"Our Plundered Planet"
Bikini
David Bradley
Linus Pauling
Cybernetics
Norbert Wiener
"Atoms for Peace"
Godzilla
Linus Pauling
Huang Wanli
Ma Yinchu
International Geophysical Year
Sputnik
Rachel Carson
Robert White-Stevens
Silent Spring
Werner von Braun
The Port Huron Statement
1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty
Geodesic Dome
"Why Haven't We Seen a Picture of the Whole Earth Yet?"
Paul Ehrlich
Whole Earth Catalog
Barbara Ward
Buckminster Fuller
Stewart Brand
"The Making of a Counterculture"
Apollo 8
Rusty Schweickart
Gaylord Nelson
April 22, 1970
Three Mile Island
Chernobyl
Chipko
Ken Saro-Wiwa
Chico Mendes
Wangari Maathai
The Blue Marble
Carolyn Merchant
Svante Arrhenius
G.S. Callendar
Charles David Keeling
Tipping Points
Fukushima
Monday, April 18, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Energy company, city working together to use byproduct of electricity
An energy company in Boston is buying the hot water from a power plant in Cambridge and using it to heat buildings. This explains why manholes sometimes steam in cool, rainy weather.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Natural exposure to radiation chart
Here is a cool chart about how much radiation you're exposed to on a daily basis vs. medical procedures and exposure to nuclear disasters, etc. Everything is explained on the chart. A larger image can be found here:http://www.xkcd.com/radiation/
It is provided by Randall Monroe, writer of the webcomic XKCD which you'll like if you like nerd humor.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
post for Cory Gates
http://kaosmaschine.com/works/design_trap.jpg
This ad provides an environmental warning by providing a satirical look at the mindset of people who do not care about the environment. By emphasizing that people are doing their part in this pollution this ad truly provides a warning to the rest of the population that they must in fact do the opposite the ad suggests in order to protect the fragile environment.
http://kara.allthingsd.com/20090814/microsofts-vision-of-the-future-and-the-inevitable-spoof/
This picture taken from the cover of a 1979 book entitled “The World of the Future: Future Cities.” On its cover it shows a potential view of the future all possible through the exploitation of technology. With new advances this shows a very optimistic view of how technology will enhance the lives of everybody.
paper & presentation
For your paper and presentation, please choose one of the following options:
1. Compare an example of technological optimism and one example of an environmental warning from the same historical period. (Preferably these documents should be from the same decade or at least within the same 50 years period)
2. Compare two examples of environmental warnings from two different periods (at least 50 years apart).
3. Compare two examples of technological optimism from two different periods (at least 50 years apart).
1. Compare an example of technological optimism and one example of an environmental warning from the same historical period. (Preferably these documents should be from the same decade or at least within the same 50 years period)
2. Compare two examples of environmental warnings from two different periods (at least 50 years apart).
3. Compare two examples of technological optimism from two different periods (at least 50 years apart).
Monday, March 14, 2011
Leigh Concessi: Blog Assignment
An example of technological warning is the following link to the video, "Too Hot Not Too Handle", which warns against the overuse of fossil fuels. It encourages nations like the United States to be cautionary when dealing with the impacts of climate change, and to take the necessary measures to reverse this dangerous trend.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5368452289665474330#
The following article published on Sify.com is an article of technological optimism. "Breakthrough in nanocomposite for high-capacity hydrogen storage" announces a promising new alternative to fossil fuels made from hydrogen that can be safely stored and easily accessed while maintaining its clean combustion that makes it so appealing.
http://www.sify.com/news/breakthrough-in-nanocomposite-for-high-capacity-hydrogen-storage-news-international-ldoq4hahchc.html
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5368452289665474330#
The following article published on Sify.com is an article of technological optimism. "Breakthrough in nanocomposite for high-capacity hydrogen storage" announces a promising new alternative to fossil fuels made from hydrogen that can be safely stored and easily accessed while maintaining its clean combustion that makes it so appealing.
