Explore more than 480 courses at the undergraduate and graduate level that address environmental, social and techno-economic aspects of sustainability.
Sustainability Related courses fall within one or more of the three pillars (Environment, Society, and Economy + Technology) and either incorporate sustainability as a distinct course component or module, or concentrate on a sustainability principle or issue.ability in over 50 subjects.
Sustainability Focused courses either concentrate on the concept of sustainability, including its environmental, social and economic dimensions (overlap of the 3 pillars), or examine an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens.
The listing was created by asking UBC instructors to self-identify their sustainability courses. Contact us to update or add new course information.
The idea of "population health," and the implementation and evaluation of programs or policies to improve health. Open to all students.
First Nations medical systems and medicinal plants. Bridging the traditional with modern sciences.
An online, interprofessional, comparative inquiry of indigenous experiences of global colonization and the manifestations of that experience in the contemporary socio-cultural environment. Informed and guided by indigenous knowledge and drawing upon a range of disciplines such as public health, history, sociology and public policy.
By collaborating interprofessionally, each student team will identify and research a critical public health issue, and develop a detailed practical and effective intervention. Intended for students in health and human service programs.
The course deals with the influence of technology on the social, political, economic, and environmental aspects of society. The specific subject matter varies from year to year. Examples of subjects considered include, resources, energy, nuclear power, technology, the effects of technology on the family, education, agriculture, international policy and others.
The course deals with the influence of technology on the social, political, economic and environmental aspects of society. The subject matter varies from year to year and differs from APSC 261. It may be taken as a continuation of APSC 261 or taken independently. Examples of subjects considered include pollution, work place health hazards, social impact of computers, problem solving, green revolution, technology and the third world, engineering ethics and others.
Environmental, economic, political, and social aspects of appropriate technologies in the developing world. Appropriate technology and infrastructure, trade and finance, transportation, energy, water access, communication, health, and gender.
The role and function of common infrastructures, and the impact of various technological solutions on people, the economy, and the environment.
Teams comprising students in APSC 486 and COMM 486 create a business plan and a prototype or engineering solution of a novel product, process, or process component.
Projects involving students from several departments.
Projects involving students from several departments.
Thermodynamics of fossil and biomass fuel usage, exergy analysis of industrial processes. Fuel usage technologies; combustion, power cycles, gasification, pyrolysis, and reforming. Nuclear energy. Control of emissions of acid gases, VOCs, particles, and carbon dioxide. Energy supply issues and policy.
Factors affecting energy source adoption. Solar, wind, small-scale hydro, tidal, geothermal, electrochemical (batteries, capacitators, and fuel cells), and biochemical energy, electromechanical conversion processes. Energy storage, microgrids, interfacing with main transmissions grids. Techno-economic assessment of alternative energy technologies.
Energy/environment/society interactions; development of energy resources; energy demand and its determinants; policy dimension of energy and climate change; impacts on ecosystems; life cycle analysis; impact assessment and other tools for quantitative and qualitative evaluation of alternative energy sources; case studies.
Engineering concepts and policy aspects of demand side management (DSM).
Introduction to Chemical and Biological Engineering; units; stoichiometry; phase equilibria; material balances; energy balances.
Laboratory experiments to illustrate key concepts and measurement techniques in environmental engineering as used by engineers.
Experiments to illustrate and use material presented in 300-level CHBE process option courses. Field trips may be required.
Legal, environmental and physicochemical aspects of industrial water pollution and its abatement will be surveyed; techniques for design of wastewater treatment processes currently used in industry; case studies from chemical and process industries will be considered in detail.
Design and economic assessment of an environmental engineering process.
Strategy for the conceptual design of industrial chemical and biological processes; rules of thumb for chemical engineers, simulation to assist process synthesis, reactor-separator network synthesis, introduction to product design and molecular structure design, efficiency and sustainability in the chemical industry.
Estimation of capital and operating costs; interest calculations; taxes; economic comparison of alternatives; economic optimization.
Modeling the effects of the environment and nutrient availability on growth and waste production; designing closed and open environments for aquatic organisms; developing prescriptions for habitat rehabilitation.
Characterization, treatment and final disposal of hazardous waste with emphasis upon chemical engineering principles. Topics to include relevant legislation, in-plant minimization, treatment options and clean-up of contaminated sites. Case studies to be used for illustration.
Supply and use of conventional and alternative fuels and energy. Design and operation of unit operations for processing of fossil fuels, biomass, and other energy sources. Environmental considerations of energy use.
Pollution prevention, cleaner production, green chemistry and engineering, industrial ecology, eco-industrial parks, and sustainable development; environmental impact assessment including life-cycle assessment, total cost analysis and environmental systems analysis; reduce/recycling/reuse of wastes and by-products.
Impacts of air pollutants on health, visibility, smog formation, ozone depletion and global warming; air quality and emission standards; atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants; prevention and control technologies for particulates, SOx, NOx, VOCs, and CO2.
Physico-chemical, thermal, and biological methods for purification of solid waste and wastewater, and conversion to bioproducts/industrial products, energy and clean water.
Pollutants of concern in the pulp and paper industry; environmental impact of the industry; technologies used for the control of solid, liquid and gaseous wastes.
Literature search, planning, equipment design for an individual research project leading to a written proposal and oral presentation. Topic to be chosen from a selection of environmental topics offered by the department.
Environmental engineering research topic.
Topics may include: design of pollution control technologies, fate and transport of pollutants, function and rehabilitation of natural ecosystems, life cycle assessment, and industrial ecology and waste management.
Characteristics of various air pollutants, their behaviour in the atmosphere, monitoring problems, technology of particle collection and control of pollutant gases. Particular problems of regional interest are discussed.
Supply and use of conventional and alternative fuels and energy. Design and operation of unit operations for processing of fossil fuels, biomass, and other energy sources. Environmental considerations of energy use.
Implications of a finite biosphere and the complexities inherent in environmental decision-making.
Sustainable development, design process, project planning, and modeling with sketches, spreadsheets, and other tools.
Social context of infrastructure, climate change and energy, leadership, and project management and construction.
A course to familiarize the student with environmental impact assessment legislation and to discuss design and construction considerations useful in minimizing and mitigating such impacts.
Processes used in water and wastewater treatment. Conditions which necessitate treatment of water or wastewater, water and wastewater treatment processes and plant design. Municipal services required and associated with solid waste management.
Testing procedures used in water quality studies and in the operation of water and wastewater treatment plants.
Site remediation technologies and design considerations related to mechanisms of soil-contaminant interaction, geochemistry and contamination, regulatory requirements. Design and performance case histories.
Identification and evaluation of design solutions for providing a community with adequate water supply, collecting and disposing of stormwater and sewage, and managing excess stormwater flow.
An introduction to the planning and design of water resource systems, stream systems, and municipal and hydropower engineering.
Application of hydraulic engineering principles to problems of environmental concern. Pollutant transport and dispersion. Mixing in rivers and lakes. Theory of jets and plumes. Design of outfall diffusers.
Building science concepts associated with the design of modern buildings, focusing particularly on the building envelope's role in environmental separation, controlling the movement of heat, air, and water in liquid and vapour states.
Causes of earthquakes. Fault mechanisms. Wave motions. Magnitudes and intensities. Regional seismicity and risk analysis. Attenuation of ground motion parameters with distance. Development of site specific ground motions. Selection of earthquake records and construction of design spectra.
