Please note: The course descriptions displayed here are current as of Tuesday, February 9th 2010, but the official Course Catalog should be used for all official planning.
ENST 115
Energy Technology, Society, and the Environment
Explores energy production, storage, and usage as they are currently practiced. Certain emerging technologies will also be addressed. Environmental and socio-economic impact will be discussed in the context of limitations imposed by the laws of physics. Units: 6.
Also listed as Physics 112
ENST 150
Environmental Science
Presents principles of biology, chemistry, and geology that relate to such environmental issues as resource limitation, pollution, and environmental degradation. Designed to foster understanding of scientific measures of environmental quality. One laboratory per week. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 150
Prerequisite: Freshman or sophomore standing; consent of instructor required for juniors and seniors
ENST 160
The Ice Ages
This course focuses on the dynamic environment of the ice age periods in Earth history. Emphasis on the historical discovery of the ice ages, their possible causes, and their global effects on ecosystems on land and in the sea. One-day field trip to local glacial deposits. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 160
ENST 191
Directed Study in Environmental Studies
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. Units: Variable.
ENST 195
Internship in Environmental Studies
An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 202
Geology and Health
A course investigating the links between geology and health, considering topics such as asbestos, natural and anthropogenic water contamination, and cycling of trace elements as both contaminants and necessary nutrients. Designed to illuminate the link between the seemingly disparate fields of geology and the health of life on earth. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 213
Prerequisite: GEOL 110
ENST 205
Readings in Nature
A course in reading and writing about the natural world. Readings will be of complete texts and may include such works as Wendell Berry’s The Memory of Old Jack, Barry Lopez’s Crossing Open Ground, and Gretel Erlich’s The Solace of Open Spaces. Discussion and analysis of texts will be combined with written reflections upon natural, urban-natural, or urban landscapes and individuals. Units: 6.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
ENST 206
East Asian Classics in Translation
This introductory course explores encounters with nature in East Asian texts through close reading of primary texts in English translation — Taoist philosophy, lyric poetry, personal memoirs, fiction and film — from the traditional periods of China and Japan, ending with a mid-1990s account of life in a river town in SW China. Particular attention is paid to literary form, voice, aesthetic concerns, and issues relating to humans’ relationship with nature. Units: 6.
Also listed as East Asian Studies 260, Chinese and Japanese 260
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing; EAST 140 recommended
ENST 210
Animal Behavior
A lecture and field-study course examining the principles and problems of animal behavior. Subjects include orientation, feeding, locomotion, communication, escape in time and space, biological rhythms, mate choice, and aspects of social behavior, examined from evolutionary, ontogenetic, physiological, ecological, and ethological perspectives. Lecture and laboratory. May be taken separately or as part of the Marine Biology Term. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 200
Prerequisite: BIOL 140
ENST 211
Biodiversity
The influence of climate on global habitats is considered. Selected terrestrial life zones, including neotropic, paleotropic, montane, desert, cold temperate, and warm temperate, are analyzed and stresses produced by climate and habitat evaluated. Adaptive responses at the morphological and physiological levels are investigated and scientific principles are applied to contemporary ethical issues, including restoration and conservation ecology. Lecture only. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 210
ENST 212
Physiological Ecology
Biological stresses induced by environmental variables are described. Physiological and molecular responses associated with temperature extremes, drought, and nutrient and energy competition are discussed and investigated, using both field and laboratory experience. Lecture and laboratory. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 231
Prerequisite: BIOL 110
ENST 213
Evolutionary Biology
A study of biological evolution, including natural selection, adaptation, the evolution of sex, speciation, extinction, and constraints on evolutionary change. Readings include classic and current literature. Two lectures and one discussion per week. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 235
Prerequisite: BIOL 120, BIOL 140, ANTH 140 or consent of instructor
ENST 214
The Vegetation of Wisconsin
The principles of plant-environment interrelationships are developed through extensive field study of Wisconsin vegetation. Emphasis is placed on the manner in which physical and biological factors influence competition, adaptation, and structure in major local habitats. Lecture and laboratory. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 250
ENST 220
General Ecology
An introduction to the interactions between organisms and the environment. Lectures and discussions will explore the role of physical, chemical, and biotic processes, including human activities, in determining the structure and function of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Topics will include resource availability, competition, predation, symbiosis, and natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as disease, biological invasions, pollution, and climate change. Lecture only. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 230
