HONORS INTEGRATED SCIENCE HONS 2406 FALL Class meeting times: Lecture, MWF a.m., ENGL/PHIL 301; Lab R 2-4:50, ENGL/PHIL 304

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1 HONORS INTEGRATED SCIENCE HONS 2406 FALL 2015 Class meeting times: Lecture, MWF a.m., ENGL/PHIL 301; Lab R 2-4:50, ENGL/PHIL 304 Instructors: Gary S. Elbow, Ph.D., Professor of Geography and Honors Studies Allie Smith-Clinton, Ph.D., Office Hours: Elbow: MWF 9:00-9:45 (Holden Hall 212), 11 a.m. 12 a.m., and TR 9 a.m. 10 a.m., and by appointment (McClellan Hall, 210). Smith-Clinton: If you have a conflict with our office hours please contact us after class or by to set up an appointment at a mutually satisfactory time. This is the first half of a 2-course sequence on integrated science. This half covers earth sciences (physical geography) and life sciences (biology). The second half of the sequence covers physics and chemistry. The course is intended to introduce you to the ways scientists think, how they discover how the world works, and how scientists endeavor to ensure that their observations are valid. The course also establishes the commonalities among all sciences based on standardized procedures and processes. Elbow will teach the Earth Science half of the course between August 24 and October 12, and Smith-Clinton will teach the life science half between October 14 and the end of the semester. This course fulfills half of the 8 semester credit hour Life and Physical Science Texas Tech University core curriculum requirement. Texas Tech University College-Level Learning Outcome Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to: explain some of the major concepts in the Natural Sciences and to demonstrate an understanding of scientific approaches to problem solving, including ethics. TTU Life and Physical Sciences Student Learning Outcomes Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method and to contrast it with other ways of understanding the world. Assessment: Successful completion of laboratory exercises; accurate responses to targeted examination questions Demonstrate knowledge of the tools and methods used by scientists to study the natural world. Assessment: Successful completion of laboratory exercises; accurate responses to targeted examination questions Explain some of the major theories in the Natural Sciences Assessment: Examination questions, written and oral responses in class Describe how Natural Sciences research informs societal issues, including ethics Assessment: Targeted examination questions; oral and written responses to targeted questions in class

2 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Life and Physical Sciences Course Orientation Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on human experiences. The following four Core Objectives must be addressed in each course approved to fulfill this category requirement: Critical Thinking Skills: to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information Assessment: Successful completion of laboratory questions; targeted examination questions Communication Skills: to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication Assessment: Successful completion of laboratory exercises; participation in class discussions; responses to targeted examination questions Empirical and Quantitative Skills: to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions Assessment: Successful completion of laboratory exercises; targeted examination questions Teamwork: to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal Assessment: Successful completion of group centered laboratory exercises LECTURE SCHEDULE DATE TOPIC READING August 24 Introduction What is science and how is it integrated? Wilson, Consilience, pp. 1-14, What Is Science? (pdf) August 26 Origins of the universe, Big Bang, Galaxies, etc. Pidwirny, Ch. 5, all August 28 Earth-sun relationships and seasonality Pidwirny, Ch. 6, f, g, h, i August 31 Mapping Earth: Great Circles and Rhumb Lines Vanhoenacker September 2 Internal structure of Earth Pidwirny, Ch. 10, a, e, f, g September 4 Plate tectonics and distribution of continents and seas Pidwirny, Ch. 10, h, I, j September 7 Labor Day, no class September 9 Plate tectonics and natural hazards, Ring of Fire, etc. The Really Big One, New Yorker mag. September 11 The oceans and their importance for climate Pidwirny, Ch. 8, b, o, p. q September 14 Composition and structure of the atmosphere Pidwirny, Ch. 7, a, b September 16 Exam # 1 September 18 The gas laws Pidwirny, Ch. 7, c, d, e September 21 Change of phase of water and adiabatic processes ebooks/tpe_3e/atmospheric_moisture/ lapse_rates_1.html

3 September 23 Atmospheric pressure and wind systems Pidwirny, Ch. 7, n, o, p, q September 25 Precipitation processes and distribution Pidwirny, Ch. 7, r, s, t, u September 28 Climate classification and the hypothetical continent Pidwirny, Ch. 7, v September 30 Climate and biogeography Pidwirny, Ch. 9, j, k October 2 Climate and soils Pidwirny, Ch. 9, p, q, r, s October 5 Climate change Ingram & Malamud-Roam, all, but especially Ch. 4 October 7 Climate change Ingram & Malamud-Roam, all, but especially Chs. 13 & 14 October 9 Concluding remarks on climate, wrap up October 12 Exam 2 October 14 Evolutionary biology TBA October 16 Evolutionary biology TBA October 19 Environmental microbiology TBA October 21 Environmental sources of pathogenic microbes TBA October 23 Environmental sources of pathogenic microbes TBA October 26 Endospores TBA October 28 Biological terrorism TBA October 30 Astromicrobiology TBA November 2 Epidemiology TBA November 4 Basic medical microbiology TBA November 6 Exam 3 November 9 Microbiota TBA November 11 Industrial microbiology TBA November 13 Biofilms TBA November 16 Biofilms TBA November 18 Biofilms and Quorum Sensing TBA November 20 Viruses TBA November 23 Allergies and autoimmune disorders TBA November 30 Vaccines TBA December 2 Summary and review TBA December 5 Final Examination (1:30-4:00 p.m.) LABORATORY SCHEDULE Aug. 27 Sept. 3 What Makes Science Different?/Scientific Method/Location on Earth/Metric System and French Enlightenment Systems/Earth-Sun Relationships