Response of structures to earthquakes; concept of ductility; development of seismic design codes. Hierarchy of analytical tools; quasi-static, modal, and nonlinear analyses. Modelling of structures. Soil-structure interaction.
Wave hydrodynamics: wave statistics and design wave selection; wave forces; wave effects on coastal and offshore structures.
Analysis of density stratified flows with application to water quality problems in inland and coastal waters.
Physical processes that affect the behaviour of lakes, including reservoirs, water filled mine pits, mine tailings ponds and other standing water bodies. Impacts of these processes on water quality, and methods used in the rehabilitation of lakes.
Environmental impact of disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes. Treatment technology for detoxification. Landfill disposal and self attenuation in landfills and underlying soils. Incineration of municipal wastes.
Case history studies of local infrastructure used for controlling and utilizing water, including hydroelectric projects, developments on alluvial fans and floodplains and management of transportation corridors. Emphasis on engineering and environmental aspects.
Processes for removing and mitigating impurities that are not effectively removed in conventional water and waste treatment practice; investigation of disposal practices that make use of the impurities as a resource.
An advanced laboratory course to familiarize the student with environmental engineering laboratory procedures, instrumental analyis, sampling techniques and data analysis.
Characteristics of solid wastes; introduction to solid waste collection, treatment and disposal. Evaluation of current practice and analysis of future potential of landfills, composting, combined treatment, recycle and re-use.
Development of the principles of selected physical and chemical treatment unit operations. Applications in both water and wastewater treatment.
Mixing and dispersion of pollutants in inland and coastal waters. Pollutants associated with pulp mills, waste treatment plants, mining operations and other sources. Natural processes (physical, chemical, and biological) affecting the ultimate fate and impact of these pollutants.
Industrial waste survey and design problems. Appraisal and analysis of existing water quality management systems. Water quality and effluent standards.
The chemical and biological processes involved in the cycling, transformations and distribution of inorganic compounds (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and trace metals) and organic compounds (pesticides, hydrocarbons and detergents) in polluted water environments.
Development of the principles of secondary, biological treatment processes, with application to both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. Discussion of different treatment methodology, incorporating both aerobic and anaerobic microbiological processes.
Soil composition and geological factors affecting engineering properties, stress and strain at a point, principle of effective stress, stress-strain relations; theories of primary and secondary consolidation, settlement; shear testing equipment, stress-strain and strength behaviour of soil under static and dynamic loading.
Physical-chemical properties of clays, chemical effects on soils, site investigation for chemical sensitivity, contaminant fate and transport, environmental regulations, in-situ and laboratory tests; design of dewatering, containment, remediation systems including slurry/reactive walls, liners, covers. Case studies.
Field and laboratory experimental studies of advanced aspects of soil behaviour; compressibility; shear strength; pore water pressure; dynamic tests; advanced instrumentation and measurement techniques; research reports required.
Local site effects, soil-structure-interaction, liquefaction, seismic slope stability, seismic design of retaining structures; advanced methods in geotechnical earthquake engineering.
Seismic loading and its effect on earth structures; dynamic response of single, and multi-degree of freedom systems and continuous systems; behaviour of soil under dynamic loading; pore pressure generation and liquefaction effects; seismicity and seismic design parameters; dynamic analysis of earth structures; seismic design of soil-structure systems.
Examples of nature's fabrication methods, sensors, actuators, energy harvesting, signaling and information processing, and comparisons with artificial methods.
Energy systems, high voltage transmission technology, low voltage domestic distribution, advanced energy storage systems, alternative and sustainable energy sources, interfacing of distributed generation sources, harmonics and power quality; smart metering, tariffs.
Photovoltaic, wind, small hydro and fuel cell systems for stand alone and grid connected use.
Lectures and readings on specialized topics of current interest in Mechanical Engineering.
Lectures and readings on specialized topics of current interest in Mechanical Engineering.
Energy system architecture and electrochemical energy conversion: fuel cell thermodynamics and electrochemistry; Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PMFCs) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCSs); hydrogen production, storage, and distribution. Credit cannot be obtained for both MECH 445 and MECH 545.
Energy supply and demand. Energy conversion chain. Electrical power generation using thermal power plants, renewable energy, and fuel cells. Rankine cycle steam power. Brayton cycle gas turbine power plants, intercooling, reheat, and regeneration. Combined and binary cycles. Nuclear power.
Thermodynamic principles, Maxwell relations, availability, irreversibility, and equilibrium. Introduction to statistical mechanics.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Special advanced lecture courses may be arranged for graduate students upon the approval of the department head. There will not be more than 6 credits in any one such course.
Thermodynamics of combustion, stoichiometry, heat of formation and reaction. Equilibrium composition and adiabatic flame temperature. Chemical kinetics of combustion. Flames in premixed gases; laminar and turbulent flame propagation. Diffusion flames, pollutant emissions and combustion in IC engines.
Human relations in an organization; types of organizations; personnel evaluations and job rating systems; impact of manpower planning on decision-making; union negotiations; public relations; dealing with the media; corporate responsibilities to society and employees.
Basic geotechnical, hydrological, and water management aspects of mine waste management.
Environmental topics of importance to engineers practicing within the mining, metallurgical and related industries including technical practices, regulatory and public issues.
Examined is the historical relationship between Canadian Aboriginal Peoples and Mineral Resource Development.
Regulatory requirements for mine-mill environmental protection in design, operation and closure. Studies of environmental impact statements and closure plans.
Lectures and seminars on topics of importance in acid rock drainage including fundamentals of ARD generation, prediction, prevention, control, treatment and monitoring for waste management and regulatory control in the mining industry.
Advanced topics related to mining environment selected in consultation with the instructor.
Discussion of social, political and technical topics concerning mining-related activities.
Coal, oil, gas, uranium, hydro, wind, geothermal, and geosolar.
Examined is the historical relationship between Canadian Aboriginal Peoples and Mineral Resource Development.
A special advanced course may be arranged upon the approval of the department head.
A special advanced course may be arranged upon the approval of the department head.
A special advanced course may be arranged upon the approval of the department head.
A special advanced course may be arranged upon the approval of the department head.
A special advanced course may be arranged upon the approval of the department head.
A special advanced course may be arranged upon the approval of the department head.
A comparative study of rural peoples (such as small-scale horticulturists, artisans and craft workers, peasants, fisherfolk, or industrial/manufacturing workers) in the global economy.
Analysis of the relations between human societies and the ecological aspects of their environment (including technology, society, and ideology). Previously ANTH 460.
Analysis of the concepts of ecological anthropology via the medium of local ecological knowledge. ANTH 360 is recommended as background.
Themes of global citizenship, sustainability, and civil society, and barriers and bridges to global thinking.
A survey of policy issues, such as regulation, taxation, environmental and resource policy, health care, education and income distribution. May not be taken for credit by students with fourth-year standing.
A survey of policy issues, such as the costs of inflation and unemployment, monetary and fiscal policy, the effects of government debt and exchange rate policy. May not be taken for credit by students with fourth-year standing.
Historical approaches to long-run economic growth; international comparisons of income growth and inequality; colonialism; evolution of world capital markets; human migrations; rise of world trading empires; instability in the international economy. Credit will be granted for only one of ECON 234 or former ECON 334 (6). May not be taken for credit by students with fourth-year standing.
Social and economic implications for both rich and poor countries of lowered barriers to the international flows of information, capital, labour and goods. May not be taken for credit by students with fourth-year standing.
