Environment & Sustainability

100-level:

• Sustainability Essentials I

200-level:

• Sustainability Essentials II

Course descriptions

100-level: Sustainability Essentials I
One possible definition of sustainability is “the ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time”. Sustainability covers environmental as well as societal and economic aspects – imagine a nested model with environment forming the outer circle, and society and  and economy as the subsequent sub-sets. In the Environment and Sustainability cluster we focus on this outer circle and try to introduce real live connections by applying what we learn to our local environment, the Delta. Sustainability essentials is the 100 level gateway course to the cluster and as such will give you access to all 200 level courses. The course will use case studies of sustainable systems in our local delta to introduce the  mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and statistics essentials for understanding such systems.   This will ensure that you are properly equipped no matter which specific aspects you decide to pursue during your time at UCR. It is also fitting for a subject as transdisciplinary as sustainability that it will be taught by all professors involved in teaching in the cluster. So you will also get a “taster” of the possible specializations.

200-level: Sustainability Essentials II
This course is a follow up to Sustainability Essentials I and prepares you for entry in all 300 level sustainability courses. You will apply the tools and knowledge you have acquired to sustainability concepts in a real-world case study. You will go more in depth regarding knowledge and tools on an aspect of the case study that connects to your field of interest and discipline envisioned.

100-level:

• Building with Nature

200-level:

• R3: Recycling, Recovery and Remediation

300-level:

• Living with Water
• Food Policy

Course descriptions

100-level Building with Nature
Building with Nature is a sustainable engineering approach that works with natural processes for solutions like flood protection, land reclamation, and port development. The approach is gaining momentum since it offers cost-effective and environmentally promising alternatives to traditional constructions that are no longer viable in the light of climate change and sea level rise. The course covers the history and principles of ecosystem-based design, explores real-world case studies, and includes guest lectures and field excursions to see Building with Nature in practice.

200-level: R3: Recycling, Recovery and Remediation
Resource security is of high importance for societies as well as proper stewardship to use resource in a way that preserved resources for future generations. In this course, we will discover what current strategies and technologies are available towards a circular economy in which resource cycles are optimized and closed. The course will first bring you up to speed with basic lab skills and inorganic chemistry. This course is related to themes at the Delta Climate Center and may be a stepping stone towards an internship.

100-level:

• The Living Planet: An Introduction to Biodiversity
• Protecting Nature: The Science of Conservation Biology

200-level:

• Ecosystems Uncovered: How Nature Works
• From Origins to Diversity: The Science of Evolution

300-level:

• Marine Biology
• Sustainable Farming & Innovation

Course descriptions

100-level: The Living Planet: An Introduction to Biodiversity
The biosphere consists of millions of living species. In this course we will travel through the tree of life, starting with bacteria and single-celled eukaryotes such as reef-building dinoflagellates and disease-causing apicomplexans. Next, we will look at the multicellular groups: plants, seaweeds, fungi and animals. We will also investigate the relevance of biodiversity for human society in fields such as food and food security, economy, climate and health.

100-level: Protecting Nature: The Science of Conservation
This course explores environmental conservation through biological and social science perspectives. Topics include biodiversity importance, threats to ecosystems, conservation methods, and tools to monitor and protect nature. It also covers national and international laws, policies, and initiatives aimed at preserving ecosystems and ensuring a sustainable future for current and future generations.

200-level: Ecosystems Uncovered: How Nature Works
Ecology is the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms and the interactions that determine distribution and abundance.  This course focuses on the basic principles of ecology. We will assess how organisms are impacted by  environmental conditions and resources, and study the ecological principles that govern individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Two weeks will be spent on ecological modelling, as an important tool for understanding and predicting ecological systems. We will conclude with some actual cases of applied ecology.

200-level: From Origins to Diversity: The Science of Evolution
Evolution is the unifying theory in biology. As such, an understanding of evolutionary biology is vital for understanding the natural world. In this course, we will discuss key concepts in evolution such as population genetics, variation and selection, speciation, macro-evolution and the origins of life. The importance of evolutionary concepts to all other fields of biology will be emphasized, as well as important implications of evolutionary processes in fields like human health and climate change.

300-level: Marine Biology
This course focuses on the ecological processes that take place in the seas and at the boundaries of sea and land, gives an overview of marine systems like estuaries, rocky shores and coral reefs, and assesses the impacts of human activities on these systems.
A substantial part of the course consists of guest lectures from marine scientists, lab visits, excursions, and some field work, indicated to provide the students with current and socially relevant examples of research that is taking place in this field. Finally, the students will demonstrate their mastering of the topic in an essay.

300-level: Sustainable Farming & Innovation
Food production and waste is a leading cause of environmental harm. This is why finding solutions that promote sustainable food production are so important. In this course we will discuss the environmental impacts of agriculture, and explore various sustainable agriculture approaches, including agroecology, organic farming, conservation agriculture, precision agriculture, sustainable livestock farming, agroforestry, permaculture, crop rotation, integrated pest management, and sustainable supply chain management.

100-level:

• Dynamic Earth
• Earth Hazards, Risks and Adaptations
• Soils & Aquifers

200-level:

• Earth Observation
• Earth System Science Tools

300-level:

• Environmental Biogeochemistry
• Earth’s Resources

Course descriptions

100-level: Dynamic Earth
This course offers an in-depth introduction to Earth Science. We will move from observations and phenomena, to focusing on the dynamic interactions between the deep earth, the lithosphere, and hydrosphere. We will explore how these spheres are interconnected through key cycles and their role in shaping Earth’s surface. Highlights of the course are in/outdoor labs and a multi-day field excursion where you’ll experience Earth Science in action.