http://www.sify.com/news/breakthrough-in-nanocomposite-for-high-capacity-hydrogen-storage-news-international-ldoq4hahchc.html
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Emily Boyd, Blog Assignment
Optimism: 350.org a project trying to spread the word about 350ppm and getting back to a healthy atmosphere through grassroots global social change (350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide—measured in "Parts Per Million" in our atmosphere. 350 PPM—it's the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change.)
check out understanding 350 @ http://www.350.org/en/understanding-350
or watch a video of art depicting "350" from all over the world @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-HnrMrQ6Tw
(sorry couldn't figure out how to embed links)
Rosie O'Brien, Blog Assignment
Synthetic Genomics Inc. is an example of technological optimism. Here, scientists are researching and testing a brand new algae biofuels program in a greenhouse facility at the SGI headquarters in La Jolla, California.Click on the highlighted link to learn more.
Environmental Warning Example: Here are 2 amazing videos of children who spoke at the UN to warn our leaders about the future of the environment and they are calling for action. The first is of Severn Suzuki, also known as "The Girl who Silenced the World in 5 minutes", who spoke at a UN meeting on behalf of her organization, environmental childrens organization (ECO) which is a group of 12-13 year olds dedicated to the protection of the environment. This video had resonated with many and has had over 4 million views.This kid is amazing and her speech sends a huge warning for the future that we create.
Above is another video of an inspirational kid, Felix Finkbeiner, who is a 13 year old tree ambassador. His organization is "Plant for the Planet" which is dedicated to planting millions of trees around the world. He spoke at a UN meeting and told our leaders and decision makers to "Stop Talking and Start Planting". Plant for Power is dedicated to empowering children to take control of their future by planting trees. There are 100,000 children participating in 91 countries with 3.5 million trees planted. Here is a link to the "Stop Talking and Start Planting" posters, which picture children covering the mouths of political leaders, celebrities (Gisele Bunchen, Harrison Ford) and many other influential powers. Learn more at http://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/
Environmental Warning Example: Here are 2 amazing videos of children who spoke at the UN to warn our leaders about the future of the environment and they are calling for action. The first is of Severn Suzuki, also known as "The Girl who Silenced the World in 5 minutes", who spoke at a UN meeting on behalf of her organization, environmental childrens organization (ECO) which is a group of 12-13 year olds dedicated to the protection of the environment. This video had resonated with many and has had over 4 million views.This kid is amazing and her speech sends a huge warning for the future that we create.
Above is another video of an inspirational kid, Felix Finkbeiner, who is a 13 year old tree ambassador. His organization is "Plant for the Planet" which is dedicated to planting millions of trees around the world. He spoke at a UN meeting and told our leaders and decision makers to "Stop Talking and Start Planting". Plant for Power is dedicated to empowering children to take control of their future by planting trees. There are 100,000 children participating in 91 countries with 3.5 million trees planted. Here is a link to the "Stop Talking and Start Planting" posters, which picture children covering the mouths of political leaders, celebrities (Gisele Bunchen, Harrison Ford) and many other influential powers. Learn more at http://www.plant-for-the-planet.org/
Ben Caplin: Blog Assignment
The movie 2001: A Space Odyssey was an example of technological optimism. Movie showed that computers were able to have conversations with humans, and even outsmart them, possessing its own intelligence. The movie also explains how supposedly, humans took monumental steps in evolution.
The book " Z for Zachariah, is written in the style of a post nuclear apocalypse, first person novel
. It tells the story of a 16 year old, living in a valley, shielded from the radiation. This shows an example of Environmental warning.
Bryan Keen, Blog assignment
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/25/obama-state-of-the-union-_1_n_813478.html
The link above shows an example of technological optimism. It is President Obama's State of the Union speech 2011. In his speech he promoted education, science, technology, engineering, and math. He spoke of innovation and how the United States needs to remain the technological super power of the world.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/seven-billion/kunzig-text
The above link shows an example of environmental warning. It is an article from National Geographic about world population. It warns that with world population growing at a rate of about 80 million people each year water tables are falling, soil is eroding, glaciers are melting, and fish stocks are vanishing.
