Life on High Seas: Eco Pol

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Picture in your mind a diversity of animal species. Now think of the many laws designed to protect them. Now imagine that there is another Earth. It is populated by species wildly different from what you imagine: 300 foot long creatures shaped like ropes, single cells the size of softballs, colonial animals growing to over 60 feet long and wide enough to crawl inside. Scientists know precious little about this alien world. The laws that protect Earth’s biodiversity don’t apply here. This is the High Seas. The high seas represent roughly 43% of Earth’s surface, larger than the area of Mars. It belongs to no country. It is under no single jurisdiction. It is one of Earth’s final scientific and legal frontiers. In this class we will explore the ecology and history of the High Seas. You will learn about the diverse ecosystems on this other half of Earth, from the ocean’s surface to the abyssal plane. You will meet some of this world’s remarkable residents, and learn how fishing, commerce, and mining may be impacting them. You will also learn how humans have used the high seas, from historical pirates to present day smuggling, enslavement, and murder. We will explore the legal, social, and economic structure of the High Seas, and you will be encouraged to explore your own interests on this alien Earth.