CPSP118G Science & Global Change Colloquium
Semester I The Nature of Science: What We Do To Keep From Lying To Ourselves
SGC Website: http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc/
Course Syllabus Website: http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc/syllabi/CPSP118G1208.html
Course Policies Website: http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc/syllabi/SGC1208policies.html
ELMS Blackboard Website: http://elms.umd.edu/ Course ID: 201208_CPSP118G_THOLTZ
Course Videos Website: http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc/syllabi/118Gvideos.html

SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND EVENTS -- Post-Sandy Revision

Date Topic

8/27/12 (Mon.) SERVICE DAY
9/2/12 (Sun.) Metro Scavenger Hunt
9/4/12 Introduction and Logistics of Class
What is Global Change, and Why Should I Care?
9/11/12 What is Science?
Reading: Kida Introduction and Chaps. 1-3
9/18/12 Scientific Method 101: Observations & Hypotheses
Reading: Kida Chaps. 4-6
9/25/12 Quiz 1
Scientific Method 201: "Just a Theory"
Effectiveness and Honesty
Reading: Kida Chaps. 7-9
9/30/12 (Sun.) Field Trip I: Fossil Hunting at Bayfront Park, Brownie Beach, Chesapeake Beach, MD
10/2/12 A Look at Logical Fallacies Group Project
Reading: Kida Chaps. 10-12, Epilogue
10/9/12 Quiz 2
Using Kida's Principles Group Project
Reading: Hazen & Trefil Introduction, Chaps. 1-3
10/13/12 (Sat.) Field Trip II: Smithsonian Environmental Reserch Center, Edgewater, MD
10/16/12 Workshop: Website Design 101 (see assignment and template) [Please bring laptop to class]
Surviving Your First Semester
Reading: Hazen & Trefil Chaps. 4-6
10/23/12 Anatomy of a Scientific Paper
Reading: Hazen & Trefil Chaps. 7-9
10/27/12 (Sat.) Field Trip III: Maryland Science Center, Baltimore, MD
10/30/12 Sandy-based Cancellation
11/6/12 Quiz 3
Workshop: Website Design 201 [Please bring laptop to class]
A Look Ahead at College Life & Its Opportunties
Reading: Hazen & Trefil Chaps. 10-12
11/13/12 Modern Plesiosaurs, Ancient Astronauts, and Hollow-Earth Antarctic Space Nazis: the Lure and Lore of Pseudoscience
Anatomy of a Scientific Paper project due
Academic Website due
Reading: Hazen & Trefil Chaps. 13-15
11/18/12 (Sun.) Field Trip IV: National Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
11/23/12 Quiz 4
Good, Bad & Pseudoscience Group Project
Reading: Hazen & Trefil Chaps. 16-19, Epilogue
11/27/12 The Dynamic Earth
Reading: Crosby Part I (Chaps. 1-3)
Online Course Evaluations available
12/4/12 Quiz 5
Energy Resources Group Project [Please bring a calculator]
Reading: Crosby Part II (Chaps. 4-6)
12/2/12 (Sun.) Field Trip V: Marian Koshland Museum of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
12/11/12 Quiz 6
What's My Footprint? Group Project
Carbon footprint exercise due
Reading: Crosby Part III (Chaps. 7-9)
12/12/12 (Wed.) Last day for Online Course Evaluations