Economic inequality in Canada and other countries; measurement and causes. Inequality in the distribution of wealth; redistribution of income and wealth; notions of distributive justice.
Traditional fertility and mortality patterns, demographic transition, catastrophes, well-being and nutrition, international and internal migration, epidemics and growth spurts.
Application of economic analysis to technological change; the impact of technological change on the growth and distribution of income; economic influences on the invention and diffusion of technology; the interaction between technology, work, skills, and education; public policy toward technological change.
Economic analysis applied to various environmental issues, including sustainable development, quality of life, and environmental impacts of specific industrial and consumption activities. The design and implementation of government policies. Global environmental effects of human economic activity.
Economic analysis applied to problems of land use. Rent theory. Land valuation. Land conservation. Techniques for assessing economic efficiency of land use. Effects of institutions and public policies on land use.
Industrialization of an agrarian economy; how the West grew rich; history of Japanese development; technical progress and growth; evolution of the patterns of income distribution; role of international trade in development; environment and development.
Application of economic analysis to the management of nonrenewable natural resources. Emphasis is placed on the economics of alternative energy sources. Other topics include mineral economics, criteria for the optimal use of resources, and measurement of resources.
Application of economic analysis to the management of renewable resources. Special attention is given to criteria for the optimal use of depleting resources such as forests and water. Other topics include public policy with regard to environmental quality, conservation, and outdoor recreation.
Renewable resources and sustainability. Employs inter-temporal economic analysis to examine policy problems surrounding the management of renewable natural resources, such as fisheries, forestry and the environment.
Economic analysis of various issues relating to the use of nonrenewable natural resources.
Theory of externalities, comparative analysis of various environmental policies. Much of the course will focus on international trade and the environment, growth and the environment, and global environmental issues.
A study of cultural expression in contemporary indigenous contexts.
Conceptual models of resource management as related to families.
Energy and water in the Earth-Atmosphere system, global climates and climate change, ecosystem properties and processes, human impacts. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.
Physical processes acting at the Earth's surface; water cycle; landforms; human impacts. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.
Physical principles underlying weather and climates. Thermal, moisture and wind climates at scales from valleys to the globe. Daily weather, air pollution, global change. Credit will be given for one only of GEOB 200, 204, GEOG 200, 204, AGRO 244.
Basic principles and processes of climatology. Energy and water balance concepts. Weather systems and climate change, microclimate of soils, crops, forests, and animals. Credit will be given for only one of GEOG 200, 204, 300, GEOB 200, 204, 300, AGRO 244.
Earth surface processes shaping the landscape; identification of hazards and hazardous areas associated with these processes; introduction to techniques for measurement and analysis at various spatial and time scales; field trips are required.
Geographical ecology emphasizing plant distributions, abiotic-biotic interactions, effects of disturbance, succession, and human impacts across scales. Labs and field trips examine a local site.
Meteorology and climatology at the micro-, local, and meso-scales. Interactions between land surfaces and atmosphere. Basics of atmospheric turbulence and transfer processes. Microclimates on scales of a leaf to those of a large valley.
Analysis of meteorological fields, diagnostic analysis of synoptic weather systems, applications of synoptic meteorology. Requires participation in weekly weather map discussion.
Principles of hydrology at site, watershed, and larger regional scales. Introduction to techniques of measurement and analysis. Emphasizes surface water hydrology of western North America.
Biogeographic concepts in understanding responses in ecosystems to environmental change at global, regional, and local scales. Conservation issues such as the loss of biodiversity and endangered species.
Quaternary landscape development emphasizing the history of glaciation with special reference to western North America; applications of geomorphology in resource development and land management; interpretation of quaternary materials. Weekend field trips required.
Field sampling, instrumentation, surveying, mapping techniques, and data analysis; mandatory multi-day field camp in April or May. Special fees and liability insurance are required.
Processes controlling the planetary cycles of elements like carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, the human perturbation of these biogeochemical cycles, and the consequences for the atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystems.
The impact of urbanization upon atmospheric processes and climates. The energy and water balances of cities. Meteorological effects (urban heat island, precipitation modification, etc.) and their significance. Models of the urban atmosphere.
The nature of atmospheric pollutants. The ability of the atmosphere to disperse, transform, and remove pollutants. Air pollution dispersion models. Air quality monitoring, criteria, and standards.
Introduction to open channel flow and sediment transport. River morphology and channel types. Palaeohydrology. The development of channel networks.
Investigation of vegetation dynamics integrating theory and research to address contemporary issues of global environmental change. Students will conduct fieldwork and learn to analyze data and interpret results.
Formation of snow and ice masses and their evolution including snowpacks, glaciers, and ice sheets. Relationships between snow, ice, and climate including glacier dynamics and avalanche forecasting. Weekend field trip.
Advanced research design, field sampling methods, instrumentation, surveying, mapping techniques, data analysis and management; self-directed fieldwork; 1 lecture per week during term and a multi-day field camp in April or May.
Human geography of the modern world, c. 1750 - 1945, including: pre-industrial societies, global encounters and conflicts,urbanization and regional growth; global migrations, trade and communications; imperialism and anti-imperialism; environment and war.
The human geography of the modern world since 1945: global interdependence in economic geography, geopolitics, and cultural geography; consequences of modernization, including demography, urbanization and environmental effects; regional case studies; reactions to modernization. May be taken separately from GEOG 121.
The demographic, economic, ecological, and technological factors that underlie current environmental challenges, considering their effects to date and their possible impact in the future.
Political geographic perspectives on todays interdependent world through three themes: borders, regions, and flows.
An interdisciplinary introduction to the city in the context of contemporary globalization. Analysis of urban patterns and processes from the theoretical perspectives of various disciplines and methodologies.
An introduction to changing geographies (social, economic, and political) of the Pacific Rim, with special emphasis on the relationships between Canada and Japan.
Selected topics in human geography focusing on the regional distribution of natural resources, population, urban systems, and economic activities.
Concepts of environment, resources and sustainability; the roles of physical and human geography in understanding the interaction of humans and the environment; introduction to management of environment-resource systems.
The impact of urban development on the natural environment and vice versa. Study of the ecology and metabolism of cities and green urban design, using global and local case studies.
Climates over the geological, historical and instrument periods. Theories of climatic change. Monitoring and modelling the climate system. Impacts of change on environmental and socio-economic systems.
Classification and inventory of those biophysical elements which influence people's use of air, land, and water.
The role of geophysical events, human ecology, environmental perception, world social and political order in explaining the risk of natural disasters. Assessment of acceptable risk, disaster relief and reconstruction and contrasts between developed and developing nations.
Biophysical and human causes of short- and long-term environmental change at various spatial scales, including measurement, interpretation, and policy.
The principles, implementation, and role of environmental impact assessment in environmental management, in Canada and internationally.
From the origins of urbanism to the modern era.
City systems and theories of urban location; internal spatial structure of the city; commercial and industrial location; social areas; neighbourhood and land use change; urban trends and public policy.
Urbanization in the developing countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia; the role of cities in the development process and the features and problems of rapid urbanization.
International regimes regulating migration, changes in global demographics, immigration policies of nation states, international migration patterns, settlement policies and outcomes.
History and methods of economic geography. Location of resource industries, manufacturing, and service activities with emphasis on British Columbia in its North American and world setting. Recommended for students with no previous exposure to Economic Geography, before taking other courses in the 36x and 46x series.
Geographical approaches to economic development; models of economic development and spatial change; influences on spatial economic change; case studies from the developed, third, and socialist worlds.
