Return to course home page.

Assignment 1: Documenting Change.

Due Mon. Jan 29.

  • Find an image, or pair of images, that documents a change on the planet.
  • Post a link to your image(s) on the blackboard discussion board for this assignment
  • Tell us where you found the images
  • Include a sentence or two about what you conclude from the image(s)

    One good site to explore for this assignment is the Astronaut Photography site of the Johnson Space Science Center: http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov

    Do let us know of other good sites you find, there’s also a blackboard discussion forum just for that

    Assignment 2: Tragedy of the Commons.

    Due Mon. Feb 5.

  • Read Hardin’s “Tragedy of the Commons” paper (p115 in the State of the Planet text).
  • Write a paragraph or two to describe a tragedy of the commons experience you’ve had. How could the tragedy be solved?
  • Turn in your description by posting it on the blackboard discussion board for this assignment.
  • Look over some of the other descriptions that have been turned in to see how they compare with your own.

    Assignment 3: IPCC Summary for Policy Makers

    Due Mon. Feb 12.
  • Download the IPCC “Summary for Policy Makers”, from the IPCC website (click on "Download Summary For Policymakers" under "Information for Press")

  • Carefully read the summary, and post a paragraph or two about your thoughts. Is it what you expected? Any surprises? How would you advise policy makers to respond? Do you have the opportunity to make any policy in your own life? As usual, check out what other have posted, too.

  • Send the IPCC report to at least 3 people you know who otherwise might not see it. You could let them know what you think they might find interesting about it, too. There may be a difference between what you find interesting and what they find interesting. That's OK.

    Assignment 3, Continued: Don’t let Perfection be the Enemy of the Good.

    Due Mon. Mar. 5th

    Your first responses to the IPCC report make it clear that most people found it difficult to read: a dry summary of scientific facts that you already know about, and frustrating for not laying out clear directions for mitigation (that will come later). Those are, of course, reasonable reactions. Now let’s get beyond them to think about what this international panel of scientists have given their time to try to convey. Please go back and read your original blackboard posting under Assignment 3, and add a “reply” that answers at least one of the following questions (if it does not already):

    1. What scientific fact or prediction do you find most interesting, surprising, striking, or troubling? Why?

    2. Choose one of the facts or predictions being conveyed: write a paragraph or two that conveys the same information in a way that you find clearer or preferable. What audience are you writing to? What improvement were you aiming for in your presentation?

    3. Discuss the role of the 4 different volumes of the full IPCC report (explained on the IPCC website). Which are you most interested in? Which do you think will give you the most information or inspiration for using your own talents and passions to help the planet. Why?

    Note: remember from class on Feb 9th to spend some time understanding the predictive language (explained in the footnotes). There’s also a lot more context and info on the IPCC website.

    Assignment 4: Your Carbon Footprint.

    Due Wed. Feb 21.

    Calculate your Carbon Footprint. There are many online Carbon Calculators you could use. For example, check out this one on the BP website . If you find another Carbon Calculator, please do post it under “Useful Links”. What is something easy you can do now to reduce your carbon footprint? Go ahead and do it! Is there something you could suggest to your friends, or your parents? Go ahead and suggest it. Write a paragraph to let us know what you have done, what you suggested, and how it was received. Write a second paragraph about what your local or national policy makers could do to help you reduce your carbon footprint even more. What can you do to help those policy makers implement your suggestion? Try to be concrete, so that your suggestions can lead to actions.

    Assignment 5: Business Leaders Call for Action.
    Due Mon. Feb. 26.

    Check out the US Climate Action Partnership website at http://www.us-cap.org It’s a coalition of major Business leaders (Alcoa, BP, DuPont, GE, PG&E, etc) and Environmental leaders who recently presented a Call for Action to Congress.

    Read the Call for Action. What do you think? Would you like Congress to support it? Did you know you can e-mail your congresspeople? Check out http://www.congress.org Who are your representatives and senators? If you decide to send an e-mail, why not post a copy in blackboard, so that others can share your ideas, give you editing feedback, etc.

    You can also watch the press conference of Jan 22 at http://www.us-cap.org and there’s a page for other business leaders and officials to sign-up to support the Call for Action. Do you know anybody in a business or other organization who could bring the idea to their leader? Go ahead and send them the link.

    Assignnment 6 - Sustaining the Course.
    Due Mon. March 5

    This week, we wouldd like you to give us feedback to help us with future planning and funding of the State of the Planet course. You are welcome to submit your assignment anonymously.

    Could you please answer the following questions for us, and use your college and (possible) major as your subject line.

    1. Has the course influenced your perspectives (eg: on education, career plans, lifestyle)? Please elaborate.

    2. Would you recommend the course to others in your major? Why or why not?

    3. Do you think your major department (or school) should help to support the course? Why or why not?

    4. Any other comments or suggestions for us?

    Thank you!!!

    Assignment 7 - Design a bumper sticker
    Due Wed. April 4

    Read the "Stabilization Wedges" paper by Pacala and Socolow, available in the readings for Wednesday March 28 and Friday March 30. Remember what Paul McEuen said about how hopeless the "Greens" are about designing good ads? Do better! Choose one of the wedges, and design a bumper sticker (or T-shirt, or cartoon, or YouTube video, or whatever) to help make it happen.

    Feel free to work in groups, but make sure your posting names everybody in your group.

    Assignment 8
    Due Fri. April 20

    Check out the recent Supreme Court decision (04/02/07) about Massachusetts v. EPA.

    There’s also some good background on the website of Dr. Inez Fung at UC Berkeley

    Google around a bit, and find an article that gives you some insight into the decision. Post a link to the article, and explain the insight you got. Also, if you have not done this recently: explore the Supreme Court website and learn about the Justices and the Court Structure.

    Assignment 9
    Due April 30

    Activism in Art: find a piece of art that you like - music, song, painting, poetry, novel, movie, dance, whatever... in which you see some form of activism. Link to the piece if possible, or describe it, and explain what the activism is about.

    Return to course home page.