The link above shows an example of technological optimism. It is President Obama's State of the Union speech 2011. In his speech he promoted education, science, technology, engineering, and math. He spoke of innovation and how the United States needs to remain the technological super power of the world.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/seven-billion/kunzig-text
The above link shows an example of environmental warning. It is an article from National Geographic about world population. It warns that with world population growing at a rate of about 80 million people each year water tables are falling, soil is eroding, glaciers are melting, and fish stocks are vanishing.
Caroline Katsiroubas: Blog Assignment
Example of technological optimism:
This is a great commercial for the Nissan Leaf, their new 100% electric car. This is a technological advancement that would help us reduce our fossil fuel consumption, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Below are the lyrics originally written and performed by Joni Mitchell in 1970. Joni was inspired on a trip to Hawaii when she glanced out her window at beautiful mountains in the distance and noticed an ugly parking lot tarnishing the view. The lyrics clearly state environmental concerns, and also how the beauty of nature cannot easily be restored once it is defaced by human development.
Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
Put them in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see them
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Hey farmer, farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
This is a great commercial for the Nissan Leaf, their new 100% electric car. This is a technological advancement that would help us reduce our fossil fuel consumption, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Below are the lyrics originally written and performed by Joni Mitchell in 1970. Joni was inspired on a trip to Hawaii when she glanced out her window at beautiful mountains in the distance and noticed an ugly parking lot tarnishing the view. The lyrics clearly state environmental concerns, and also how the beauty of nature cannot easily be restored once it is defaced by human development.
Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They took all the trees
Put them in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see them
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Hey farmer, farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got until it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Meghan McCusker: Blog Assignment Response
http://windupstories.com/about/
The website above is the home page for author Paolo Bacigalupi, a famed short-story author who recently branched out into young adult science fiction. I co-host a young adult book group at my local library, and Bacigalupi was one of our most recent reads. His two novels, The Windup Girl, and Ship Breaker, are both examples of technological pessimism. The Windup Girl starts in Thailand, and paints the picture of a world where oil and other fossil fuels have been consumed and are gone, with rising sea levels and - most importantly - engineered technological mutation of both food, machinery, and creations that are supposedly alternatives to actual living creatures. It is a warning of technological mutation pushed to the brink and gone horribly wrong. The Ship Breaker presents an equally grim future, in a world which also struggles with rising sea levels that have engulfed coastal towns, where so many oil tankers have poisoned the American Gulf Coast that small children are hired to climb down the sunken tankers ship ducts to retrieve copper wiring and other useful metals.
There are also some links on his website to interviews where he talks at great length about the urgent need for sustainability in today's world.
The above link provides a look at technological optimism in the form of genetically-modified food. This article discusses how Scotland's new chief scientific advisor urges the public to "embrace genetically modified (GM) food as an answer to poverty, hunger, and toxic pollution.
She argues that the public has been woefully and poorly informed on the subject and that labels such as "Frankenstein foods" are very misleading, as GM food actually has none of those horrible side effects.
Erika Lee: Blog Homework
An example of technological optimism was when the US landed first on the moon. The United States beat Russia to landing a space ship on the moon and signified a major technological accomplishment.
Below are lyrics to the Beach Boys song, "Don't go Near the Water" in reference to human pollution to the oceans and rivers. The Beach Boys used their popularity and music to warn the people of environmental damage.
Don't go near the water
Don't you think it's sad
What's happened to the water
Our water's going bad
Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams
Have all been touched by man
The poison floating out to sea
Now threatens life on land
Don't go near the water
Ain't it sad
What's happened to the water
It's going bad
Don't go near the water
Don't go near the water
[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/dont-go-near-the-water-lyrics-beach-boys.html ]
Toothpaste and soap will make our oceans a bubble bath
So let's avoid an ecological aftermath
Beginning with me
Beginning with you
Don't go near the water
To do it any wrong
To be cool with the water
Is the message of this song
Let's all help the water
Right away
Do what we can and ought to
Let's start today
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Mike Tremblay: Blog Assignment Response
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/cotton-gin-patent/
The above link is an example of technological optimism. It includes some of Eli Whitney's words after he patented the cotton gin, as well as the impacts of his invention. The two quotes in the article, from Eli Whitney: "One man and a horse will do more than fifty men with the old machines," and "Tis generally said by those who know anything about it, that I shall make a Fortune by it."
