TRN141Y1: Environmental Science & Pathways to Sustainability
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course makes environmental science exciting, accessible and personally transformative, regardless of your Program of Study! You won’t be tested on your ability to memorize decontextualized facts. Instead, you will enrich your understanding of the fascinating phenomena that maintain life on earth and the processes that are degrading it; and gain knowledge and skills to do something about it.
We look at science as a tool for observing, measuring and analyzing the environment – situating it in meaningful social, economic and cultural contexts. You will develop an integrated sustainability lens that can be applied to any degree.
We engage with applied issues through hands-on activities and seminar discussions, which make science and interdisciplinary concepts easier to understand. The course advances students in preparation for integrated research with a literature review, research design and creative science communication – all motivated by the joy of exploration, discovery and advocacy.
Breadth Requirement: 0.5 FCE 4) Living Things and Their Environment + 0.5 FCE 5) The Physical and Mathematical Universes
HOW WILL I BE EVALUATED?
- Technical Papers
- Discussion Posts
- Reflections
- Presentations
- Debate
- Participation
Note: assignments can vary from year to year
WHAT SKILLS CAN I GAIN FROM THIS COURSE?
- Understanding of using scientific methods and data analysis in research
- A broad understanding of environmental science and sustainability
- Reading academic research papers
- Writing technical papers and reports
- Interpersonal skills
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
TRN141Y1 COURSE INSTRUCTORS
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Email: carlos.arnillasmerino@mail.utoronto.ca Carlos Alberto Arnillas is a Research Associate at University of Toronto — Scarborough, in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences. Using multiple angles and tools, he explores the connections between ecosystems and humans, and the basic rules that organize the ecosystems, from conceptual and empirical work to the ethical considerations that people working with ecosystems should integrate in their practice. His current research focuses on two topics: First, the interactions among plants, soil, water, and nutrients in croplands and grasslands, and how improving our understanding of these interactions could benefit the management of rural areas. Second, the environmental drivers of Peary caribou populations, working with members of local communities to support the management of one of the most charismatic species of the Canadian Arctic. |
Dr. Carlos Alberto ArnillasÂ