ENST 230
History of the Earth and Life
A study of the physical, chemical, and organic evolution of the Earth since its origin 4.5 billion years ago, with emphasis on times of change and crisis. The course also examines the evolution of ideas about Earth’s history, illustrating how science and culture are inherently entangled. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 210
Prerequisite: GEOL 110
ENST 235
Weather, Climate, and Climate Change
A study of basic meteorologic principles and climate patterns. These phenomena will be discussed in relation to evidence of past climate change and implications of global warming on future climate. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 214
Prerequisite: GEOL 110 or 150
ENST 237
Environmental Remote Sensing and GIS Applications
Fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation and the interaction of radiation with matter are introduced as the basis of remote sensing. Interpretation and manipulation of remotely sensed images are used to demonstrate the wealth of information remote sensing provides. Applications and case studies from geology, environmental science, ecology, agronomy, and urban planning will be explored. High school physics recommended. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 220
Prerequisite: GEOL 110; high school physics recommended
ENST 240
Chemistry of the Earth: Low-Temperature Environments
A detailed introduction to properties of geologically and environmentally important minerals. Emphasis is placed on mineral properties, tools of mineral identification, mineral associations, and chemical reactivity of minerals in earth surface and near-surface environments. One lab per week. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 240
Prerequisite: GEOL 110 and CHEM 115
ENST 245
Conservation Biology
This course explores the scientific concepts related to the conservation and restoration of the Earth’s biological diversity. Topics include patterns of species and ecosystem diversity, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, causes of extinction, assessing extinction risk, behavioral indicators, in-situ and ex-situ management strategies for endangered species, and ecosystem restoration. Lecture only. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 245
Prerequisite: BIOL 110 and one other course in the natural sciences
ENST 247
The Elements of Life
A seminar that introduces the biological chemistry of some 20 elements, mostly “inorganic,” that living systems incorporate and require, touching upon the topics of uptake, selectivity, compartmentalization, control, energetics, catalysis, structure, and toxicity. Students will draw from the text to elucidate in class the biological roles of individual elements. No laboratory. Units: 6.
Also listed as Chemistry 247
Prerequisite: CHEM 116 or 119 or consent of instructor
ENST 250
Analytical Chemistry
A course in the fundamental principles of quantitative analysis, stressing both chemical and instrumental techniques. Emphasis on application of analytical chemistry to practical problems, including environmental issues, food science, biochemical systems, and industrial processes. Opportunities for individually designed projects. Lectures and two laboratories per week. Units: 6.
Also listed as Chemistry 210
Prerequisite: CHEM 116 or 119 or consent of instructor
ENST 260
Research Methods in Archaeology
Presents the research process in archaeology and offers an overview of essential data-collection and analysis techniques, including site survey and excavation, settlement pattern analysis, lithic analysis, and ceramic analysis. Students work with material from the Lawrence University collections and take part in field research. Units: 6.
Also listed as Anthropology 220
Prerequisite: ANTH 110, 120, or 140, preferably all three; non-anthropology majors must obtain consent of the instructor. Recommended for anthropology majors in the sophomore year; must be completed by the end of the junior year.
ENST 270
Global Environmental Politics
This course provides an examination of the environment as an issue in world politics. Emphasis will be placed on the role of both state and non-state actors (i.e., the UN, NGOs) in global environmental regimes that are designed to deal with global warming, ozone depletion, and other environmental issues. Particular attention will be paid to the positions taken by both developed and developing countries. As part of the course, students will participate in a simulation of an international negotiation on an environmental issue. Units: 6.
Also listed as Government 270
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or ENST 150 or GOVT 110
ENST 280
Environmental Economics
An analysis of the problems associated with market and governmental allocation of natural and environmental resources. The course explores the use of externalities, cost-benefit analysis, and various governmental policy tools to analyze actual effects (efficiency and equity implications) of environmental policies on our economy. The course includes extensive analyses of ongoing environmental issues. Units: 6.
Also listed as Economics 280
Prerequisite: ECON 100; sophomore standing recommended
ENST 285
Natural Resource Economics
This course explores the economics of both exhaustible and renewable natural resource extraction. Topics include oil and mineral extraction, fisheries, forest and water management, and biodiversity. The course includes extensive study of current issues associated with the use of natural resources through a group project Units: 6.