The image to the left is a 1979 poster. The late 1970's was a time of a gasoline shortage, causing a spike in gas prices, mile-long lines and regulations on who could buy gas and when. While the purpose of this poster isn't exactly environmentalist, it does unintentionally promote an environmentalist cause-to use less oil. Ironically, at the end of the road seems to be a factory...
Monday, March 7, 2011
first blog assignment, due March 14th: technological optimism / environmental warnings
Please post two items to the blog this week:
1) A primary-source example of technological optimism from any historical period. (e.g. The New Atlantis, imagery and literature from world's fairs, post-WWII advertising, etc.)
2) A primary-source example of an environmental warning from any historical period. (e.g ancient myths and stories about the dangers of human hubris, Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, etc.)
All primary sources are acceptable here: essays, poems, stories, paintings, films, songs, etc.
1) A primary-source example of technological optimism from any historical period. (e.g. The New Atlantis, imagery and literature from world's fairs, post-WWII advertising, etc.)
2) A primary-source example of an environmental warning from any historical period. (e.g ancient myths and stories about the dangers of human hubris, Henry David Thoreau, Rachel Carson, etc.)
All primary sources are acceptable here: essays, poems, stories, paintings, films, songs, etc.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
London Congestion Charge
Here is an interesting article about how London is dealing with heavy traffic in the city center and with air pollution at the same time.
The article is below:
Originally, London charged a flat rate of #8 (about $12) for any vehicle traveling into a certain zone of the city. The revenue was then put into the city's mass transit funding. This had good results, so they updated it further.
Residents of the congestion zone were unhappy, so residents of the area got up to 90% off of this charge. However, more gas-guzzling vehicles had to start paying up to #25 (roughly $35-$40) every time they entered the congestion zone. Heavy vehicles also tend accelerate slower than lighter vehicles, so this would also reduce overall congestion.
The goal of this plan is to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion as well as improve public transit for the entire city. The cost burden to go through the center of the city, or the time/gas burden to go around it, may encourage Londoners to use the bus or the Tube.
The article is below:
A blogger on boston.com said that New York has considered a similar plan, and that Boston should consider it (based on the high demand for parking), but they should probably wait for New York to implement it first.
The boston.com blog post is here (you may need to sign in):
Sunday, February 20, 2011
midterm review
TERMS
ID Section (60 pts). Twelve of the following items will appear on the midterm. You will be required to identify each and explain its historical significance.
Big Bang
Doppler Effect
Magnetoshpere
Natural Selection
The Cambrian Explosion
Milankovitch Cycles
Paleolithic
Late Pleistocene Extinctions
Holocene
Neolithic Revolution(s)
Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia
K.A. Wittfogel
"Hydraulic Civilization"
Ma'at
Karma
The Mandate of Heaven
Silk Road
Indian Ocean Trade Network
Swidden Agriculture
Zheng He
Hernán Cortés
Francisco Pizarro
The Columbian Exchange
Smallpox
Daedalus and Icarus
Francis Bacon
René Descartes
Isaac Newton
The Royal Society
British East India Company
Carolyn Merchant
Thomas Malthus
Manchester, England
Lowell, Massachusetts
The Potato Famine
The Market Revolution
The Industrial Revolution
"Carboniferous Capitalism"
Henry David Thoreau
Ernst Haeckel
"American Progress" (John Gast, 1872)
George Perkins Marsh
Mary Austin
Eotechnic
Paleotechnic
Neotechnic
Lewis Mumford
1893 World's Fair
"The Dynamo and the Virgin"
Hugo Gernsback
Gifford Pinchot
John Muir
Hetch Hetchy
Fritz Haber
Thomas Midgley
Technocracy
TVA
1939 World's Fair
Margaret Sanger
Fairfield Osborn
William Vogt
Aldo Leopold
"fierce green fire"
The Land Ethic
Paul Crutzen
The Anthropocene
ESSAY (40 pts.) One of the following topics will appear on the midterm.