Forms of economic development; changing location of economic activities and functions; implications for government and politics; local strategies for growth and equity.
A comparative regional analysis stressing the historical development and changing cultural, economic, and political patterns of the area. Special reference to India, Indonesia, China, and Japan.
Culture and environment in 1491; Spanish colonialism and biological imperialism; commodity production and exchange; neo-liberalism; and environmental justice movements.
Geographical analysis of society-environment relations. Relates resource management to environmental politics, political economy, and sustainable development. Perspectives drawn from political ecology and political economy, environmental history and environmental philosophy.
Interdisciplinary analysis of critical water issues, in Canada and internationally. Focus on social science perspectives. Emphasis on presentation, research, and essay-writing skills.
Details available from Geography Undergraduate Advisor. Not necessarily offered each year.
An examination of how attitudes toward human nature and non-human nature have changed from Mesolithic times to the present in Western society.
Individual or group primary research. Instructor and content vary and it may be offered over 2 terms. Details available from Geography Undergraduate Advisor from April 1preceding the course. Not necessarily offered each year.
Theories of social change in the global city; labour markets; poverty and inequality; social polarization; housing markets; gentrification and housing affordability; immigration and segregation; diversity and multiculturalism; transnationalism; the entrepreneurial state; the convivial city.
The politics of North-South solidarity in theory and practice through community service learning models.
A critical introduction to social, political and economic geographies of Africa from pre-colonial times to the present, with a focus on contemporary environmental and development issues.
Physical and biological characteristics of the circumpolar Arctic, emphasizing terrestrial environments and the impacts on and by humans, including: glacial history; climatology; biogeography/ecology of arctic tundra; human-environment interactions, settlement and exploration; and current environmental, social and economic problems.
Historical, methodological, and policy dimensions of climate change in the 21st century. Application of natural and social science literature to climate science, impacts on ecosystems and societies, and response options.
Environmental sustainability is examined through conceptual literature and empirical examples. Emphasis on resources and livelihoods in the South and North. Case studies are used to discuss sustainable development, and the distribution of costs and benefits associated with resources allocation, with perspectives drawn from political ecology and economy, environmental history and philosophy.
Analysis of environment-development-security linkages in relation to livelihoods and conflicts in poor countries, with a focus on Africa.
The civilizations of Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, with emphasis on the political, economic, ecological and cultural links among them, and the impact of oceanic contact, imperialism, warfare, migration, and globalization.
International relations; changes in the nation-state system; the emergence and impact of major political ideologies; genocide; decolonization; the globalization of trade; and the dynamics of economic, social, cultural, and environmental change in a global context.
Thematically-organized topics will explore global aspects of human experience across time. Each section will examine a single theme. Check with the department for course offerings.
Places issues and problems of current relevance such as disease, terrorism, drugs, or ethnic conflict in historical perspective. Each section will explore a single theme. Check with department for course offerings.
The impact humans have had on the environment, and the ways in which the physical environment has shaped human history: climate, agriculture, energy use, and urbanization.
An introduction to the historical development, conceptual foundations, and cultural significance of contemporary science. Themes will vary from year to year.
Indigenous peoples from pre-contact to the present in Canada and the U.S. Topics include colonial frontiers, disease, fur trade, government policies, environment, gender, religion, oral narratives, activism, urbanization, and identity.
Overview of land use and environmental change in Canada and the United States; examines ideas and practices that shaped indigenous and non-indigenous resource exploitation, management, and activism to the end of the twentieth century.
Interdisciplinary investigation of the idea that globalization is not limited to the economic sphere but also includes popular culture, communications, travel, food and desire of the other.
Grammar, reading, writing, and oral practice for beginners without previous exposure to the Italian language or dialects. Only sections taught by Anneliese Schultz are "Green Italian".
Grammar, reading, writing and oral practice for beginners without previous exposure to the Italian language or dialects. Only sections taught by Anneliese Schultz are "Green Italian".
Ideas, concepts, and frameworks for thinking about the nature of law and legal processes in both Canadian and global contexts.
Moral problems arising in the context of human relationships to nature and to non-human living things, considered in terms of both general moral theory and policy formation. Topics include moral standing, animal rights, obligations to future generations, pollution, hazardous materials, the depletion of natural resources and the treatment of non-human living things.
A course description is not available.
Applies conceptual tools to topics such as war, conflict management, the global economy, poverty, and civil society.
An introduction to public policy: rationales for government intervention, the influence of interest groups and political institutions on policy outcomes, and the various stages in the policy process.
Domestic and international determinants of environmental policy; alternative approaches to environmental protection. The sustainable development paradigm; public opinion and interest group pressures; risk assessment; mandatory, voluntary and market-based policy instruments.
Ecological consequences of the global political economy.
Psychological theory and research on the interaction between organisms and the physical environment; emphasis on applications to the design and management of constructed and natural environments.
The application of social psychological research and theory to the solution of social problems.
An introduction to the major religions of the world (including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism), together with the concepts used in understanding religion.
Sociological perspectives on property, resource industries (such as agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining), resource development, and resource communities. May also include examination of social aspects of resource development in the Third World.
Sociological perspectives on property, resource industries (such as agriculture, fishing, forestry and mining), resource development, and resource communities. May also include examination of social aspects of resource development in the Third World.
Tendencies toward equality and inequality; manifestations of inequality (occupation, education, gender, ethnicity, income, power) and their consequences; caste and class features of major stratification systems; theories of social class; stratification profile of contemporary industrial societies.
Physical, social, and economic aspects of built environments, including housing and community planning.
Sociological approaches to the study of environmental conflicts, issues, movements, impact of changing technology, economic development on the environment.
Demographic, behavioural, and organizational aspects of urban structures and of urbanization in different societies and periods.
Sociology approaches to global citizenship, including its contested nature and intellectual lineage.
An interdisciplinary introduction to the city in the context of contemporary globalization. Analysis of urban patterns and processes from the theoretical perspectives of various disciplines and methodologies.
Feminist theory and practice, focusing on contemporary issues in a transnational context. Credit will be granted for only one of WMST 100 or 102.
A survey of feminist legal thought and recent developments in feminism and law, with a focus on Canada.
No description is available.
A course description is not available.
No description is available.
How sustainability affects current business practices.
Measuring and reporting environmental, social, and economic impacts of business practices.
Socio-economic, biological, and technological aspects of global environmental issues.
The increasing role and power of international NGOs for delivering aid, impacting environmental policy, and creating non-tariff trade restrictions.
Environmental marketing, including green consumerism, environmental and sustainable certification, and segmentation.
Restricted to students in one of the following programs: M.B.A., LL.B./M.B.A., M.Sc.B., Ph.D. with B.A.D.M. specialization, M.B.A./M.A.A., M.M., or I.M.B.A.
Examines economic factors affecting the urban land market, with an emphasis on determinants of urban land values, the housing market, urban transportation, and land use policies.
Examines the role, use, and application of marketing in government agencies and nonprofit institutions.
Teams comprising students in COMM 466 and APSC 486 propose a new product, produce a viable prototype, and develop a business plan for the marketplace. Credit may only be obtained for one of COMM 466 and APSC 486.
No description is available.
Sustainability Marketing integrates marketing fundamentals with the core environmental, social, and economic principles of sustainability.
An overview of environmental issues, focusing on corporate strategy, government policy and interactions between these two sectors of the economy.
No description is available.
