COURSE GUIDE: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Topics On This Page:
In the Library
The Atlas of Coasts & Oceans : Ecosystems, Threatened Resources, Marine Conservation
by Don Hinrichsen
Highlights the effects of human civilization and climate change on coastal areas and oceans around the world
Blessed Unrest : How the Largest Movement in the World Came Into Being, and Why No One Saw It Coming
by Paul Hawken
Explores the rise of environmentalism around the world and the work that environmentalists are doing
Climate Change : Picturing the Science
by Gavin Schmidt and Joshua Wolfe
Explores the symptoms of climate change through photographs of the atmosphere, polar regions, oceans, and ecosystems around the world
Dire Predictions : Understanding Global Warming
by Michael E. Mann and Lee R. Kump
Presents the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in graphic, visual formats
Eaarth : Making a Life on a Tough New Planet
by Bill McKibben
Argues that we must change the way we live to adapt to a changing planet
The Ecological Footprint : Accounting for a Small Planet (DVD)
Introduces the idea of the ecological footprint, which accounts for the supply and demand of natural resources including food, water and energy
San Diego : An Introduction to the Region
by Philip R. Pryde
Covers the geography and environmental conditions of San Diego County
Online
California Natural Resources Agency | State of California
Provides information about oceans, coastal areas, deltas and wetlands, land use, California ecosystems, and other natural resources
Climate Change Basics | Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Provides reliable information about the causes and potential consequences of climate change
The Earth Institute | Columbia University
Investigates causes and symptoms of, as well as solutions to, climate change, environmental degradation, the sustainable use of resources, and other environmental issues
Environmental Leader
Covers energy, environmental and sustainability news through brief articles written by journalists, and longer white papers sponsored by individual companies
KQED Science
News and investigative reporting about science and the environment, with a focus on California, from the Northern California PBS and NPR affiliate
NOAA : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Provides information about weather, storms and natural disasters, and also ecology, fisheries, climate change, and more
Science News - Environment | The New York Times
News and investigative reporting about science and the environment from the New York Times
Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air by David JC MacKay
Download the book for free
USGS : U.S. Geological Survey
Provides information about climate and climate change, ecology and ecosystems, land use, agriculture, fisheries, forests, oceans, rivers, coastal areas, natural disasters, oil and gas, minerals, and other natural resources. Includes images, maps, and tutorials about basic concepts in geography
USGS Science In Your Backyard : California | U.S. Geological Survey
Provides information about earthquakes, natural resources, water, drought conditions and wildlife in California, along with real-time data about water, earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes
In the Library
After the Grizzly : Endangered Species and the Politics of Place in California
by Peter S. Alagona
Explores the history of threats to species and habitat in California, and the development of laws and conservation movements over the last century
Online
ECOS: Environmental Conservation Online System | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Provides profiles of threatened and endangered species (plants and animals), which you can search by species name or by county. Each profile includes basic information and a map showing where the species can be found, along with a Recovery Plan with more detailed information about the species, its needs and habitat, and plans for protecting the species
Endangered and Threatened Species | San Diego Audubon Society
Highlights a few endangered birds that live in the San Diego area, with links to more detailed species profiles
Endangered Plants | San Diego Botanic Garden
Features over a dozen plant species that are native to the San Diego region and now endangered
IPaC: Information for Planning and Conservation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Draw an area on a map and get a list of biological resources in that area, including critical habitat, wetlands, and endangered species
San Diego County Plant Atlas | The Nat - San Diego Natural History Museum
Includes more than 2,800 plant species, with names (common and scientific), photographs, and maps of where each plant can be found
Threatened and Endangered Species | California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Provides information about threatened and endangered species (plants and animals) in California and related conservation efforts
Threatened and Endangered Species | San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
Lists a few of the many endangered plants and animals that inhabit the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
Online
China’s Trash Ban Lifts Lid on Global Recycling Woes but Also Offers Opportunity | UN Environment Programme
News article with background information on changes since China’s ban.
* The Chinese Import Ban and Its Impact on Global Plastic Waste Trade | Science Advances
Journal article on some effects of the import ban.
* Improving Plastics Management: Trends, Policy Responses, and the Role of International Co-operation and Trade | OECD
This policy paper written after China’s ban includes background information on detrimental impacts of plastics recycling.
Piling Up: How China’s Ban on Importing Waste Has Stalled Global Recycling | Yale Environment 360
News article with background information on changes since China’s ban.
* Plastics Recycling: Challenges and Opportunities | Philosophical Transactions
Journal article with an introduction to plastics recycling.
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Online
California Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) | University of California Cooperative Extension
Brief profiles on aquatic invasive species with links to sites.
* Invasive Animals | San Diego Management & Monitoring Program
Robust information on local projects. Be sure to click MSP Threat/Stressor Background for a report on invasive animals in San Diego.
* Invasive Plants | San Diego Management & Monitoring Program
Robust information on local projects. Be sure to click MSP Threat/Stressor Background for a report on invasive plants in San Diego.
Invasive Species | San Diego Parks and Recreation
Information on a few invasive species and links for more information on invasive species in San Diego.
* Invasive Species (All) | UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research
These robust profiles of invasive pests in California include maps of distribution, methods of control, and research.