ESSAY TOPICS
X. Consider each of following trends in world history over past five centuries, and assess which single development has had the greatest role in creating the conditions for what Paul Crutzen calls the Anthropocene: a) the rise of European colonialism, b) the articulation of the scientific method, c) the shift from wood to fossil fuels.
Y. Because of her 1962 book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson is often considered the founder of the modern environmentalist movement, but she was certainly not the first person who could be called an environmentalist. Consider the careers of at least three individuals before Carson who wrote about the value of wilderness and/or warned about the ecological consequences of human activity. Among the individuals you consider in this essay, which one would you say did the most to advance environmental consciousness before the publication of Silent Spring?
ID Section (60 pts). Twelve of the following items will appear on the midterm. You will be required to identify each and explain its historical significance.
Big Bang
Doppler Effect
Magnetoshpere
Natural Selection
The Cambrian Explosion
Milankovitch Cycles
Paleolithic
Late Pleistocene Extinctions
Holocene
Neolithic Revolution(s)
Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia
K.A. Wittfogel
"Hydraulic Civilization"
Ma'at
Karma
The Mandate of Heaven
Silk Road
Indian Ocean Trade Network
Swidden Agriculture
Zheng He
Hernán Cortés
Francisco Pizarro
The Columbian Exchange
Smallpox
Daedalus and Icarus
Francis Bacon
René Descartes
Isaac Newton
The Royal Society
British East India Company
Carolyn Merchant
Thomas Malthus
Manchester, England
Lowell, Massachusetts
The Potato Famine
The Market Revolution
The Industrial Revolution
"Carboniferous Capitalism"
Henry David Thoreau
Ernst Haeckel
"American Progress" (John Gast, 1872)
George Perkins Marsh
Mary Austin
Eotechnic
Paleotechnic
Neotechnic
Lewis Mumford
1893 World's Fair
"The Dynamo and the Virgin"
Hugo Gernsback
Gifford Pinchot
John Muir
Hetch Hetchy
Fritz Haber
Thomas Midgley
Technocracy
TVA
1939 World's Fair
Margaret Sanger
Fairfield Osborn
William Vogt
Aldo Leopold
"fierce green fire"
The Land Ethic
Paul Crutzen
The Anthropocene
ESSAY (40 pts.) One of the following topics will appear on the midterm.
ESSAY TOPICS
X. Consider each of following trends in world history over past five centuries, and assess which single development has had the greatest role in creating the conditions for what Paul Crutzen calls the Anthropocene: a) the rise of European colonialism, b) the articulation of the scientific method, c) the shift from wood to fossil fuels.
Y. Because of her 1962 book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson is often considered the founder of the modern environmentalist movement, but she was certainly not the first person who could be called an environmentalist. Consider the careers of at least three individuals before Carson who wrote about the value of wilderness and/or warned about the ecological consequences of human activity. Among the individuals you consider in this essay, which one would you say did the most to advance environmental consciousness before the publication of Silent Spring?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
WIRED: China to take the lead in Thorium reactors
This article describes an initiative in the PRC to build a new generation of Thorium reactors that produce far less radioactive waste.
Here's video on this developing technology:
Here's video on this developing technology:
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
current statistics on fishing and aquaculture
On Wednesday we discussed overfishing as an example of what biologist Garrett Hardin called "the tragedy of the commons". Here are some useful statistics on current trends in fishing and aquaculture across the world.
