Fall 2006 Environmental Science Courses

The University of Texas at Austin
Fall 2006 Environmental Science Courses

	MNS 383: Marine Isotope Geochemistry This course will cover the wide-ranging utility of isotopic techniques in marine geochemistry, oceanography, paleoceanography, biogeochemistry, and isotope ecology. We will discuss stable, radiogenic, cosmogenic, uranium-series, anthropogenic, and "honorary" isotopes (such as the rare-earth elements and anthropogenic CFC's). For each subtopic of the course, the instructors will deliver an introductory lecture or set of lectures, after which we will delve into specific and, for the most part, recent applications and areas of study based on the primary literature.
	GRS 390P: MultiCultural Issues in Academic & Professional Instruction: "Communicating Across Disciplinary Cultures" Students will explore and analyze over-arching, systematic, meta-perspectives on different ways humans generate new knowledge in the face of on-going change, disciplinary conflicts, and even risk. In an era of greater interdisciplinary research and virtual research teams crossing geographic boundaries, how can students discover and practice greater flexibility of outlook and enhance their ability as scientists and scholars to learn and work together more effectively?
	GEO 391: Groundwater Management in Texas This course is concerned with groundwater management in Texas. In 2005 the Texas Legislature passed and the governor signed laws that requires groups of Groundwater Districts (GDs), called “Groundwater Management Areas” (GMAs) to plan for the desired future condition of the groundwater resources in their area. This is a new process in Texas and in the U.S. The collective decisions of the groundwater districts in a GMA will impact future withdrawals.