Also listed as Economics 285
Prerequisite: ECON 100; sophomore standing recommended
ENST 300
Topic for Spring 2010: The Greening of Higher Education
This course will examine the rapidly growing campus sustainability
movement in the United States and abroad. We will analyze competing
visions of sustainability and compare various efforts at implementing
those visions, focusing on the scientific, economic, and social aspects
of such initiatives. We will also place the topic of campus
sustainability into broader context by exploring how this issue connects
to debates about sustainability in business, in urban and regional
planning, and agriculture. The centerpiece of the course will be the
development of a sustainability plan for the Lawrence campus.
Symposium on Environmental Topics
The heart of this course is an annual symposium organized around a well-defined topic with both scientific and policy components — e.g., nuclear waste disposal, global warming. Each year, two or three nationally recognized experts on the selected topic are brought to campus. In the weeks before a visit by one of the major speakers, students, together with environmental studies faculty, read and discuss papers suggested by the speaker. The speakers meet with students in the seminar following their public lecture, providing students with an opportunity to interact directly with scientists and policy makers at the forefront of environmental issues.
Prerequisite: ENST 150, sophomore standing
ENST 310
Aquatic Ecology
The principles of the ecology of fresh waters, developed through discussions, laboratory, and field investigations of the functional relationships and productivity of biotic communities as they are affected by the dynamics of physical, chemical, and biotic parameters. Lecture and laboratory. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 330
Prerequisite: BIOL 120, 140, or 230
ENST 320
Seminar for Winter 2010: China's Water
Seminar in Selected Topic in Environmental Studies
A course designed to offer students an opportunity to study important issues in environmental studies not covered in other regularly offered courses. Activities may include the reading and analysis of material from primary literature, consideration of interdisciplinary connection, and field and laboratory activites.
This course is intended for students who have participated in the study tour of water issues in China in December 2009. Students will be completing reports on water quality and management issues in China and presenting their findings.
Prerequisite: ENST 150 or consent of instructor.
ENST 330
Advanced Geochemistry
Overview of the chemistry of geological processes in aqueous environments. Includes review of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, phase equilibria, mineral solubility, redox reactions, and stable isotopes with geologic examples. One lab per week. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 340
Prerequisite: GEOL 240 and CHEM 115, or consent of instructor; CHEM 116 recommended
ENST 335
Physics of the Earth: Surface Environments
This course studies the movement of water, solute, and sediment through the landscape and the resulting properties and distribution of surficial earth materials and landforms. Topics include weathering; soil development; runoff; mass movement; river, glacial, and coastal processes; and deposition in sedimentary environments. One lab per week. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 360
Prerequisite: GEOL 110 and 240 or consent of instructor; PHYS 120 or 150 recommended
ENST 345
Terrestrial Field Ecology
A hands-on course intended to demonstrate basic ecological principles using local terrestrial ecosystems. Field research projects will introduce students to methods in hypothesis development, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and scientific writing and presentation. Research topics will include estimating population size, community structure, plant-animal interactions, and foraging behavior. Lecture and laboratory. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 345
Prerequisite: BIOL 120 or BIOL 140 and sophomore standing
ENST 350
Islands and Isolation
This course examines islands and the situation of isolation across the fields of geology, evolutionary biology, and human geography. Topics include island formation, dynamics of isolated natural and human populations, and the historical importance of islands in the study of natural history. The course includes laboratories and field trips. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 350, Geology 350
Prerequisite: Any of the following: ANTH 120, ANTH 140, BIOL 210, BIOL 235, BIOL 245, GEOL 210, GEOL 260 or consent of instructor
ENST 355
History of the American Environment
North Americans have transformed the environment while being shaped by nature in turn. This course surveys the changing relationships between Americans and their physical environment in historical context from the 17th century to the present. Topics include the “Columbian exchange,” agriculture, urbanization, conservation, and the emergence of contemporary environmentalism. Units: 6.
Also listed as History 355
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
ENST 360
Environmental Ethics
An examination of some ethical assumptions that might figure in discussions of environmental policy by economists, legal experts, philosophers, and policy scientists. Units: 6.