Monday, January 24, 2011
population growth and the Simon-Ehrlich wager
In 1980, economist Julian Simon made a public bet with environmentalist Paul Ehrlich about the future of resource scarcity. Here is an account of the bet, and here is a profile of Julian Simon from Wired magazine.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Syllabus
HIST 3412 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
R. S. Deese
Northeastern University
Spring 2011
rsdeese@gmail.com
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:15-10:20, 153 Snell Engineering Center
Office Hours: Tuesday & Friday: 8-9:30, 213 Meserve
Course Description
This course will survey the fundamental elements of environmental history from the dawn of the Holocene epoch (approximately twelve thousand years ago) to the present. Special emphasis will be given to the emergence of environmental crises since the industrial revolution and the evolution of a global environmentalist movement since World War Two.
Required Course Materials
Anthony Penna, The Human Footprint ISBN-13: 978-1405187718
J.R. McNeill, Something New Under the Sun ISBN-13: 978-0393321838
Spencer Weart, Nuclear Fear ISBN-13: 978-0674628366
Robert Poole, Earthrise ISBN-13: 978-0300164039
Basic Ground Rules
1. Turn off all cell phones, MP3 players, etc. before all class meetings begin.
2. Always come on time to all class meetings, and participate in all discussions. Please don’t be shy about speaking up in class discussions, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Virtually all original scholarship begins by posing questions that others have overlooked or dismissed as simply not worth asking; therefore, the very question you might be afraid to ask because it seems naïve or unorthodox could well be the most interesting and groundbreaking question that anyone could raise. Don’t hesitate to ask it. Also, please remember that I am more than happy to field your questions and address your concerns via email, telephone, and during my regular office hours.
3. Always come to class prepared to discuss all readings for that week. When you do the assigned reading each week, be sure to underline passages that you see as important, and write down questions that you would like to raise in our section meetings and in my office hours.
Grade Breakdown
Attendance at all lectures is mandatory. Unless you have a documented medical or family emergency, you need to come to every lecture.
Attendance & Participation 15%
Midterm 30%
Seven Page paper and Presentation 25% PAPER DUE IN CLASS APRIL 20th
Final Exam 30%
Midterm and Final Examinations
To prepare for these exams, be sure to review the assigned readings and your notes from lectures and discussion sections. Feel free to contact me via email or during office hours concerning any questions you might have. A portion of the class prior to the midterm will be devoted to review, and I will also a hold review session prior to the final exam. Please bear in mind that these review sessions will be most profitable to those who have prepared for them by thoroughly studying the material at hand.
Paper
You are required to do a class presentation and write a Seven (7) page position paper analyzing two primary source documents and/or artifacts from different periods or different perspectives. In this paper, you will be required to develop an original thesis that relates the primary sources to each other and to their historical context. Late papers will be penalized 5% each day past the due date.
Regulations Against Plagiarism
Needless to say, the work you present must be entirely your own and all sources must be diligently credited in your footnotes and bibliography. Any attempt at plagiarism, representing the work of another person as your own, will be result in failure in this course and severe disciplinary action by Northeastern University.
IMPORTANT: Please read the Academic Conduct Code to understand policy of Northeastern University regarding plagiarism. The punishment for any form of plagiarism at this institution is, as it should be, very severe. As you are writing your term papers, please don’t hesitate to contact me beforehand if you have any questions concerning the proper citation of source materials.
