About the Course
Record-high temperatures, rising sea levels, massive wildfires, superstorms, and other environmental disasters have increasingly alarmed citizens across the globe. Scientists believe drastic measures are necessary to slow these types of catastrophes and are using expertise in multiple disciplines to explore solutions. This course investigates these and other ecological concerns to develop students' understanding of human impact on environmental systems. You'll conduct research on the ecological impacts of global industrialization and play the role of environmental scientist while analyzing data to develop informed, sustainable strategies for improving the habitability of our planet. You and your classmates will investigate the effects of sea-level rise on the island of Vanuatu, then develop your own mitigation plans based on other proven models. You will explore the impact of rampant population growth in urban areas and the toll it has taken on natural resources. Using case studies, you'll design experiments, engage in simulations, and use statistical analysis to propose solutions to these complex problems.
Typical Class Size: 16-18
Learning Objectives
- Validate the importance of ecosystem services in decision-making processes, in contrast to the biological concept of ecosystem, wherein ecosystem services are those that have value to meet the needs of population size, growth, and affluence
- Justify that the impact of human activity on climate as a consequence of interactions of multiple physical, chemical, and biological factors on watersheds, aquatic systems, atmosphere and ecosystems
- Present arguments for and against sustainability as the guiding principle by which systems and resources are used in ways that can be maintained at an acceptable level indefinitely, considering environmental, social, and economic costs
- Review and critique scientific research, experiments, and journals to question or defend the reasoning, credibility, and validity of the conclusions presented
- Analyze and interpret patterns and relationships among variables in data to explain what the data implies or illustrates about environmental issues
About Advanced Enrichment courses
These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges.
Requirements
CTY courses have grade-level requirements and most require minimum test scores. Some courses may also have prerequisites.
Identification DetailsDates and Tuition
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Registration Fee and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees will be waived or reduced for students who qualify for financial aid.
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