Course Schedule

WeekDateTopicReading + SlidesDiscussion Board
11/30/23“The Environment.” What does this mean? How do people know and understand environments?Chapter 1: Environmental Science
Class slides

22/6/23The geosphere: deep space and time, origin stories, and intro to Earth systems scienceSkinner et al, Dynamic Earth, Chapter 1: Meet Planet Earth (password)
Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass, “Sky Woman Falling” (password)
Class slides
What cultural ways of knowing inform how you understand environments? 
3Tuesday 2/21/23The biosphere: matter, energy, life, and ecosystemsChapter 2: Matter, Energy and Life
Chapter 3: Ecosystems and the Biosphere
Class slides

42/27/23Environmental issues, environmental pollution, and environmental justice: understanding harms and organizing responsesChapter 6: Environmental Hazards and Human Health
Bullard, “Anatomy of Environmental Racism and the Environmental Justice Movement” (password)
Principles of Environmental Justice (password)
Class slides
How did EJ form as a movement? In your view, what are the most important EJ tenets, and why?
53/6/23The hydrosphere: changing oceans, rivers, and lakesChapter 7: Water Availability and Use
Class slides

63/13/23Plastics, pollution, and anti-colonial researchLiboiron, “Pollution is Colonialism, Introduction”
Class slides
List 3 key ideas and at least 2 discussion questions in response to Liboiron’s text. 
73/20/23Soils: the pedosphere Logan, “Dirt, the ecstatic skin of the Earth, Part I
Chapter 10: Feeding the World
Class slides
Quiz 1: geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere
83/27/23
Soils: the anthro-pedosphere and human interactionsEgendorf et al., “Applying a novel systems approach to address systemic environmental injustices: Constructing soil for limiting the legacy of lead (Pb)”
Amundson et al., “Soil and human security in the 21st century”
Class slides
How might you use a systems approach to understand and engage with an environmental issue?
94/3/23Urban agriculture and food JusticePenniman, Farming While Black, “Introduction” and “Urban Farming”
Bradley and Herrera, “Decolonizing Food Justice” 
Class slides
-What is “the original notion of food justice?” Why is this important?  -Research organizations working for food justice. What are they doing and why?
104/17/23Energy: conventional and sustainable sourcesChapter 9: Conventional Energy and Sustainable Energy
Class slides

114/24/23The climate system: atmospheric science and anthropogenic climate changeChapter 8: Air Pollution and Climate Change
Class slides
Quiz 2: pedosphere, energy, atmosphere
125/1/23Climate JusticeHebdon et al, “Pedagogy and Climate Change”
Lennon, “Energy transitions in a time of intersecting precarities: From reductive environmentalism to antiracist praxis”
Shephard and Corbin-Mark, “Climate Justice”
Bali Principles of Climate Justice
Class slides
-What pedagogies are needed to effectively teach about climate change? Why?  -What are some differences between an extractive and regenerative economy?
135/8/23Final Project Presentations

145/15/23Reflect / Review 
155/22/23Final Exam 

College Policies: 

Policy on Academic Integrity: The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the

procedure for policy implementation can be found at www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation. Students should be aware that faculty may use plagiarism detection software.

Statement Regarding the Center for Student Disability Services: The Center for Student Disability Services (CSDS) is committed to ensuring students with disabilities enjoy an equal opportunity to participate at Brooklyn College. In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations, students must first be registered with CSDS. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to schedule an interview by calling (718) 951-5538 or emailing Josephine.Patterson@brooklyn.cuny.edu If you have already registered with CSDS, email Josephine.Patterson@brooklyn.cuny.edu or testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu to ensure accommodation emails are sent to your professor.

Nonattendance because of religious beliefs: The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs. Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements. Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students absent from class because of religious beliefs equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed; no additional fees may be charged for this consideration. Please see the Undergraduate Bulletin for more information: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/off_registrar/2022-2023_Undergraduate_Bulletin.pdf 

Student Bereavement Policy: Students who experience the death of an immediate family member must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, 718.951.5352, studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure (see below). The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice). More information is available at:

http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/initiatives/policies/bereavement.php 

Please familiarize yourself with all the resources that the Brooklyn College Library has available to you: https://library.brooklyn.cuny.edu/resources/ 

Special Dates: 

Wednesday, January 25 First day of Spring 2023 classes

Tuesday, January 31 Last day to add a course

Sunday, February 12 No classes scheduled

Monday, February 13 College Closed – No classes scheduled

Monday, February 20 College Closed – No classes scheduled

Tuesday, February 21 Conversion Day – Classes follow a Monday schedule

Wednesday, April 5 – Spring Recess – No classes scheduled

Thursday, April 13

Tuesday, May 16 Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade

Wednesday, May 17 Final Examinations Begin

Tuesday, May 23 Final Examinations End / End of Spring Semester