Environmental Science 200: Introductory Environmental Science (Rev. C3)

ENSC 200 provides an introduction to the basic scientific principles students need in order to understand environmental processes. It introduces students to the physical, chemical and biological components of the environment and uses a systems approach to provide an understanding of the interconnections of environmental systems. Data from a range of science disciplines are used to gain an understanding of the cycles that are vital to sustaining the earth’s ecosystems. The course also provides students with an understanding of causes, effects, and controls of a selection of environmental problems. Specific environmental problems are examined in order to illustrate the scientific approach to such problems. The course provides students with basic techniques and terminology to examine scientific issues with respect to the environment.

Environmental Science 620: Environmental Data Analysis (Revision 1)

Fall 2024

Environmental Science 620 introduces data analysis—the discipline of extracting meaning from inherently complex data. This rapidly evolving field draws principles and approaches from a variety of disciplines, such as computer science, chemical and mechanical engineering, and mathematics. Data analysis has a significant impact on many fields, like business, health, and smart cities. Data analysis can play a potentially significant role in Earth and environmental sciences. It provides a rich variety of new tools to assist in both a greater knowledge of the natural environment and applications to effectively mitigate and adapt to environmental pollution and climate change. Environmental data analysis presents additional challenges for data science, particularly in terms of complexity, spatial and temporal reasoning, and uncertainty management. In this course, students conduct a variety of case studies in environmental data analysis to gain a better understanding of the subject. Completing an environmental data analysis course can enhance students’ understanding of the techniques and tools used to analyze environmental data and make decisions based on evidence. This can lead to informed and effective action on environmental issues.