Also listed as Philosophy 360
Prerequisite: One course in economics, government, or philosophy; junior standing; or consent of instructor
ENST 365
Ecological Anthropology
A study of relationships between human communities and their natural environments (i.e., humans studied as members of ecosystems). Topics include the interactions between environment, human biology, and social organization and anthropological perspectives on global environmental problems. Units: 6.
Also listed as Anthropology 310
Prerequisite: One anthropology course or consent of instructor
ENST 380
Ecological Modeling
An introduction to the process of developing mathematical descriptions of the interactions between components of a population, community, or ecosystem, and the use of computer simulation as a tool for understanding ecology and natural resource management. Topics include population growth, predator-prey and competitor interactions, and mass balance in ecosystems. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 380
Prerequisite: BIOL 230, 245, 330, or 345
ENST 390
Tutorial in Environmental Studies
Advanced study and analysis of a particular topic or case related to environmental issues, viewed from the perspective of more than one academic discipline. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 391
Directed Study in Environmental Studies
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. Units: Variable.
ENST 395
Internship in Environmental Studies
An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 399
Independent Study in Environmental Studies
Advanced independent research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors, on a particular topic related to the environment. The student is required to produce a formal paper or equivalent (e.g., poster session, Web page, presentation at a professional meeting) as a tangible record of the work carried out. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 405
Topic for Winter 2010: Green Chemistry
Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the production life cycle, including the design, manufacture, and use of chemicals. In this course, we will examine the primary literature as well as popular scientific sources to identify hazardous chemicals in our environments, the sources for these pollutants, and green chemistry approaches to reducing or eliminating the use and accumulation of hazardous chemicals.
Students will apply green chemistry techniques to revise a laboratory class in the Lawrence chemistry curriculum. We will also investigate green chemistry practices in the Lawrence community and potential new green chemistry initiatives. Finally, we will explore local, national, and international examples of green chemistry policy and practice.
Topic: Energy Conundrum
An examination of a particular, cross-disciplinary topic in chemistry.
Also listed as Chemistry 400
Prerequisite: Junior standing with at least one chemistry course beyond general chemistry, or instructor approval.
ENST 410
Ecological Energetics
Field and laboratory experimental investigations of the transfer and transformation of energy or energy-containing materials between and within organisms and populations of aquatic ecosystems. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 434
Prerequisite: BIOL 330, concurrent enrollment in BIOL 505 and 200, and consent of instructor
ENST 425
Prehistoric Human-Environment Interactions
This course focuses on the interrelationships between prehistoric humans and their environment on a variety of temporal and geographic scales. Topics include the detection and analysis of prehistoric environmental degradation, the possible impacts of natural and anthropogenically induced environmental change on prehistoric humans, and the modern significance of such interrelationships. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 425
Prerequisite: GEOL 110 or GEOL 150 or ENST 150 or ANTH 120
ENST 426
Biogeography
Students will learn about past and present geographic distribution of plants, animals, and other organisms throughout the history of the earth and how these patterns can be reconstructed. An in-depth understanding of the basic controls on species distributions is vital to predicting future impacts of global climate change on ecological systems and is a key aspect of effective conservation efforts. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 426
Prerequisite: One of GEOL 110, ENST 150, BIOL 110, BIOL 120; or consent of instructor
ENST 427
Paleolimnology
Students will learn about the study of lake systems through time. This includes lake formation, changes in watershed vegetation, water chemistry, hydrology, and disturbance regimes. The course will consist of a mixture of lectures, field trips, and labs. Students should be prepared to go on field trips to local lakes where we will recover sediment cores for analysis during the term. One lab per week. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 427
Prerequisite: GEOL 110 or ENST 150 or consent of instructor
ENST 430
Watershed Hydrology
An introduction to the basic components of the hydrologic cycle, focusing on surface water and groundwater systems. Measurement and analysis of hydrologic data are emphasized. Application to contemporary issues such as flooding, watershed development, and groundwater contamination will be discussed. Units: 6.
Also listed as Geology 430
Prerequisite: GEOL 110; PHYS 120 or 150 recommended
ENST 449
Nature and the Environment in German Literature (in English)
This course examines the literary, philosophical, and sociological history of ecological issues in Germany. Students investigate the formulation of the specifically German concept of nature and study the roles of Romanticism and of the early 20th-century youth movement in shaping contemporary environmental debates. Taught in English. German majors and minors may participate in a two-unit tutorial in which discussions and some course readings will be in German. Units: 6.