100-level: Earth Hazards, Risks and Adaptations
How do we weigh the risks of flood events and ecosystem collapses caused by climate change against mining disasters resulting from the extraction of the precious ores needed to make the batteries that store solar energy?   This course covers the geosciences principles and analytical tools needed to understand what makes some ‘natural’ disasters more likely or more consequential than others, and thus what actions are best at reducing the risk to societies and ecosystems from events ranging from earthquakes to droughts to toxic algae blooms.

100-level Soils & Aquifers
Soils and aquifers are vital natural resources, especially in the face of climate change and the growing pressure on food and water availability. You will explore both systems through hands-on fieldwork and lab-based analyses. The first part of the course focuses on soil formation, properties, health, and remediation strategies. The second part of the course shifts to seismic and electromagnetic mapping of physical properties of local fresh/salt-water aquifers to assess geothermal energy and coastal defense strategies as well as threats to freshwater supplies.

200-level: Earth Observation
Geospatial data and images from satellites or drones are widely used to explore and model changes in the Earth’s system at various scales. In this course you will gain hands-on experience with GIS and data integration techniques. By combining data from different fields you’ll uncover how human actions can impact global ecosystems and climate, and how tools like GIS can promote sustainable practices like soil/water governance and coastal protection planning. For the courses’ finale, you will investigate an earth science-focused research question.

200-level: Earth System Science Tools
This course explores how Earth’s systems—the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere—interact and change over time, shaping our climate. You’ll get hands-on basic system modelling experience and learn how scientists use proxies, and (isotope) tracers to study past and future climates. We’ll also look at major events like earthquakes, asteroid impacts, and human influence on the Earths system. The course finishes with a multi-day field trip with a special focus on the pathways of the greenhouse gas CO₂.

300-level: Environmental Biogeochemistry
The role and properties of natural waters on earth will be the at center of this course. The interactions with rocks, soils, and minerals under near-surface conditions will be investigated to understand biogeochemical processes and cycles and their potential for nature-based solutions. Examples are weathering, mineral formation, absorption, water treatment technologies and resource recovery. Geochemist Workbench and Visual Minteq applications will support course work. A joint case study will be conducted for potential submission to a professional earth science conference.

300-level: Earth’s Resources
This course takes “deep dives” into cutting-edge geoscience research to tackle real-world resource and environmental challenges—like safely storing nuclear or electronic waste underground, using aquifers for geothermal energy, or capturing and storing CO₂. In-depth literature reviews by individual students investigate the relevant state of the art drawing from areas like hydrology, geochemistry, seismology, climate science, soil and rock mechanics, and GIS modeling. Unified class reports will be submitted for presentation to a professional earth science conference.

100-level:

• Climate Change
• Life Cycle Analysis & Circular Economy
• Calling bullshit: How to Navigate the Sea of Misinformation

200-level:

• Energy & Sustainability

300-level:

• Renewable System Design
• Spatial Planning

Course descriptions

100-level Climate Change
Climate change has large impacts on the natural world and human societies. This course will first focus on the drivers of anthropogenic climate change and its impacts on sea level rise, ocean acidification and ecology. We will then study impacts on various aspects of society such as agriculture, health and migration, and discuss solutions for both adaptation and mitigation, such as renewable energy systems, carbon dioxide storage and climate-adaptive spatial planning. Finally we will discuss climate governance and -justice.

100-level: Life Cycle Analysis & Circular Economy
To prepare our society for a circular and sustainable future, we need to evaluate the environmental impact of products, processes, or services throughout their entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to final disposal, or ideally re-usage as new raw materials. To do this, we have to understand the environmental consequences and develop a strategic planning for future activities. The course will be heavily focussed on “learning by doing”, rather than by just studying books.

100-level: Calling Bullshit: How to Navigate the Sea of Misinformation
The world is rife with misinformation. To function properly in any field, it is important that you are able to recognize it adequately handle it. In this course, you will develop your “bullshit-detector”. We will discuss common biases in human thinking that make us vulnerable to misinformation. You will learn how to detect several types of misinformation and learn how to distinguish real from fake experts. Using several case studies, we will practice effective responses to false claims. To conclude the course, you will produce your own video in which you will tackle a bullshit topic of choice. 

200-level: Energy & Sustainability
You will learn about Renewable Energy resources and be introduced to current and emerging technologies to exploit those resources. We will discuss both already available and projected (envisioned) technologies for generation of electricity or to satisfy primary energy demand from renewable resources and place these technologies in context with environmental, political and economic constraints. You will also learn about energy storage and demand management, which are vital tools to balance supply and demand of energy.

300-level: Renewable System Design
You will learn to assess current energy usage patterns, identify inefficiencies, and propose applicable strategies for reducing energy consumption or transitioning to cleaner energy sources such as solar, wind, or bioenergy. Emphasis is placed on both the technical and economic aspects of proposed solutions, including cost-benefit analysis, regulatory considerations, and implementation feasibility. By the end of the course, students will deliver a report and presentation to their partner company.

300-level: Spatial Planning
Spatial engineering as a tool for addressing major global challenges like natural disasters, food shortages, resource decline, and pollution. In this seminar, students will explore how geospatial technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, and spatial modelling can help solve real-world problems. Through hands-on projects and case studies, practical applications in disaster response, sustainable agriculture, and environmental monitoring are emphasized.