ESCI 202 - Public Policy and Human Environments

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as ENST 202, ESSC 202, GEOG 202 and URBS 202) This course combines the insights of the natural and social sciences to address a selected topic of global concern. Geographers bring spatial analysis of societal and political-ecological changes, while Earth Scientists contribute their knowledge of the diverse natural processes shaping the earth’s surface. Together, these distinctive but complementary fields contribute to comprehensive understandings of the physical limitations and potential, uses and misuses of the Earth’s natural resources.

Topic for 2023/24a: Water and Cities. The explosive urbanization of the modern world places new and unprecedented demands on the earth’s hydrological systems. A variety of environmental issues—such as water provision and drought, depletion of aquifers, pollution of watersheds, flooding, regional climate change, socioeconomic disparities in water infrastructures (environmental injustice), privatization ofsupply and other policy questions — arise out of the insatiable demands for water of contemporary metropolitan regions. In addition, global climate change is causing sea level rise that threatens the very existence of many of the world’s most densely populated settlements. This course combines geographical and geological perspectives on the increasingly urgent problems of urban water. Case studies focus on water problems in the New York metropolitan region; Flint Michigan; New Orleans, Louisiana; Shanghai, China; Mexico City; São Paulo, Brazil; Capetown, South Africa; Andean cities; and other rapidly growing cities around the world. Kirsten Menking.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS