Teaching
My current courses include:
Weather, Climate, and Society (GEOG 104; Spring and Fall) This course examines the fundamentals of weather and climate and associated impacts on society by using a combination of readings, lectures, and lab activities. The course covers topics ranging from basic atmospheric motions to climate change scenarios. Emphasis is placed on synoptic climatology, applied climate concepts, and issues related to climate change and its impacts.
Global Climate Change(GEOG 439, 539; Fall) Global Climate Change focuses on the major issues of global change, including anthropogenic climate change, environmental pollution, land use and land cover change, extinction and biodiversity issues including biological invasions, and potential global change-related impacts on human health. The class follows a seminar format where individual presentations and group discussion comprise a large portion of in-class activities.
Introduction to Environmental Management (GEOG 320; Spring) This course focuses on broad topics in environmental management including human impacts on natural environments via energy, and waste management. Special emphasis is placed on U.S. and international standards such as ISO 14001 as well as relevant policies such as the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). Students will gain an understanding of practical EM issues through analysis of cases studies as well as individual and group projects.
Prior courses.
Department of Geography, The University of Iowa
Climatology 44:101 An introduction to descriptive climatology examining the fundamentals of weather and climate using a combination of lecture and lab activities. Course covers topics ranging from basic atmospheric circulation to future climate change scenarios. Emphasis placed on synoptic climatology, applied climate concepts, and issues related to climate change and its impacts.
Consequences of Global Environmental Change 44:178 Thiscourse focuses on the major issues of environmental change, including anthropogenic climate change, air and water pollution, land use and land cover change, extinction and biodiversity issues including biological invasions, and the potential global change-related impacts on human health.
Contemporary Environmental Issues 44:019 This course introduces students to a range of current environmental issues through readings, lectures and discussion. Critical analysis of scholarly and popular information sources is emphasized as as the development of skills and intellectual standards needed to evaluate complex environmental issues.
Earth Systems Science 44:003 Introductory course focused on structure and interaction of major Earth systems with emphasis on natural resources and hazards important to society, and human modification of Earth systems.
Field Methods in Geography 44:180 This class introduces students to common geographic methods of measuring environmental parameters and gathering and analyzing field data. Field-based projects include simple mapping, water quality sampling, vegetation and tree-ring studies, meteorological measurements, collection of global positioning data, landscape analysis, and introduction to field research design.
Remote Sensing and GIS in Environmental Conservation 44:197 This class is designed to acquaint both those students with little to no experience and those already knowledgeable about remote sensing and GIS with the data and techniques used in a variety of environmental conservation projects.
Senior Thesis 44:151 Interested students can develop an independent research project appropriate to their interests. The thesis is completed under the direction of a faculty member. Letter grades are based on evaluation of the completed thesis. Can be taken for Honors Credit.
Water Resources Management 44:129 A broad based, multi-disciplinary course that exposes students to a wide range of water resources issues. Water management problems related to both quality and quantity are explored with an emphasis on current scientific research, government policy, and societal perceptions.
Department of Geosciences, University of Arkansas
Physical Geography Introductory course centered on spatial analysis of the physical geography of Earth, including exploration of the mechanics of natural geophysical and biological processes, and human modification of the environment