Costs for field trips and an overnight experience are borne by students. Pass/Fail.
School health promotion programs and policies; child and adolescent health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours; curriculum planning; teaching methods and strategies for grades K-12.
Agricultural awareness, understanding the food system, and integration of food and agricultural literacy across the curriculum.
Costs for field trips and an overnight experience are borne by students.
No description is available.
Research literature and theoretical issues in environmental education.
Competing conceptions of environmental education; the social construction of nature and of science; addressing class, race, culture, and gender in developing sound teaching strategies. Pass/Fail.
This cross-listed, advanced graduate seminar has been created to take advantage of our hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will examine such concepts as policy, sustainability, urbanism, mega-events, and neoliberalism.
Seminars on current natural resources conservation and forest sciences topics.
Conceptual foundations of conservation; means of conserving nature and natural resources.
Exploration of different future scenarios that provide an overview of the science of climate change and potential solutions.
Fundamental concepts in conservation science. Different philosophies, perspectives, and disciplines used in setting priorities for managing biodiversity at all scales.
Introduction to principles, practice and context of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applied to forest management and natural resource conservation issues. Priority enrolment to students in the Faculty of Forestry.
Integration of concepts of history, politics, First Nations, rural development, and forest ecology in natural resources management in Haida Gwaii. A core element of the Haida Gwaii Semester.
Historical examination of resource management in Canada and conflicts arising therefrom, with emphasis on forests. A core element of the Haida Gwaii Semester.
Overview of the relationship of First Nations with natural resources, with emphasis on First Nations involvement in forest management, past and present. A core element of the Haida Gwaii Semester.
Ecology of the temperate rainforests of Haida Gwaii. A core element of the Haida Gwaii Semester.
Examination of the forces that restructure local economies, both historically and contemporarily; link between rural economic development and the legacy of resource development in Aboriginal communities across British Columbia. A core element of the Haida Gwaii Semester.
Processes that shape coastal terrestrial ecosystems through time and applications to current ecological reality. Part of the Haida Gwaii Fall Semester.
Nutrient cycling between the marine environment and coastal forest ecosystems; how the physical characteristics of this interface affect inputs; which species play a pivotal role in driving interactions. Part of the Haida Gwaii Fall Semester.
Unique biological attributes of island wildlife, such as subspecies, isolated populations, and distinct evolutionary pathways, with a focus on endemic species on Haida Gwaii. Part of the Haida Gwaii Fall Semester. Credit will be granted for only one of FRST 395 or CONS 357.
Examination of different types of ecological knowledge, including traditional knowledge and experiential knowledge, and their role in conservation. Part of the Haida Gwaii Fall Semester.
History, definitions, and applications of EBM; challenges of achieving both economic and environmental well-being with a focus on resource use and management on Haida Gwaii. Part of the Haida Gwaii Fall Semester.
Issues the may be encountered in professional natural resources work with or for Aboriginal communities and organization, including contemporary issues of Aboriginal rights and title, traditional uses, and self-government.
Energy as a policy problem; governance framework for energy policy; prominent controversies in Western Canadian energy policy; the politics and policy of energy alternatives.
Contemporary issues are used to examine conservation policies designed to achieve conservation objectives.
In special cases and with the approval of the instructor concerned, a student may carry out directed studies of specific problems in natural resources conservation.
Field methods, research and analysis, community oriented projects, and the interactions between biological and social aspects of conservation research. Students may not take any other courses in conjunction with CONS 451. Restricted to B.Sc.N. students in the fourth year of the Science and Management Major.
Examination of global resources and sustainability via scenario evaluation, modelling, and prescription.
Theory and tools needed for the selection and design of protected areas, the designation of land use types, and the management and conservation of wildland recreation resources.
Principles of fish biology, population and community ecology necessary to understand conservation and management; overview of current issues, tactics and institutions involved with fisheries conservation and management.
Impacts of wildlife on crop productivity in temperate and tropical environments, the resiliency of wildlife populations to conventional control methodology, adoption of innovative methods to reduce crop damage, and the impact of introduced species on native fauna.
Topics in conservation biology with application to current issues and particular reference to (but not limited to) forested ecosystems.
Examination of international and Canadian conservation agreements and policies as instruments of distributive justice. Application of contemporary theories of justice to conservation policy issues.
Techniques of measuring and surveying as they are applied in assessing and managing natural resources.
Techniques of measuring and surveying as they are applied in assessing and managing natural resources.
Introduction to the physical attributes of forest access and transportation and how they best integrate with the objectives of resource sustainability.
Examination of the engineering, economic, environmental, and multiple resource factors influencing forest operations planning.
Physical and hydraulic properties of soils for engineering design, seepage and erosion control, and strength parameters for slope stability analysis.
Analytical methods in forest hydrology and their applications in the planning of forest operations with a focus on the hydrologic and hydraulic design procedures for stream crossings.
An overview of forests and forestry. Survey of the disciplines, areas of study, and values that frame sustainable management of forests in BC and the world. Assignments focus on critical thinking and written communication skills.
Community forests and community forestry throughout the world, with special attention to participation by aboriginal peoples; emphasis is on forms of governance, public participation, and adaptive learning.
Examination of current forestry issues with specific reference to their scientific basis. Not available for credit to undergraduate students in the Faculty of Forestry.
Silviculture is the art and science of designing and managing forest vegetation communities for the features, goods and services that society and forest owners' desire. Silviculturists work in natural forests and plantations, restore degraded forests, and establish new forests. Topics covered in this course include forest vegetation dynamics, artificial and natural regeneration, cultural techniques for forest stand establishment and stand tending, silvicultural systems, silviculture decision making and development of prescriptions, connections between vegetation community and landscape-level planning. Pre-requisites: Ecology (for example FRST 201) or permission of instructor.
The diversity and interactions of soil organisms (bacteria, protozoa, fungi, animals, plants) in natural and managed ecosystems; roles in primary production, nutrient cycling, decomposition and reclamation; responses to environmental change.
Practical problem solving of economic issues related to forestry and conservation, touching on investment analysis, capital budgeting, non-timber economics, ecosystem services, and forest certification. Completion of FRST 232 or intermediate knowledge of MS Excel essential.
Ecological effects of fire and climatic (wind, temperature, and snow) disturbances; fire danger rating, principles of fire management and prescribed fire use; windthrow risk modeling and management.
Obtaining and forecasting information for stands and forests.
Field study at an interior BC location concentrating on land use, management and silviculture. Fees will be assessed to meet expenses.
Measurement and analysis of hydrological processes in response to forest management activities.
Effects of forest management activities on fish and aquatic ecosystems.
Biology of important bird and mammal species resident in forested regions, with particular emphasis on the influences of silvicultural and logging practices.
Study of the functional and dynamic characteristics of forest ecosystems and their response to forest management using ecosystem-level microcomputer simulation models.
Fundamental silvicultural problems; the application of research findings to the practice of silviculture.
Decision-making in the protection of forests from insects. Insect problems viewed from other disciplines of forestry. Bases of biological and economic evaluation, and choice of control methods.
The development, implementation, and analysis of forest policy.
Forestry impacts upon environment; man's relationship to the forest; interactions of industrial forest practice with other resource uses, their economic implications and relevance; approaches to and problems of maintaining environmental quality.
Introduction to the quantitative tools necessary in forest management. Available only through Distance Education.
Integration of biophysical and socio-economic components of forest management.
Fire in ecosystems; forest fire management policies; advanced fire management and use of prescribed fire; the application of research findings to fire management.
