Global Change Biology: Ecosystems, Society, and Health

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Humans have had a profound impact on the environment since the beginning of recorded history. Humans have modified ecosystems, altered waterways and oceans, impacted the chemical composition of Earth’s atmosphere, changed the geography of organisms and diseases, and built societies that are reliant on the modification of natural ecosystems. Many of these activities have resulted in unsustainable practices that threaten the future biosphere and human societies. In this class, we will explore the many facets of human (i.e. anthropogenic) impacts on Earth’s biosphere as well as the impact to ecosystem services that humanity depends on to thrive. The course will mostly focus on the impacts of industrialization and global climate change on the current and future functioning of the biosphere and human society. The course will be organized into five modules that cover human impacts from the level of the individual organism to the biosphere and human society. The course will end with the current state of environmental and engineering solutions to minimize our impact on the environment.