Elsevier Science and the Global Environment: Case Studies for Integrating Science and the Global Environment

Case Studies for Integrating Science and the Global Environment is designed to help students of the environment and natural resources make the connections between their training in science and math and today s complex environmental issues. The book provides an opportunity for students to apply important skills, knowledge, and analytical tools to understand, evaluate, and propose solutions to today s critical environmental issues. The heart of the book includes four major content areas: water resources; the atmosphere and air quality; ecosystem alteration; and global resources and human needs. Each of these sections features in-depth case studies covering a range of issues for each resource, offering rich opportunities to teach how various scientific disciplines help inform the issue at hand. Case studies provide readers with experience in interpreting real data sets and considering alternate explanations for trends shown by the data. This book helps prepare students for careers that require collaboration with stakeholders and co-workers from various disciplines. Includes global case studies using real data sets that allow readers to practice interpreting data and evaluating alternative explanations Focuses on critical skills and knowledge, encouraging readers to apply science and math to real world problems Employs a system-based approach, linking air, water, and land resources to help readers understand that cause-effect may be complex and solutions to environmental problems require multiple perspectives Includes special features such as links to video clips of scientists at work, boxed information, a solutions section at the end of each case study, and practice exercises Review This comprehensive resource provides data-rich case studies focused on complex global environmental issues in four major content areas: water resources; the atmosphere and air quality; ecosystem alteration; and global resources and human needs About the Author Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont. After receiving his PhD in limnology at Michigan State University, Professor McIntosh taught at Purdue University and Rutgers University before joining the Rubenstein School at the University of Vermont. He chaired the Environmental Sciences major in the Rubenstein School from 1995 until 2013 and taught a number of environmental courses, including the introductory environmental science course each semester during that period. His research interests focused on the fate and effects of toxic contaminants in freshwater ecosystems. He has authored a number of scholarly publications in his area of expertise. Professor Pontius is a research ecologist with the US Forest Service Northern Research Station and a Research Assistant Professor of remote sensing and statistics at the University of Vermont. In addition to examining the role of climate in forest ecosystem structure and function, Dr. Pontius is the Director of the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative, a network of over 150 environmental professionals dedicated to the sustainable management of Vermont s forest ecosystems. Her focus is on bridging the gap between science and management through novel tools and techniques such as geospatial analysis, structured decision frameworks, and statistical models.