1 / 12

Undergraduate BS Program in Global Environmental Science - GES Degree

Study Earth's systems through Oceanography and interdisciplinary coursework. Prepares students for careers in marine-related fields or environmental consulting. Senior research thesis and diverse electives available.

williamrwhite
Download Presentation

Undergraduate BS Program in Global Environmental Science - GES Degree

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. University of Hawaii • SOEST • Department of Oceanography • Undergraduate BS program in Global Environmental Science

  2. GES Degree • Interdisciplinary study of Earth’s physical, chemical, and biological (including human) systems • Rigorous BS degree • Coordination with other schools at UH provides expertise for training in intersections with economic, policy, and social systems

  3. GES Degree • Coursework: • Solid background in science and math • Includes Introductory Oceanography • GES courses • Skills courses: problem solving, computer skills, modeling, oral and written communication • Content courses: environmental change, biogeochemical cycles, etc. • Many incorporate oceanographic information/data. • Electives – students choose area of focus • Many choose oceanography courses

  4. GES Degree • Senior Research Thesis • Required, one-year project with individual mentor • Experience in scientific method; field and experimental work; data collection, analysis, reduction, and interpretation; literature review and analysis. • Oral presentation and written thesis • >50% of students work on oceanographic projects

  5. GES Graduates • Roughly 50% go on to graduate school, many in oceanography or marine-related fields • Remainder in environmental consulting jobs, teaching, government positions

  6. OCN 201: Science of the Sea • Lecture class – large (100-200 students) • Team taught – 3 faculty (1 geo, 1 bio, 1 phys-chem) • Field trips, some self-guided • Optional Lab • Class website: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/courses_html/OCN201/

  7. OCN 201 Labs • Combination of computer-based, demonstration, and hands-on labs • Examples: • Computer – nutrient lab based on Java Ocean Atlas: http://odf.ucsd.edu/joa/jsindex.html • Demonstration – salinity and thermohaline circulation • Hands-on – plankton tow; count copepods and calculate concentration; ID organisms

  8. Upper Division Courses – Incorporation of Oceanographic Concepts/Data • Global Environmental Change • Aquatic Pollution • Atmospheric Pollution • Biogeochemical Cycles • Interpretation of Earth-system Computer Databases

  9. OCN 363 • Interpretation of Earth-system Computer Databases • Computer skills (Matlab, web page design/use, data reduction, plotting) • Introduction to satellite-derived and other remotely sensed data and instrumentation used • Ocean data sets used for assignments Class website: http://www.satlab.hawaii.edu/ges/ocn363-2005/

  10. Senior Research Projects • Environmental Assessment of Offshore Aquaculture – Romain Mauriac • Used pigment analyses to assess effects on phytoplankton populations • Enumeration of Microbial Cells in Hydrothermal Plumes – Carolyn Berger • Compared epifluorescence microscopy to flow cytometry • Coral Bleaching in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands – Yves Veillerobe • Evaluated spatial and temporal variability of SST from in situ and satellite-derived data

  11. Things we’d like to do • Shipboard experience for all • Integrate certain concepts and skills throughout curriculum, e.g. modeling • More hands-on experiences in courses

  12. Problems we’ve encountered • Ship availability for student cruises • Time and $ • Computer availability, maintenance, and upgrades • Student computer skills

More Related