The socio-economic, biological and technological aspects of forestry within the international frame, in both the developed and developing world. Regional studies and the role of national and international agencies.
Integration of farms and forests, including tropical agroforestry systems, non-timber forest products, forest farming, woodlot management, silvopastoralism, riparian buffers, windbreaks, soil fertility improvement and nutrient cycling.
In special cases and with the approval of the instructor concerned, a student may carry on directed studies of specific problems in forestry.
Site diagnosis and preparation of management options in coastal forests. Extrasessional course; fees will be assessed to meet expenses.
Social aspects of forestry and forest communities.
Effects of land management on quality, quantity and timing of water flow.
Methodologies for analysis, design and management of the visual guidelines; operational policies of resource extraction industries and the implication on multiple land use management.
GIS-based spatial planning and 3D landscape visualization for forest management.
Principles, problems, and practices of managing forests and nature reserves for biological diversity; integration of forestry and wildlife with particular emphasis on diversity of all life forms.
Evolution and current structure, functions and diversity of moist evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the humid tropics.
Review of current literature on specific topics in forest soil ecology, including bacterial endophytes, microbial diversity, nutrient cycling, and mycorrhizae.
Applications of advanced theory and quantitative analysis to problems in forest resource and land economics; multiple land use; institutions for sustainable land use; optimal management and policy.
A survey of the conceptual and practical issues when indigenous peoples use forested lands and participate in the management of those lands.
This course focuses on the challenge of governance for sustainability – how to design institutions and policies to promote sustainable outcomes.
Perceptual processes mediating behaviour in humans, with special attention given to the emotional processing of visual stimuli.
Biodiversity loss, deforestation, desertification, salinization, air pollution and climate change facing world forests. Credit will be granted for only one of FRST 439 or FRST 527.
Emphasis on forested ecosystems.
No description is available.
Analysis, perception, planning of landscapes, and integration of social acceptability with sustainability. Credit will be granted for only one of FRST 490 or FRST 551.
Concepts and principles at the site and landscape scale.
Preparation of landscape-level sustainable forest management plans that integrate ecological, social, and economic components.
This course explores globalization, its impact on developing and developed countries, what this means to world trade in forest products and emerging trends in globalization and the environment.
No description is available.
No description is available.
Introduction to forestry, wood products industry, processes, products, markets and forest policy issues affecting the wood industry. Not available for credit to students in the B.S.F. degree.
Examination of globalization and its impact on sustainability, including social, economic, and environmental aspects.
Introduction to pneumatic and hydraulic power, design and selection of waste recycling systems, boilers, energy generation and environmental legislation.
Global threats to human health stemming from conflict, poverty, and environmental degradation.
Applications of advanced theory and quantitative analysis to problems in forest resource and land economics; multiple land use; institutions for sustainable land use; optimal management policy.
No description is available.
No description is available.
Soil as the base of the Earths ecosystem pyramid. The interconnection between soil, climate change and human activity, the carbon cycle, water resources, food security, food safety, and biofuel production. Strategies for sustaining soil resources.
Introduction to the biophysical and socioeconomic factors affecting systems management and production in selected agroecosystems. A fee will be assessed each student to cover field trip costs.
Contemporary use of animals for food production, companionship, recreation and science; social and ethical issues concerning human impacts on animals; animals in human culture; protection of animals by society and the law.
Scientific assessment of animal well-being, ethical concepts applied to animal use, and animal welfare issues arising in agriculture, biomedical research and other areas.
Small-scale classical (i.e., non-biotechnological) plant breeding. Hands-on, application-oriented approach to techniques and procedures for managing seed inventories, designing and implementing a simple plant breeding program, and evaluating the impact of selection on breeding populations and desired outcomes.
Animals and Plants as Components of Agricultural Ecosystems. This second course in the agroecology core uses a systems approach to investigate the functions and interactions of plants and animals in agricultural systems. A fee will be assessed each student to cover field trip costs.
A detailed exploration of biophysical, economic, and social ecosystem sustainability indicators for primary production subsystems.
Application of fundamental, unifying, soil science principles in sustainable ecosystem management.
An introduction to the application of knowledge and principles of agroecology and forest ecology to global agroforestry systems. The course includes a one-weekend field trip that requires a supplemental fee.
The relationship between biological diversity and sustainability for the management of agroecosystems; emphasise on ecological interactions between natural ecosystems and agroecosystems, including connections between agroecology and conservation biology. A fee will be assessed each student to cover field trip costs.
Analysis and interpretation of current issues in applied biology. Prior to registration, students should consult with Student Services in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.
Conceptualization and scientific analyses of global problems in food and nutrition; complexities of food habits and malnutrition in various cultures around the world.
Applying nutrition concepts and principles in addressing problems of malnutrition and food insecurity in international settings. Basics of developing culturally acceptable, sustainable nutrition intervention programs.
Theory and methods in nutrition education; factors affecting behaviour modification and health promotion. The practice of nutrition education through education, health care delivery or media systems.
An overview of global food markets including recent trends (e.g., vertical coordination, strategic alliances, multinationals and small firms in niche markets), marketing and trade institutions such as state-trading enterprises and WTO regulations, issues specific to developing nations, and case studies.
Characteristics, processes and sources of economic growth, role of agricultural and resource sectors in economic growth, analysis of output and input markets in those sectors, policy failures, tools for empirical analysis of rural markets, growth, and the environment.
Economic analysis applied to problems of land use rent theory, land evaluation, and land conservation. Techniques for assessing economic efficiency of land use. Effects of institutions and public policies on land use.
Food policy-making process in Canada and other countries, application of analytical tools to domestic and trade policies, market power and domestic policy distortions, major policies and instruments in Canadian agriculture and resource sectors.
No description is available.
Students interact face-to-face and on-line as a community of learners to discuss global issues in agriculture, food, and natural resources in cultural context. Typically taken prior to studying abroad.
Students interact face-to-face and on-line as a community of learners to discuss global issues in agriculture, food, and natural resources in cultural context. Typically taken while studying abroad.
Students interact face-to-face and on-line as a community of learners to discuss global issues in agriculture, food, and natural resources in cultural context. Typically taken after studying abroad.
Introduction to managed systems and concepts of sustainability; economic, ecological and social components; managed landscapes, agri-food systems, and communities; urban and rural systems; the land, food, nutrition and human health continuum.
Introduction to tools and skills required to assess the economic, ecological, social, and technological components of managed landscapes, agrifood systems and communities comprising the land, food, nutrition and health continuum.
Capstone course. Problem-based analysis of complex case studies selected from the land, food and community continuum. Cases are specifically designed to require development of integrated disciplinary and inter-disciplinary analysis.
No description is available.
Application of fundamental, unifying, soil science principles in sustainable management of forested, agricultural and urban or constructed ecosystems.
Methods of watershed evaluation, land-water interactions, key aspects of hydrology, water quality and aquatic biota, land use impacts on water resources, community involvement, and integration of multiple land use activities and their cumulative impacts. Credit will be given for only one of SOIL 515 or RMES 515.
Urban land use impacts on water resources with a focus on impervious surfaces, storm-water management, non-point sources of pollution, cumulative effects, water quality, rehabilitation of urban streams, and application of best management practices. Prior completion of RMES 515 strongly recommended. Credit will be give for only one of SOIL 516 or RMES 516.