Also listed as German 449
ENST 450
Nature and the Environment in German Literature
This course examines the literary, philosophical, and sociological history of ecological issues in Germany. Students investigate the formulation of the specifically German concept of nature and study the roles of Romanticism and of the early 20th-century youth movement in shaping contemporary environmental debates. Taught in German. Units: 6.
Also listed as German 450
Prerequisite: GER 312 or consent of instructor
ENST 460
The Environment, Community, and Education
A study of education, the creation and maintenance of community, and the development of ecological intelligence. Emphasis on how schools respond to their surroundings, the extent to which modern forms of education “fit” students to live in local communities, and the idea of community as a sense of place. Emphasis will also be placed on cultural assumptions about the environment implicit within the curriculum, the effect of schooling on students’ understanding of and relationship to the environment, and the role of education in promoting ecological and social sustainability. Units: 6.
Also listed as Education Studies 400
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
ENST 470
Environmental Politics
This course will examine the system of environmental protection in the United States, with a practical emphasis on how national policy is translated into action on the ground. Starting with environmental problems such as those in the Fox River Valley and the pulp and paper industry, it will look at the regulatory framework for dealing with those problems, and then follow the implementation process to understand the legal, political, economic and social forces that determine real-world outcomes. It will also look at other cutting-edge issues in current environmental policy-making, including the problem of balancing environmental and economic goals, policy implications of moving to a "green economy", and the political and policy responses to the issue of global climate change. Units: 6.
Also listed as Government 465
Prerequisite: GOVT 380 and either ECON 100 or ECON 300 or consent of instructor
ENST 505
Coral Reef Environments
Examines the ecology of coral reef environments. Lecture, laboratory, and field components. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory. Units: 6.
Also listed as Biology 505
Prerequisite: BIOL 330 and concurrent enrollment in BIOL 200 and BIOL 434
ENST 560
Practicum in Environmental Studies
Practical experience working in either environmental policy development or environmental science fieldwork in a community. For example, students might work with businesses, trade organizations, state or local government, or non-profit advocacy groups. Students spend a minimum of ten hours per week at assigned settings and attend weekly supervision meetings with instructor. Practica can be done during the academic year (at local placements or on campus) or during the summer (at off-campus placements). Units: 6.
Also listed as Government 550
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and one course on environmental policy or law, including GOVT 206/ENST 302 or GOVT 306/ENST 301
ENST 590
Tutorial in Environmental Studies
Advanced study and analysis of a particular topic or case related to environmental issues, viewed from the perspective of more than one academic discipline. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 591
Directed Study in Environmental Studies
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. Units: Variable.
ENST 595
Internship in Environmental Studies
An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 599
Independent Study in Environmental Studies
Advanced independent research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors, on a particular topic related to the environment. The student is required to produce a formal paper or equivalent (e.g., poster session, Web page, presentation at a professional meeting) as a tangible record of the work carried out. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 650
Environmental Studies Senior Seminar
A seminar on issues and methods of environmental studies and a focal point of the environmental studies major. Topics include scientific measures of environmental quality, natural resource management, pollution, prices, and public policy and ethical considerations. Students employ data and models to address a chosen environmental problem. Faculty members from contributing disciplines participate. Units: 6.
Prerequisite: ENST 150, ENST 300, and senior standing; or consent of the instructor
ENST 690
Tutorial in Environmental Studies
Advanced study and analysis of a particular topic or case related to environmental issues, viewed from the perspective of more than one academic discipline. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 691
Directed Study in Environmental Studies
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work. Units: Variable.
ENST 695
Internship in Environmental Studies
An opportunity for environmental studies students to gain practical experience in the commercial, government, or nonprofit sectors. The internship is supplemented by readings and discussions with a supervising faculty member. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a summative report that considers the internship experience in the context of the student’s other academic work. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.
ENST 699
Independent Study in Environmental Studies
Advanced independent research, under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors, on a particular topic related to the environment. The student is required to produce a formal paper or equivalent (e.g., poster session, Web page, presentation at a professional meeting) as a tangible record of the work carried out. Units: Variable.
Prerequisite: Counter Registration Required.