS.pratt.edu).

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