Key water issues associated with international development: global water demand, scarcity, efficiency of use, water as a commodity, biophysical and policy aspects of water management, water and health, land use impact, water harvesting, improved irrigation, and pollution prevention. Credit will be given for only one of SOIL 518 or RMES 518.
Intensive and extensive agriculture with a focus on water needs, water use, and impacts on water resources. Non-point sources of pollution, nutrient modeling, soil and land degradation, protection, and rehabilitation of watersheds including buffer zones, wetlands, and best management practices. Credit will be granted for only one of SOIL 520 or RMES 517.
A survey of feminist approaches to law, with reference to selected substantive areas of the law.
Legal regimes governing the protection and exploitation of ocean resources. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
The recognition and protection of human rights in international law. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Customary international law and treaties relating to the environment; institutional structures. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
A course description is not available.
Selected topics related to the Charter right to equality and other rights related to social justice. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
The legal and administrative aspects of the regulation of land use and development, especially at the local level. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
The linkages, intersections, and tensions between the legal regulation of the environment and competing social and economic priorities.
The legal and regulatory framework for the protection of the environment.
Jurisdiction, remedies and administrative schemes as they apply in practice to selected environmental law problems. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Case studies of leading problems in environmental law and regulation. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Legal research and writing for environmental agency or NGO under supervision of faculty member and lawyer. Not offered every year, consult Faculty.
Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
A foundation course dealing with legal problems common to the management of natural resources such as fisheries, mines and minerals, petroleum, forests, and water resources.
The law relating to the acquisition and protection of water rights; public management and planning; water quality and conservation. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Acquisition of mineral interests; development, financing and organization of mining companies; regulation of exploitation industry interests; management taxation. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Acquisition of timber interests; development, financing and organization of timber companies; regulation of exploitation industry interests; management taxation. Not offered each year; consult Faculty.
Legal regimes for the exploitation and regulation of fisheries. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Legal regimes for the disposition of interests in petroleum; government regulation. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Legal regimes for the disposition of interests in petroleum; government regulation. Not offered each year, consult Faculty.
Legal aspects of the Olympic Movement, with particular emphasis on sport, cultural, and environmental and social sustainability values of the Olympic Games in the modern era.
Identification of preventive strategies in different age groups and their implementation in Family Practice. Examination of health belief models in caregivers and patients which inhibit or facilitate preventive measures. Admission to course at discretion of the Department of Family Practice.
Defining poverty and health (including mental health). Measurements absolute and relative. World distribution of resources. Special problems of developing and developed countries. Canadian problems of poverty and health. Methods of financing health services, problems of distribution. Health professionals and semi-professionals. Communication problems.
Role of air, water, food and solid waste as sources of human health risks; global environmental health issues; sustainability.
Global threats to human health stemming from conflict, poverty, and environmental degradation.
History of public health research and practice; occupational and environmental health; health services and systems; social and lifecourse determinants of health; and population health and emerging trends.
Design and analysis of etiologic research in occupational health.
Optimizing exposure assessment for exposure-response analyses.
Mechanism of action of commonly encountered occupational toxic agents; relevance of laboratory and epidemiological evidence.
Scientific basis for the recognition, evaluation, and control of chemical, physical, and biological, exposures; standard setting; exposure monitoring methods.
Service learning in community organizations and pharmacies.
Basic principles of toxicology; toxicity of drugs and environmental chemicals, including pesticides.
Toxicology and risk assessment of air, water and soil pollutants; food additives; animal and plant toxins; pesticides; heavy metals; solvents.
Selected global issues explored through the methodologies and perspectives of both the physical and life sciences and the humanities and social sciences.
A comparative study of pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms, integrating form, function and ecology.
Dynamics of plant and animal populations, structure of ecological communities and functioning of ecosystems. Interpretation of research results and application to environmental issues. Labs meet once a month. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.
Dynamics of plant and animal populations, structure of ecological communities and functioning of ecosystems. Interpretation of research results and application to environmental issues. Labs meet once a month. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.
Ecology of populations, communities and ecosystems. Tests of ecological theory with experiments and application to environmental issues. Labs meet once a month. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion Lists: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.
Natural selection; population genetics, quantitative genetics and systematics; classical and molecular approaches to the study of evolution.
The interactions of plants and human societies: the role of people in the origin, evolution and dispersal of food, drug and economic plants, and the influences of plants on human societies. Suitable for upper-level Arts students.
Basics of ecology are introduced, focussing on observations of the natural world. Assignments, including a group project, consider connections between research, awareness and practical uses of ecology. Not for credit in the Life Sciences.
Theoretical and applied limnology; ecology of inland water organisms in relation to physical, chemical and biological factors. One weekend field trip required.
Principles of animal and community ecology applicable to the management of animal resources; application of statistical and computer techniques for measuring, analyzing, modelling, and simulating resource systems; problems of multiple resource use.
Ecological basis of conserving biological diversity and ecosystem services; application of ecological theory to global and local conservation problems in the context of economic, legal, political, and social perspectives. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion List: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.
The nature of science, this history of evolutionary and molecular biology, philosophical questions about scientific methods and fundamental conclusions of biology.
Physiological, biochemical, and molecular strategies of adaptation of animals to environmental challenges. The evolution of genetic and biochemical systems, and their impact on animal structure and function.
A survey of physiological adaptions of animals to different environments.
Introduction to fish diversity, with a focus on their phylogenetic interrelationships and the evolutionary, ecological, and biogeographic processes involved in generating patterns of fish biodiversity.
Properties of natural waters, including gas and solid equilibria, pH, redox, complexation analysis, corrosion treatment, ion exchange, colloids and microbial transformations.
Introduction to structure, composition and chemical processes occurring in Earth's atmosphere, including interactions with solar radiation, stratospheric ozone layer, photochemical smog and acid rain.
Discussion of important chemistry topics that affect our lives, e.g., pollution, climate change, household chemicals, plastics, and chemical forensics. Concepts to allow understanding of chemical issues and to examine the role of chemistry research. Open to students with third- year standing. Not open to students who have taken a university-level course in chemistry.
Seminars and field trips introducing the major global, regional, and local environmental issues facing human societies.
Environmental research. Students investigate research methodologies and reporting in a range of scientific disciplines and fields.
Students working in teams apply research methods to a problem in environmental science, under the guidance of faculty members. Credit will be given for only one of ENVR 400 or ENVR 449.
The role of energy in human societies throughout history and the environmental and social implications of energy use. Coverage of both the science and policy of energy use. Energy supply and demand, energy transitions, analytical tools, impacts, and alternatives.
Earth's origin, composition, structure, and natural resources. Plate tectonics as the driving force for volcanism, mountain building, and earthquakes. Imaging Earth's interior. Environmental geoscience and sustainability. (Consult the Credit Exclusion list for the Faculty of Science section of the Calendar.)
An examination of the processes that shape and change the planet earth. This laboratory course accompanies any of EOSC 110, EOSC 112, EOSC 114, EOSC 116. Course content is customizable at the individual student level.
Introduction to processes in ocean and atmosphere. Heat, current, winds, clouds, marine life, resources. Effects of coupling, climate change, pollution. (Consult the Credit Exclusion list, within the Faculty of Science section in the Calendar.)
Introduction to causes and physical characteristics of disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, storm surge, thunderstorms, tornadoes, landslides, wind waves, meteor impacts, mass extinctions.
Focus on the interaction between society and the geologic environment. Locating, assessing and developing natural resources; understanding and preparing for natural hazards, design of structures and waste disposal sites. For applied science and forestry students only.