4 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Plate Tectonics and Natural Hazards/Ocean Currents Ocean Currnets/Energy Balance Atmospheric Moisture/Precipitation Soil Water Budget/Climate Classification Biogeography/Soils Lab topics for October 15 Nov. 19 TBA REQUIRED BOOKS: Michael Pidwirny, Fundamentals of Physical Geography, 2d Edition (this is an on-line text available at no cost at B. Lynn Ingram and Frances Malamud-Roam, The West Without Water: What Past Floods, Droughts, and Other Climatic Clues Tell Us about Tomorrow. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, Readings for the second half of the semester will be provided on or before October 14. GRADING There will be four examinations including the non-comprehensive final examination. Each worth 100 points. Lab is divided into two parts, each worth 100 points each. Total points for course = 600. Total points Grade A B C D <360 F REQUIRED STATEMENTS CIVILITY IN THE CLASSROOM: Texas Tech University and the Geoscience Department endeavor to foster a classroom climate of mutual respect among students and between students and teacher. Mutual respect means that we should be tolerant of different ideas and varying opinions about topics of discussion in class, that we address each other respectfully and without interrupting while others are speaking, and that we do not engage in disruptive behavior in class. Signs of disrespect include, but are not restricted to: ringing cell phones (turn them off or leave them home), reading a newspaper or other material that is not part of a class assignment while in class, talking with classmates during class, eating and drinking in class, and similar disruptive behaviors. Students who engage in disruptive behavior will be warned. Repeated disruptive behavior may result in the student being asked to leave the classroom. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY STATEMENT: The TTU Code of Student Conduct, which you should have received when you enrolled in the university, contains a lengthy list of prohibited behaviors, among which is Academic Dishonesty. Please note that cheating and plagiarism (a form of cheating) are included among the actions that are subject to disciplinary action. Cheating will not be tolerated in this course. A student who is caught cheating will receive a grade of 0 on the exam, paper, or exercise. Awarding of a grade of F for the course is also a possible penalty. In addition, the incident of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of the of the appropriate academic college for such disciplinary action as they see fit to administer. Cheating includes but is not limited to:

5 1. Copying from another student s academic work, test, quiz, or other assignment 2. Receiving assistance from and/or seeking aid from another student or individual to complete academic work, test, quiz, or other assignment without authority. 3. The use or possession of materials or devices during academic work, test, quiz or other assignment which are not authorized by the person administering the academic work, test, quiz, or other assignment. 4. Possessing, using, buying, stealing, transporting, selling or soliciting in whole or in part items including, but not limited to, the contents of an unadministered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program/ software. Possession, at any time, of current or previous test materials without the instructor s permission. 5. Obtaining by any means, or coercing another person to obtain items including, but not limited to, an unadministered test, test key, homework solution or computer program/software, or information about an unadministered test, test key, homework solution or computer program. 6. Transmitting or receiving information about the contents of academic work, test, quiz, or other assignment with another individual who has completed or will complete the academic work, test, quiz, or other assignment without authority. 7. Substituting for another person, or permitting another person to substitute for oneself in order to take a course, take a test, quiz or other assignment or sign in/register attendance. 8. Taking, keeping, misplacing, damaging or altering the property of the University or of another, if the student knows or reasonably should know that an unfair academic advantage would be gained by such conduct. 9. Falsifying research data, laboratory reports, and/or other academic work offered for credit. 10. Failing to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test Plagiarism: 1. expression or representation of words, ideas, illustrations, structure, computer code, other media of another as one s own and/or failing to properly cite direct, paraphrased or summarized materials. 2. Self-plagiarism which involves the submission of the same academic work more than once without the prior permission of the instructor and/or failure to correctly cite previous work written by the same student. Source: Texas Tech University Student Handbook, downloaded July 3, 2014 Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated and will result in a grade of 0 on work that contains plagiarized material. In addition, a grade of F may be awarded for the course. Any cases of cheating will be reported to the responsible academic dean (i.e., Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, etc.) ACCOMMODATION OF DISABLED STUDENTS: Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor s office hours. Please note: instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, please contact Student Disability Services in West Hall or call STUDENT ABSENCE FOR OBSERVATION OF RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS: Any student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known to the instructor prior to the absence. A student who is absent from class for the observance of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. See University Standard Operating Procedure

6 IMPORTANT DATES IN THE SEMESTER; August 27 September 9 September 9 October 26 October 26 November 24 November 24 Last day to add a course Last day to drop a course without academic penalty Last day to drop a course and have charges removed Last day to declare pass/fail Last day to drop a course (will count against 4-course W limit) Last day to transfer between colleges Last day to withdraw from the university