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Mitigation and Adaptation Studies
Course: BIOL/OEAS 466; BIOL/OEAS 595 (three credits)
Course title: Introduction to Mitigation and Adaptation Studies
Instructors: Dr. Hans-Peter Plag and Dr. Tatyana Lobova
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Ms. Harmony Hancock hhanc003@odu.edu
Term: Spring 2017
Time: Mondays and Wednesday, 3:00-4:14 PM
Location: NEW ED BUILDING 1104
STUDENT PROJECT DETAILS
I. Purpose
This project provides an opportunity to investigate a real-world issue of regional interest and its global impact and to apply the mitigation and adaptation concepts we have discussed in class to the kinds of issues you will be expected to understand as a professional, an informed citizen and voter. Working on the project will also allow you to develop and/or improve your skills in research, writing, oral communication, and working in a cooperative, group setting.
II. Content
You will be provided with a list of potential topics but you are encouraged to identify and propose your own topic. Only one student may work on each topic. Your job is to research the topic with the goal of developing options to address the problem in the context of mitigation and adaptation science. The five main areas of Adaptation Science as defined in Moss et al. (2013) should be reflected in the structure of your report, i.e., the hazards, the vulnerabilities, foresight, decision making, and options. You will present the following information, with appropriate attention to detail throughout and the appropriate bibliography.
- Hazards: What is the nature and scope of the problem: What, exactly, is the issue? How widespread is the problem; how long has it been going on? What are the hazards that constitute a threat?
- Vulnearibilities: what are the vulnerabilities of the system considered? You should include some hard data (numbers, etc.) here and give us a reason to care about it. Be realistic and precise.
- Foresight: What was/were the causes that led to the system being exposed to threats and what future developments can be anticipated? Here, you should explain how and why the problem arose (and/or is currently unfolding) and you should relate the causes to specific principles we’ve discussed in class. What foresight is there with respect to future challenges? What is the prognosis: What are the long-term consequences of the “no action” option? This is another area in which you should refer to general principles to help you explain what the small-scale (local) and large-scale (global) consequences of the problem might be. What potential remedies have already been suggested? Which remedies (if any) are being implemented? Are current efforts having the desired effects?
- Decision making: Who are the stakeholders involved and impacted by the problem and how do they make decisions? You should consider that the problem is embedded in a societal framework with many stakeholders with potentially conflicting interests. The viability of any option proposed to improve the situation will depend on the decision making of these stakeholders, in particular those that can address the problem.
- What are options to address the problem: What are viable options to address the problem through mitigation of the causes, managing the impacts, and adapting to the changes. Be sure to address the practical advantages and disadvantages of competing options (remember that no problem is completely one-sided, and most realistic options are not going to be simple). Think about who the competing stakeholders might be and what they stand to gain/lose from each option. What options do you want to propose to the stakeholders?
III. Mechanics
Each student must use and cite at least 6 references for the project. These can be web-based or print, but be sure they are legitimate. For most topics, you will be able to find good material from websites provided by government, conservation, and/or academic organizations. Be sure to evaluate the source of the information carefully; remember that anyone can put anything on the web, and that conservation organizations vary in their degree of balance and bias. All references must be cited in the written Bibliography that you submit on the day indicated in the Timeline. If you make any changes to the list you will need to resubmit a new bibliography as soon as possible. Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in a reduction in the score.
- Oral Presentation (30% of final grade):
The oral presentation should last 15 minutes. Less time means you haven’t covered the topic in sufficient depth. More time means you did not practice and not prepared. Your goals for the presentation are to inform the audience (general public and your peers) about the environmental problem and to convince people to care about it and act responsible. Presentations must include illustrations. When you develop your presentation, be sure you are paraphrasing source material (i.e., putting it into your own words) rather than reading sections of material copied verbatim from your sources. The latter will be considered a violation of the ODU Honor Code and will result in significant grade penalties! You cannot read your presentation from the cards or from the screen! This will result in grade penalties.
- Project paper (30% of final grade = 15% draft + 15% final paper):
Each student needs to write a 10-15 pages paper (excluding illustrations and bibliography) on a given topic that addresses all five areas listed above.
- a. Individual papers must follow the usual homework guidelines, including the usual identifying information and a signed Honor Code statement. Paper should be double-spaced with one-inch margins and not include a separate cover page.
- b. Paper have to include the citations of all the sources used and a bibliography has to be provided at the end of the paper that includes all of the sources cited in text.
- c. You need to use at least 6 sources (which may include max of 3 different websites) pertaining to your topic. For most topics, you will be able to find good material from websites provided by government, conservation, and/or academic organizations. Be sure to evaluate the source of the information carefully; remember that anyone can put anything on the web, and that conservation organizations vary in their degree of balance and bias.
- d. The annotated bibliography should follow the MLA format posted on Blackboard, with citations numbered as appropriate. See a Sample Report Citing Sources on BlackBoard.
- e. All references must be cited in the written Bibliography that you submit on the day indicated in Timeline. If you make any changes to the list you will need to resubmit a new bibliography as soon as possible. Failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in a reduction in the score.
- f. Each of the areas must be addressed in the listed order and presented in complete sentences. You have to re-write the information that you have learned from the literature using your own words and must cite the sources from which the information is derived. The easiest way to do this is with numbered endnotes. As you write your paper, number your references in the order in which you use them. At the end of each sentence, place the number(s) of the appropriate reference(s) in parentheses. See the example posted in the Lab folder on the Blackboard. You may not use the direct quotes from the source! You have to rewrite it completely, NOT just make a few changes in the sentence!
- g. Failure to rewrite will result in a loss of points up to 0 for the paper. Failure to cite sources, even if you paraphrase content, constitutes plagiarism and will result in a score of 0 for the entire project and an Honor Code sanction.
- h. Grades will be based on thoroughness, accuracy, mechanics, and adherence to instructions.
IV. Timeline and Activities
- Class 7: Each student will select or propose a topic. Instructor will assign the final topics.
- Class 11: During this weeks you will need to do the research on the topic and find the best and most appropriate sources (websites and papers) that will have all the information to address the four questions. You have to use at least 6 sources. Make a list of the all sources, format it following the MLA guidelines posted on the BlackBoard, and submit it via email by Class 13.
- Class 13: Bibliography list should be submitted via email to both instructors. You will not get the points for the Bibliography but the failure to turn it in by the due date or the failure to submit it in a required state/format will result in a 5 penalty points.
- Class 19: Work on writing the draft of the paper.
- Class 20: Work on writing the draft of the paper.
- Class 20: Submit the draft of the paper the day after the class before 18 pm via email. Please note: the draft does not mean something you put together at the last minute. It should be the best paper version you can produce. The draft will be corrected and edited and returned to you as soon as possible.
- Class 25: Submit the final research paper the day before the class.
- Class 25, 26: Final presentations will be scheduled. Your paper and presentation is due on the day before class 25.
Except in extraordinary circumstances, you will receive NO credit for the presentation if you are not in class the day it should be presented.