Mathematical computer-based problem solving in the physical, chemical, and biological sciences. Problems drawn from studies of the earth, the oceans and the atmosphere.
Cutting edge problems in earth, ocean, atmospheric and planetary sciences. Topics will be introduced through discussions of the current literature.
Two week interdisciplinary field school. Earth system science, ecoliteracy, ecofootprinting, sustainability indicators, geological/climatological rates compared to human timescales.
Characteristics, types, plate tectonics, faults, earth stresses and strains, seismic waves, magnitude scales, instrumentation, hazard mapping, prediction, and forecasting.
Introduction to diversity of marine habitats and ecosystems; hydrothermal vent, intertidal, coral reef, estuarine, deep sea, and polar ecosystems; impacts of ecosystem change; evolution of ocean plankton; invasive species; climate change; pollution.
Earth's environmental history and aspects of contemporary global change. Plate tectonics, mass extinction, and the Gaia Hypothesis. Not for credit in the Faculties of Science or Applied Science.
An introduction to the oceans and the processes that have shaped them, their composition and movement, waves, tides, beaches, interactions with the atmosphere and human exploitation of the non-living resources. Not for credit in the Faculties of Science or Applied Science. No background in Science or Mathematics is required.
Introduction to theory of groundwater flow; flow nets; regional groundwater resource evaluation; well hydraulics; role of groundwater in geologic processes.
Landform development; morphological and historical analysis of landforms; applications in engineering and resource development. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion List: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.
Mechanisms and processes of past and future global environmental and climate change.
Principles of geophysical survey design, data acquisition, processing and interpretation with emphasis on near-surface problems. Magnetic, seismic reflection/refraction, electromagnetic and ground penetrating radar surveys. Case history analysis of environmental and geotechnical problems.
Hooke's law for isotropic continua, elastic wave equation, reflection and refraction methods for imaging the Earth's internal structure, plane waves in an infinite medium and interaction with boundaries, body wave seismology, inversion of travel-time curves, generalized ray theory, crustal seismology, surface waves and earthquake source studies.
Physical, chemical, and biological processes in the ocean and their interaction with climate and marine food-webs.
Hydraulic head measurements, water-quality sampling, pump and slug testing, infiltration measurements, profiling techniques. Held over five days after spring term at the Richmond groundwater hydrology field-school site. Enrolment limitations.
Contaminant transport processes in groundwater flow systems; aqueous and multiphase transport; mathematical models describing migration and chemical evolution of contaminant plumes; case studies.
Methods for containment and remediation of subsurface contaminants; including groundwater control, groundwater extraction, and in situ treatment. Experience with common design approaches.
Role of geology and hydrogeology in siting, design, and construction of engineering structures; synthesis of rock mechanics and soil mechanics methods in various geological environments; introduction to computer applications in geological engineering.
Local climate time series collection and analysis. Retrieval and analysis of on-line climate data and model output.
An interdisciplinary study of pollution, with examples drawn from coastal and oceanic environments, including areas of local interest. Intended for third and fourth year students with a background in the sciences.
An introduction to the ecology and management of freshwater and marine fisheries. Topics include: population dynamics, species interactions, communities, environmental influences, stock assessment, economics and sociology of fisheries. Laboratories will consist of numerical analyses and simulations.
Hydraulic head measurements, water-quality sampling, pump and slug testing, infiltration measurements, profiling techniques. Computer analysis of field data. Held after spring term at the Richmond groundwater hydrology field site. Enrolment limitations.
Finite-difference models of steady-state and transient groundwater flow in the saturated and unsaturated zones; applications to regional groundwater flow, groundwater recharge, subsurface contributions to streamflow, and aquifer evaluation.
No description is available.
An introduction to ecosystem modeling, centered on the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) approach.
Application of systems science encompassing geological, hydrological, ecological, atmospheric sciences, and energy systems approaches to study regional sustainability.
Systems science approaches encompassing geological, hydrological, ecological, atmospheric sciences, and energy systems to investigate a selected region of the world. Course location will vary; fee payable prior to field course.
Prokaryotic diversity and the impact and applications of bacterial and archaeal metabolic, genetic, and growth processes in environmental contexts.
Dynamics and control of prokaryotic cellular processes in response to the biotic and abiotic environment including metabolic interactions and metabolic cooperation between microorganisms.
Microbiological analysis using culture, microscopic, gene characterization, chemical and immunological techniques.
Exploitation of microbial and animal cells for the industrial production of chemicals ranging from alcohol to therapeutic proteins. Genetic manipulation of cellular characteristics, fermentation methods, patenting and governmental approval processes.
Intrinsic and extrinsic forces driving prokaryotic genome evolution. Gene transfer; microbial species concepts; community genome structure, function and dynamics; ecological impacts of microbial genome diversity. Emphasis on problem solving and experimental design.
The fundamental physics behind global issues of energy use and climate change. Not to be used to satisfy an upper-level specialization requirement in any Physics & Astronomy major or honours specialization, but may be used as an upper-level science elective for Physics & Astronomy students.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Climate Change has emerged as the most complex environmental challenge facing the planet. On the one hand, changes in global climate are likely to have significant impacts in many parts of the world, and while a small number of regions / sectors may benefit many others could be devastated. On the other hand, reducing greenhouse gas emissions poses significant technological, economic and political challenges. Reductions of greenhouse gas gases will be made in the presence of incomplete information and continued scientific and economic uncertainty. Changes in human behaviour and technological innovations of the magnitude needed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions may be difficult to achieve. This course focuses on how the global challenge results in local effects and local opportunities and challenges. It will provide students with a ‘hands-on’ perspective on local responses.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Good decision making is a skill, like reading, tennis or driving. It must be learned and can be improved with practice. Yet, the hows and whys of good decision making are almost never taught in schools, and only taught in real life through the trials of personal experience. This class teaches the elements of decision making, and through that, how to do good planning and policy analysis. Decision making is a topic of enormous interest to a variety of academic disciplines, including psychology, computer science, health care, environmental management, political science, economics, business and many others. In fact, much of the action in these fields is in applying decision theory in insightful ways to new problems. The process developed in decision research for good decision making is directly parallel to, and informs the writing on, good process for planning and policy analysis. Good policy analysis and planning involves good decision making, except that, in the public domain, analysts need to help others structure, understand, and make difficult decisions.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Focusing on gender as a critical operation of inequality and social difference important for environmental politics and relations, this course will serve as an in-depth introduction to environmental justice, political ecology, and feminist approaches to space and nature. An overarching goal of this course is to consider how it is that gender and environment may be interrelated, or even mutually constitutive. You will leave the course with a grasp of how gender and environment may be linked theoretically and empirically, how gender and other operations of socio-spatial difference affect environmental processes and access to resources, the role of gender and social difference environmental politics and activism, sexed and racialized bodies as differentially situated with respect to pollutants and environmental processes, as well as how notions of gender and other notions of social difference may affect our understandings of and approaches to ‘nature’, ‘science’ and ‘environments.’
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Faculty and students from different disciplines act as an interdisciplinary team studying specific resource problems with ecological, economic, demographic and social dimensions. Techniques and methods are emphasized to show their value in integrating knowledge, defining policy and facilitating communication. Several sections with different emphasis offered each year.
Students in this course will use tools and concepts from ecohydrology to consider empirical, experimental and modeling-based approaches to evaluate interactions between ecological systems and the water cycle. We will explore ecohydrology for both natural and managed systems.