* Plants A to Z | California Invasive Plant Council
These trim profiles of invasive and potentially invasive species including information on the region of California they colonize, as well as links to newsletters, symposia presentations, and external sources. Make sure to check management notes under Weed Management Notes for a fuller report.
Online
African Grey Parrots | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs
This successful proposal to limit the international trade on African Grey Parrots includes background information on the endangered status of this parrot in its native habitat.
California’s Naturalized Parrots | California Parrot Project
Affiliated with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and in cooperation with the Pasadena Audubon Society, this project documented naturalized parrots in the 90s and early aughts. Provides information on species found in California.
Exotic Parrot Colonies Are Flourishing Across the Country | Audubon
News piece on parrot colonies in the United States.
Grey Parrot Fading from Africa’s Rainforests | Bird Life International
News article on the effects of trade on Grey Parrot populations and difficulties in tracking it.
Jailbird Parrots Return to the Wild … As Fugitives | Audubon
Profile of a SoCal Parrot rehab center
In the Library
Articles on Sustainable Construction
Includes several magazine and journal articles on green roofs
Botany for Designers: A Practical Guide for Landscape Architects and Other Professionals
by Kimberly Duffy Turner
Provides information on plant biology, growth and maintenance so that designers can create effective site-appropriate designs, and explores topics including green roofs, selection of materials, and LEED certification
Green Roofs in Sustainable Landscape Design
by Steven L. Cantor
Covers the green roof design process from concept to completion and profiles projects from across Europe and North America
Journal of Green Building
Features case studies, research articles, and the latest news about sustainable methods and materials
Online
Designing Our Future: Sustainable Landscapes | American Society of Landscape Architects
Case studies, including photographs and plans, highlight sustainable landscape design for schools, museums, parks, nature centers, corporate and college campuses, neighborhoods, green roofs and houses
Extensive Vegetative Roofs
Describes features, benefits, applications, plantings, and other aspects of green roofs in depth, along with relevant codes and standards
Green Roof Energy Calculator | Urban Climate Research Center | Arizona State University
Allows users to compare the annual energy performance of a building with a vegetative green roof to the same building with either a dark roof or a white roof
Green Roofs at GSA
Provides robust guidance, information, and reports on green roofs from the U.S. General Services Administration, which maintains over 2 million square feet of green roofs
Portland Ecoroofs | The City of Portland, Oregon
Provides planning guides, policies, codes, and other resources related to green roofs
Online
* Public Health Assessment for MARINE CORPS BASE (MCB) CAMP PENDLETON
Official report on the site.
* Public Health Assessment for Stoker Company | U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
The abstract for the preliminary report. The full report does not appear to be available online.
* Superfund | United States Environmental Protection Agency
This robust site includes background information on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly called Superfund, in addition to insight into the workings of the Superfund program.
* Superfund: National Priorities List (NPL) | United States Environmental Protection Agency
Includes profiles of all Superfund’s NPL sites. Select California to see the 114 sites in the state.
The Background, Cleanup Activities, and Fact Sheets (under Site Documents & Data) for each site are particularly useful. NPL sites in southern California include:
Superfund Site of the Week: Stoker Chemical in Imperial County | KPCC
Local news article on Stoker Company in Imperial.
In the Library
100 Things Every Presenter Needs to Know About People
by Susan Weinschenk
Provides tips for creating effective presentations, based on what we know about how people think, learn, see, make decisions, and react to others. Each of the 100 tips is explained in 2 pages, with a summary of the research, an example, and a “takeaway” for you to implement
Presentation Zen Design : Simple Design Principles and Techniques to Enhance Your Presentations
by Garr Reynolds
Details the complete process of creating and delivering and presentation
Slide:ology : The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations
by Nancy Duarte
Highlights different ways of presenting data and communicating ideas and covers all aspects of designing a slide presentation, including slide layout, color, font, images, animation, and more
Online
10 Ways to Avoid Death by Bullet Points | Presentitude
Suggests 10 techniques for clearly formatting information on a PowerPoint slide without using bullet points
Duarte Blog
Includes examples of great presentations, analysis about what makes them great, and tips and tricks for designing and delivering them
Six Minutes : Speaking and Presentation Skills
Provides tips, tricks, guidelines, and advice on writing and delivering presentations, as well as designing PowerPoint slides and other visuals
A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Compelling Presentation Narrative
Provides a 4-step guide to crafting a story that will engage your audience
When your instructor doesn’t care how you cite as long as you do cite, make sure to include the information someone would need to find your source on their own. A citation for the TED Talk above might look like this:
“Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in Action.” TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.
Cite It Where You Use It
Every time you use a quotation, a piece of information, or an image from another source, cite the source right where you use it, whether it’s on your project board or in your paper, job book or presentation.
Include enough information to allow your audience to figure out which source (from your complete list at the end) you’re citing. For example, if you use the TED Talk in the example above, the citation on your board or presentation slide might be “Janine Benyus TED Talk”.
Check out this tutorial on Citing Sources Informally for more guidelines and examples to informally cite every source you use - whether it’s a book, magazine, website, blog or video - and avoid plagiarism.
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