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BESC311 - International Perspectives on Environmental Issues

3 credit hours - Study Abroad China

Summer 2016 (5 week), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University

Fuzhou, China

16 x 100 minute lectures

14 x 60-90 minute cultural activities/lectures COURSE DESCRIPTION and RATIONALE: This is a faculty-led study abroad course taught in Fuzhou, China. The location will heighten the awareness of the international perspective of the course and permit a direct interaction of TAMU and Chinese students (and other international students) through joint activities and discussion. Through these activities, different cultural perspectives can be examined. International environmental issues are becoming more important as the rapid industrialization of the developing world is producing pollution that affects the producing nation, neighbors, and the global environment (e.g., greenhouse gases). The developing world is facing many of the same issues that the US and other nations with advanced economies continue to address. This course is designed to help Texas A&M students gain an international perspective on how the global economy impacts the world and US environmental issues. An understanding of international efforts to assist in sustainable economic and social development to protect human health and the natural environment is essential for citizens of a global community. This course will provide an introduction to the relevant United Nations Programmes and consideration of factors related to sustainable development. Although sustainable development is essential for the survival of humanity, different cultural views can lead to conflict that may delay or prevent implementation of sustainable development goals. Therefore, the impact of culture and worldview will be considered. Instructor: Dr. Daniel J. Ebbole, Professor Undergraduate Program in Bioenvironmental Sciences Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology Texas A&M University d-ebbole@tamu.edu Learning Outcomes: •Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese culture and worldviews. •Give examples of how worldview can impact critical thinking. •Explain what sustainability means in a historical context and in a modern, global context. •Explain the socioeconomic factors that impact the environment. •Explain the demographic transition and how socioeconomic factors influence it. •Evaluate the role of the UN in global environmental and sustainability issues •Explain the origin of the MDGs and how they have evolved to the newer SDGs. •Analyze the main challenges to sustainability and their overlapping nature. •Assess how bioenvironmental sciences play a role in agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystem services research. •Synthesize conclusions about the state of climate science research and the impact of climate change on sustainable development. Text Books: None. All%notes%and%reading%materials%will%be%provided.%Prerequisites: Junior classification or approval from instructor. Students must attend two mandatory meetings with the study abroad program office.

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Grading: The graded components of the course are as follows: Midterm Exam 25% Participation in classroom activities/discussion 20% Reflective writing assignments (4 x 4%) 16% Reflective oral final presentation (5 min powerpoint) 7% Poster version of final presentation 7% Final Exam 25%

Your final grade will be determined based on the following scale:

90.0≤X 80.0≤X<90.0 70.0≤X<80.0 60.0≤X<70.0 X<60.0 A B C D F

Lecture topics. Week 0. Travel preparations, pre-travel reading, and travel to China. Week 1.

Critical thinking and worldviews Basis for environmental governance locally and internationally Sustainable development: Society, Economy, and Environment Projections of population growth; Reflection 1 due. Introduction to the United Nations, Environmental programs in the UN Mountain hike to Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences rice research station

Week 2. Stockholm, Rio, Agenda 21; Reflection 2 due.

Sustainable Development Goals Mid term Exam Agriculture, Food Security and the impact of climate change

Water and the impact of climate change; Reflection 3 due. Travel to Xiamen Botanical Gardens by High Speed Rail Week 3.

Biodiversity and Ecosystems and the impact of climate change, CBD Valuing Nature Energy and the impact of climate change Climate Science, UNFCCC

Travel by High Speed Rail to Wuyi Mountains UNESCO Heritage Site Week 4. Climate Change and Critical Thinking

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Presentations; Reflection 4 due, poster due.

Final Exam Travel to Beijing, and tour prior to departure.

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Disabilities: The%Americans%with%Disabilities%Act%(ADA)%is%a%federal%antiEdiscrimination%statute%that%provides%comprehensive%civil%rights%protection%for%persons%with%disabilities.%Among%other%things,%this%legislation%requires%that%all%students%with%disabilities%be%guaranteed%a%learning%environment%that%provides%for%reasonable%accommodation%of%their%disabilities.%If%you%believe%you%have%a%disability%requiring%an%accommodation,%please%contact%Disability%Services,%in%Cain%Hall,%Room%B118,%or%call%845E1637.%For%additional%information%visit%http://disability.tamu.edu. Academic Honesty: An#Aggie#does#not#lie,#cheat#or#steal,#or#tolerate#those#who#do.%All%students%at%Texas%A&M%University%are%expected%to%abide%by%the%Aggie%Code%of%Honor%(http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/). Any%behavior%inconsistent%with%the%code%including%but%not%limited%to%plagiarism%and%academic%dishonesty%will%be%dealt%with%in%accordance%with%TAMU%policies%and%Student%Rules.%Ignorance%of%the%rules%does%not%exclude%any%member%of%the%TAMU%community%from%the%requirements%or%the%processes%of%the%Honor%System.% Graded activities. Exams (50 min) Midterm 25%, Final 25% Exams will be short answer and essay based. The purpose of the exam is to gauge the student’s understanding of the issues under consideration. Participation (20%) Participation in discussions in class is expected and will be noted by the instructor. Showing up on time is important (9 am). Classroom discussion will be guided by the lecture material. Grading Rubric. Student is prepared and able to meaningfully contribute (5 points); student seems to have prepared somewhat (3-4 points); student participates but is ill-prepared (1-2 point); student refuses to speak (0 points). Attendance: Make-up for all work missed for excused absences will be provided by the instructor. See http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07. Each unexcused absence will lead to a deduction of 7% and possibly lead to disciplinary action after two such absences, at the discretion of the instructor. Disciplinary action may include dismissal from the study abroad program. Presentation (7%) Final powerpoint presentation on class topic and impact of the course and study abroad experience on student worldview. In this assignment the student should integrate a topic in the course, with the student’s experience in China, to synthesize a presentation of a change in the student’s view of global sustainability relative to their view prior to study abroad. This is to be a 5 minute presentation. The instructor will grade the assignment based on the overall presentation, the clarity of the statement of the pre-course and post-course view and, how it relates to one or more course topics, and the ability to finish within 1 minute of the 5 minute time period. Bottom line: What did you learn in China that was most interesting and relates to how you think about sustainable development? Poster (7%). A poster that describes the aspect of the course discussed in your presentation and highlights the integration of course material with the experience of being in China will be made following the departmental template for study abroad posters. The poster should highlight the bottom line of your presentation. The posters will be submitted for presentation at the annual fall BESC symposium to highlight the study abroad program. Reflections (16%). Four written assignments will be given (4% each). The writing assignments will be turned in as Word or rich text format documents. These will be graded and returned to the students. These min 250, max 500 word essays should be reflections on the course material and the experience of interacting with the international students in the classroom as well as discussions that occur outside the classroom. Writing Rubric below:

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