Week One
January 10 Introduction
January 12 Penna, Introduction
January 13 Penna , Ch. 1: An Evolving Earth
Week Two
January 17 No class, Holiday
January 19 Penna, Ch. 2: Evolving Humanity
January 20 Penna, Ch. 3: Foraging, Cultivating, and Food Production
Week Three
January 24 Penna, Ch. 4: Populating the Earth
January 26 Penna, Ch. 5: The Making of and Urban World
January 27 Penna, Ch. 6: Mining, Making, and Manufacturing
Week Four
January 31 Penna, Ch. 7: Industrial Work
February 2 Penna, Ch. 8: Trade and Consumption
February 3 Penna, Ch. 9: Fossil Fuels, Wind, Water, Nuclear and Solar Energy
Week Five
February 7 Penna, Ch. 10: A Warming World
February 9 McNeill, Ch. 1: Prodigal Century
February 10 McNeill, Ch. 2: Lithosphere & Pedosphere
Week Six
February 14 McNeill, Chs. 3 & 4: The Atmosphere
February 16 McNeill, Chs. 5 & 6: The Hydrosphere
February 17 McNeill, Chs. 7 & 8: The Biosphere
Week Seven
February 21 HOLIDAY
February 23, McNeill, Chs. 9, 10, 11, and Epilogue
February24 Midterm Exam
Week Eight
SPRING RECESS
Week Nine
March 7 Weart, Part One: Years of Fantasy
March 9 Weart, Part Two: Confronting Reality
March 10 Weart, Part Three: New Hopes and Horrors
WeekTen
March 14 Weart, Part Four: Suspect Technology
March 16 Weart, Part Five: The Search for Renewal
March 17 Poole, Ch. 1: Earthrise
Week Eleven
March 21 Poole, Ch. 2: Apollo 8
March 23 Poole, Ch. 3: A short history of the whole earth
March 24 Poole, Ch.4: From landscape to planet
Week Twelve
March 28 Poole, Ch. 5: Blue Marble
March 30, Poole, Ch. 6: An Astronaut’s View of Earth
March 31 Poole, Ch. 7: From Cold War to Open Skies
Week Thirteen
April 4 Poole, Ch. 8: From Spaceship Earth to Mother Earth
April 6 Poole, Ch. 9: Gaia
April 7 Poole, Ch. 10, The Discovery of the Earth
Week Fourteen
April 11 Student Presentations & Discussion Leigh Concessi; Mike Tremblay; Bryan Keen;
April 13 Student Presentations & Discussion Emily Boyd; Ben Caplin; Nicole Beetle; Erika Lee;
April 14 Student Presentations & Discussion Meghan McCusker; Cory Gates; Andrew Caron; Caroline Katsiroubas
Week Fifteen
April 18 Holiday
April 20: Rosie O'Brien; PAPER DUE IN CLASS FINAL EXAM REVIEW
April 21 NO CLASS
FINAL EXAM
R. S. Deese
Northeastern University
Spring 2011
rsdeese@gmail.com
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:15-10:20, 153 Snell Engineering Center
Office Hours: Tuesday & Friday: 8-9:30, 213 Meserve
Course Description
This course will survey the fundamental elements of environmental history from the dawn of the Holocene epoch (approximately twelve thousand years ago) to the present. Special emphasis will be given to the emergence of environmental crises since the industrial revolution and the evolution of a global environmentalist movement since World War Two.
Required Course Materials
Anthony Penna, The Human Footprint ISBN-13: 978-1405187718
J.R. McNeill, Something New Under the Sun ISBN-13: 978-0393321838
Spencer Weart, Nuclear Fear ISBN-13: 978-0674628366
Robert Poole, Earthrise ISBN-13: 978-0300164039
Basic Ground Rules
1. Turn off all cell phones, MP3 players, etc. before all class meetings begin.
2. Always come on time to all class meetings, and participate in all discussions. Please don’t be shy about speaking up in class discussions, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Virtually all original scholarship begins by posing questions that others have overlooked or dismissed as simply not worth asking; therefore, the very question you might be afraid to ask because it seems naïve or unorthodox could well be the most interesting and groundbreaking question that anyone could raise. Don’t hesitate to ask it. Also, please remember that I am more than happy to field your questions and address your concerns via email, telephone, and during my regular office hours.
3. Always come to class prepared to discuss all readings for that week. When you do the assigned reading each week, be sure to underline passages that you see as important, and write down questions that you would like to raise in our section meetings and in my office hours.
Grade Breakdown
Attendance at all lectures is mandatory. Unless you have a documented medical or family emergency, you need to come to every lecture.
Attendance & Participation 15%
Midterm 30%
Seven Page paper and Presentation 25% PAPER DUE IN CLASS APRIL 20th
Final Exam 30%
Midterm and Final Examinations
To prepare for these exams, be sure to review the assigned readings and your notes from lectures and discussion sections. Feel free to contact me via email or during office hours concerning any questions you might have. A portion of the class prior to the midterm will be devoted to review, and I will also a hold review session prior to the final exam. Please bear in mind that these review sessions will be most profitable to those who have prepared for them by thoroughly studying the material at hand.
