The Individual and the Natural World

LAEC 330: Spring 1997

Instructors: Jeanne Small (Chemistry) and Bill Youngs (History)
Guest Speakers: Jenny Thomson (Geology)
Classroom: Patterson Hall 211
Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:00 to 1:50

Course Outline and Assignments

This page provides a brief summary click on the date for a more detailed description of
class assignments and activities for a particular day.

The following books are on reserve in Kennedy Library:

Our Stolen Future - Colborn et al.

Silent Spring - Carson

Science and Its Ways of Knowing - Hatton & Plouffe (2 copies)

Click here for our overview of the course.

And click here to see the grading system.

Course Plan

Note: This site is under construction. We will add more information to this outline as the course progresses -- and for that matter, you as students will also be adding to the Web site.

Click on a specific date for more information on that days plans.

Date

Topic

Lecture

Assignment

Media

Discussion

3-31 Introduction: "The Individual and the Natural World" Youngs: Meanings of Wilderness
Small: Wilderness at the Molecular Level None due on first day of class -- but assignments due on all other days. "Fate of Heaven"
(Yosemite Valley -- first half) What do we mean by the natural world?

4-2 "Relationships between Humans and the Natural World" Youngs: Human Relationships with Nature
Small: A Scientist's Relationship with Nature
McPhee, "A Mountain" -- note identification topics

+ mini research project

"Fate of Heaven"
(Yosemite Valley -- second half

"World of Chemistry: Polymers"
What are the fundamental relationships between individuals and nature?

4-7 "First Encounters: Individuals and Nature in the Distant Past" Youngs: Comprehending Nature in Early Societies (1)
Small: Fire Review McPhee and do a report on a related topic. A visit to the World Wide Web What were the main features of early encounters between individuals and the wilderness?

4-9 "First Encounters: The First Scientists" Youngs: Comprehending Nature in Early Societies (1)
Small and Thomson: Copper through theMillenia McPhee, "An Island" -- note identification topics A visit to the World Wide Web What are the earliest examples of a "scientific" relationship to nature?

Date	Topic	Lecture	Assignment	Media	Discussion
3-31	Introduction: "The Individual and the Natural World"	Youngs: Meanings of Wilderness Small: Wilderness at the Molecular Level	None due on first day of class -- but assignments due on all other days.	"Fate of Heaven" (Yosemite Valley -- first half)	What do we mean by the natural world?
4-2	"Relationships between Humans and the Natural World"	Youngs: Human Relationships with Nature Small: A Scientist's Relationship with Nature	McPhee, "A Mountain" -- note identification topics + mini research project	"Fate of Heaven" (Yosemite Valley -- second half "World of Chemistry: Polymers"	What are the fundamental relationships between individuals and nature?
4-7	"First Encounters: Individuals and Nature in the Distant Past"	Youngs: Comprehending Nature in Early Societies (1) Small: Fire	Review McPhee and do a report on a related topic.	A visit to the World Wide Web	What were the main features of early encounters between individuals and the wilderness?
4-9	"First Encounters: The First Scientists"	Youngs: Comprehending Nature in Early Societies (1) Small and Thomson: Copper through theMillenia	McPhee, "An Island" -- note identification topics	A visit to the World Wide Web	What are the earliest examples of a "scientific" relationship to nature?