Teaching

Current Courses

ENSC 480 – 002 – Wildfire Science and Management

This course will provide intensive coverage of a topic that is current and/or of special interest in Environmental Science. The course will be multidisciplinary, but with a science focus.

Wildfire Science and Management will provide a comprehensive overview of physical and social science related aspects of wildfires. Students will be challenged to critically analyze the complex ecological, economic, environmental, and cultural challenges that wildfires present particularly in a changing climate via both quantitative and qualitative aspects. The course materials will include the drivers of wildfire ignition, propagation and behaviour, wildfire emissions: climate change and human health impacts, cultural burning and indigenous fire stewardship, shifting wildfire regimes: ecological, environmental and economic risks.

Requirements: Prerequisite Level 3 or above and registration in an (ENSC Major, ENVS Major, ENVS Medial, EBIO, ECHM, EGEO, EGPY, ELSC or ETOX plan) or permission of the School.

GEOL 200 – Oceanography

Introduction to marine science. Topics include: ocean basins and their sediments; seawater chemistry/biochemistry; ocean waves, tides and currents; ocean-atmosphere interaction; polar to tropical organism communities; marine resources; environmental concerns; global change.

Requirements: Prerequisite BIOL 102 or BIOL 103 or CHEM 112 or GEOL 104 or GEOL 106 or GEOL 107 or PHYS 104 or PHYS 106 or (PHYS 115 and PHYS 116) or PHYS 117/6.0. Exclusion BIOL 338.

ENSC801 – Environmental Studies Methods

The course examines methodological and conceptual issues arising from Environmental Studies position as an inter-, multi- and/or trans-disciplinary practice. It will focus on the inherent difficulties in overcoming disciplinary fragmentation in approaches to studying complex issues in environmental sustainability that require integrated understandings of the inter-relations between social and natural systems. The course will promote methodological literacy beyond student’s own area of expertise, develop critical and reflexive thinking about how environmental studies might approach issues of sustainability, and encourage and facilitate communication across disciplinary paradigms. The course precedes and compliments ENSC-802, familiarizing students with the historical origins, philosophical underpinnings and practical deployment of key approaches within the social and natural sciences and humanities. Three term-hours.

Co-teaching Faculty – David McLagan and Mick Smith