BCUSP 140: Scientific Journeys: Global Warming

Friday 8:45-1:00
UW1 030

Instructor: Prof. Eric Salathé, Science and Technology
Office: UWBB 253
Phone: 206-616-5351
Email: salathe@uw.edu
Office Hours:.
Website: http://faculty.washington.edu/salathe/BCUSP140/
Text: The Rough Guide to Climate Change, 3rd ed., by Bob Henson, Rough Guides, 2011.

Overview of Course:

Human-induced climate change - popularly known as "global warming" - is emerging as one of the great challenges facing society in the 21st century. If we ignore the problem, by the end of this century the climate changes due to increased greenhouse gases will be large enough to have significant consequences on the environment and on civilization. At stake are deeply felt values as well as entrenched economic interests. When these are combined with scientific uncertainty, it is not surprising that global warming has sparked a raging, often passionate debate.

This class will follow the scientific -- and societal -- journey of discovering and managing climate change. We will use both scientific and popular materials to understand the scientific and policy issues of our changing climate.

Text book:

The Rough Guide to Climate Change, 3rd ed., by Bob Henson, Rough Guides, 2011. This short non-technical book summarizes the current science. Either a hardcopy or ebook is required. Available from the bookstore or from the publisher.

Class Materials

Catalyst Page

Discussion Board



Disabilities:
To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services in the Counseling Center, (425) 352-5307, (425) 352-5303 (TDD). You can also find information online at: http://www.uwb.edu/students/services/dss/index.html. If you have a documented disability on file with the DSS office, please have your DSS counselor contact me.

Academic integrity:
All students are expected to be aware of and adhere strictly to the University of Washington Student Conduct Code. Any student found engaging in unauthorized collaborating on and/or copying course projects or the like will receive an F for the course and possibly be subject to additional University disciplinary action. More details on this can be found in the Student Handbook as well as online at: http://www.uwb.edu/students/policies/integrity.html

Incompletes:
A student who cannot complete a course is not automatically granted an incomplete. University rules state, "An incomplete is given only when the student has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work until within two weeks of the end of the quarter and has furnished proof satisfactory to the instructor that the work cannot be completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond the student's control."

In Class Conduct:
  • NO CELL PHONES ARE TO BE USED IN CLASS
  • Computers may not be used unless directly relevant to class material.


    Note: All information in this syllabus is subject to revision at the instructor's discretion.