Paper
You are required to do a class presentation and write a Seven (7) page position paper analyzing two primary source documents and/or artifacts from different periods or different perspectives. In this paper, you will be required to develop an original thesis that relates the primary sources to each other and to their historical context. Late papers will be penalized 5% each day past the due date.
Regulations Against Plagiarism
Needless to say, the work you present must be entirely your own and all sources must be diligently credited in your footnotes and bibliography. Any attempt at plagiarism, representing the work of another person as your own, will be result in failure in this course and severe disciplinary action by Northeastern University.
IMPORTANT: Please read the Academic Conduct Code to understand policy of Northeastern University regarding plagiarism. The punishment for any form of plagiarism at this institution is, as it should be, very severe. As you are writing your term papers, please don’t hesitate to contact me beforehand if you have any questions concerning the proper citation of source materials.
Week One
January 10 Introduction
January 12 Penna, Introduction
January 13 Penna , Ch. 1: An Evolving Earth
Week Two
January 17 No class, Holiday
January 19 Penna, Ch. 2: Evolving Humanity
January 20 Penna, Ch. 3: Foraging, Cultivating, and Food Production
Week Three
January 24 Penna, Ch. 4: Populating the Earth
January 26 Penna, Ch. 5: The Making of and Urban World
January 27 Penna, Ch. 6: Mining, Making, and Manufacturing
Week Four
January 31 Penna, Ch. 7: Industrial Work
February 2 Penna, Ch. 8: Trade and Consumption
February 3 Penna, Ch. 9: Fossil Fuels, Wind, Water, Nuclear and Solar Energy
Week Five
February 7 Penna, Ch. 10: A Warming World
February 9 McNeill, Ch. 1: Prodigal Century
February 10 McNeill, Ch. 2: Lithosphere & Pedosphere
Week Six
February 14 McNeill, Chs. 3 & 4: The Atmosphere
February 16 McNeill, Chs. 5 & 6: The Hydrosphere
February 17 McNeill, Chs. 7 & 8: The Biosphere
Week Seven
February 21 HOLIDAY
February 23, McNeill, Chs. 9, 10, 11, and Epilogue
February24 Midterm Exam
Week Eight
SPRING RECESS
Week Nine
March 7 Weart, Part One: Years of Fantasy
March 9 Weart, Part Two: Confronting Reality
March 10 Weart, Part Three: New Hopes and Horrors
WeekTen
March 14 Weart, Part Four: Suspect Technology
March 16 Weart, Part Five: The Search for Renewal
March 17 Poole, Ch. 1: Earthrise
Week Eleven
March 21 Poole, Ch. 2: Apollo 8
March 23 Poole, Ch. 3: A short history of the whole earth
March 24 Poole, Ch.4: From landscape to planet
Week Twelve
March 28 Poole, Ch. 5: Blue Marble
March 30, Poole, Ch. 6: An Astronaut’s View of Earth
March 31 Poole, Ch. 7: From Cold War to Open Skies
Week Thirteen
April 4 Poole, Ch. 8: From Spaceship Earth to Mother Earth
April 6 Poole, Ch. 9: Gaia
April 7 Poole, Ch. 10, The Discovery of the Earth
Week Fourteen
April 11 Student Presentations & Discussion Leigh Concessi; Mike Tremblay; Bryan Keen;
April 13 Student Presentations & Discussion Emily Boyd; Ben Caplin; Nicole Beetle; Erika Lee;
April 14 Student Presentations & Discussion Meghan McCusker; Cory Gates; Andrew Caron; Caroline Katsiroubas
Week Fifteen
April 18 Holiday
April 20: Rosie O'Brien; PAPER DUE IN CLASS FINAL EXAM REVIEW
April 21 NO CLASS
FINAL EXAM
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