Plants and the Global Environment; PBIO 1000 call # 2889

Tuesday Thursday 3:05 - 4:25 Spring Semester 2014

Instructor: Dr. Arthur Trese
Rm. 423 Porter Hall
Phone # 593-0260

Email;

trese@ohio.edu

Office Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:00 2:00, or by appointment

Course web page: https://blackboard.ohiou.edu/

COURSE GOALS: Plants and the Global Environment is offered within the TIER II course
selection, under the grouping of Natural Sciences and Math. The goal of the Tier II system is
to maintain a degree of General Education, or Liberal Arts, in your undergraduate program.
This course intends to examine the intersection of science and society, with an emphasis on
the role of plants. We will explore the primary challenges that face our future and many of the
proposed solutions. We will focus on the pivotal role that plants play in maintaining the health
of the planet and the equally critical role that humans have come to play in the health and
survival of plants. I certainly do not intend to cover all of the ways in which we rely on plants
for our well being and comfort, etc., but instead I will focus on several important themes. A
somewhat more detailed list of the topics to be covered in this class is found on the back of
this sheet.
COURSE TEXT:
There is no required text for this course. We will, however, make fairly
extensive use of web resources as reading material to complement the lectures.
Approximately 25% of the exam questions will come from this material.
MISCELLANEOUS: There will be two quizzes (30 points each, total of 60 points), 2 midterm
exams (100 points each) and a final (100 points). The final exam is not cumulative. The
exams are a mixture of essay questions (approximately 30% of points), short sentence
answers, fill in the blank, matching, and multiple-choice.
Throughout the quarter I will
request that you complete in class assignments, typically short responses to questions.
These will generally be graded as completed or absent, and will be worth
5 points each, for a total of 40 points for the quarter. Therefore, your final grade will combine
your quizzes (60 possible points), in class assignments (40 points) and three exams (300
points) for a total possible of 400 points. Your final grade will be based upon a standard scale:
A (92-100%), A- (90-91.9), B+ (88 89.9),
B (82 87.9), B- (80-81.9), etc. A failing grade will be assigned if the final average is below
60%. I expect attendance at all class meetings. Missed exams will not be made up without
adequate proof of legitimate student absence as defined by the University Handbook.
Travel arrangements are not acceptable reasons for taking a makeup exam, or rescheduling
your exam time. Cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting why an exam was missed, is
a violation of academic honesty and will result in dismissal from the class with a grade of F.
There will be several opportunities for extra credit in this course involving activities outside of
class. Specifics related to these will be announced during the semester, and a maximum of
10 extra credit points will be possible.

EXPECTED LIST OF TOPICS TO BE COVERED

Week of:
Jan.
14

Plants and earths climate what lies ahead and how can plants help?

Jan.

21

Global issues of climate: energy, plants, climate; personal choices

Jan.

28

Regulations and carbon economies, choosing the most useful policies

Feb.

Opportunities and challenges in developing a more sustainable energy future

Feb.

11

Plants as renewable energy sources and carbon storage

Quiz, February 13th, Thursday

Feb.

18

Strategies to balance crop use as food and fuel. Energy from waste?
Exam 1, February 20th Thursday

Feb.

25

The Endangered Species Act, animals and plants in peril, link to global warming?

March

1-9

March 11

Spring Break
Invasive plants, invasive pests; keeping the balance?
Quiz, March 13th Thursday

March 18

Short history of America and Agricultural Policy; The Green Revolution

Exam 2, March 20th Thursday

March

Global agriculture today; tradition versus technology

25

April
food

The future of food and local economies. What is at stake? Organic and local

April

Global politics of food: farm subsidies, fair trade in food

April

15

Models of sustainable agriculture

April

23

Plants in sustainable development; looking to the future

Final Exam

Thursday, May 1, at 12:20 p.m.