No Strings Attached

Bon Voyage to Bad Boating Habits

Abstract:: Students will learn about common boating-related threats to waterways. They will learn about the problems created in waterways by recreational boaters and discuss ways boaters can change their behaviors to reduce their impact on waterways. Students will also learn about the history of water pollution through a study of the Cuyahoga River. They will create a commercial to raise awareness about boating-related pollution. Exercises will also help students explore the reliability of information on the Internet by comparing various articles on MTBE, a common gasoline additive that can contribute to water pollution, and expose students to the problems associated with unintentionally transporting invasive species in ballast water. An experiment that will help students visualize measurements parts per million is also included.

Environmental Politics and Policy, Spring 2003

Abstract:: Examines the collision of politics, economics, values, and science in making and carrying out environmental policy at national, state, and local levels. Case studies of environmental policymaking explore the roles of governmental institutions, business, interest groups, the public, and the media in areas of air and water pollution, hazardous waste disposal, public lands management, and wildlife protection. "Environmental Politics and Policy" explores the workings of environmental policymaking in the United States. What are the big issues facing environmental policy? How did we end up with the policies we have today? Why does it take a crisis to move environmental policy forward? Why do political factors - economic interests, social and political values, bureaucratic styles, ideologies, elections, etc. - always seem to overwhelm sound scientific and engineering judgment in determining policy outcomes? Case studies ranging from cleaning up toxic waste pollution to endangered species protection probe the clashes between science and politics at local, state, and federal levels.