Students will describe and analyze the current national and global environmental problems; looking at the science behind them, the economics involved, and the policies regarding them. Students will identify stakeholders and financial motivations, as well as discuss the viewpoints of different interested parties and assess the merits of different remediation programs.
Students will learn basic statistical analysis and methods of applications of these techniques in developing experimental design, and appreciate limitations of conclusions drawn from experimental data.
Students will interpret biological and chemical data related to environmental science in the primary literature, generate and interpret experimental data from lab and from the primary literature, utilize and analyze commonly used statistical methods to interpret data.
Students will critique primary literature. This will include evaluation of experimental techniques and the use of controls and hypothesis testing by published authors.
Students will undertake original and publishable research studies with faculty mentors. In this process, they will demonstrate skill in relevant literature analysis, experimental design, actual performance of experimental protocols, teamwork, statistical analysis of results and oral and written communication of conclusions and their defense.
Students will construct a research thesis, and present the results of that thesis to an audience of peers and faculty at regional or all college events, and be able to defend their results to other students and faculty.
