Perspectives on Mountain Top Removal: Origins, Techniques, and Impacts
ENVS 331
Spring 2013
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
HIST 331, SISP 331 |
| Certificates: Environmental Studies |
This multi-disciplinary seminar will examine mountaintop removal mining using several approaches. These include the historical, to examine its development from its origins to the present; geographic, to determine how it changes not just the topology but also networks of traffic and demography; technological, to understand the various technologies this mining practice utilizes; ecological, to explore the broader environmental impact it has locally, regionally, and even more broadly; public health, to determine the impact this practice has on the health of people both near and far from the mining sites themselves; economic, to establish both the benefits and the long-term costs; and literary and artistic, to utilize the creative works that focus on mountaintop removal mining and its consequence. As a final project, students will produce an essay or multi-media project that will become the core of a website that will also include photographs by the instructor. During the first six weeks of the semester, an integral part of the course will be a two-hour movement workshop on Tuesday evenings led by Eiko Otake, who, with Johnston, has previously co-instructed a course on the history of the atomic bomb. One goal of the movement workshop is to demonstrate how much of our learning process is as much physical as it is mental; another is to integrate course themes through non-verbal learning. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS ENVS |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Barbara Freese, COAL: A HUMAN HISTORY.
Shirley Stewart Burns, BRINGING DOWN THE MOUNTAINS.
Erik Reece, LOST MOUNTAIN.
Michael Shnayerson, COAL RIVER.
Other books and various journal articles TBA.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Attendance and thorough class preparation are mandatory. Students are required to post reading responses for each reading and to read their classmates' responses before coming to class. There also will be a more informal journal requirement to track ideas regarding the final project. As described in the Course Description, the main project will be to contribute to a digitally based resource (possibly a website) on mountaintop removal mining. Technical expertise is not required. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Interested students are asked to submit a one-page description of how this course fits in their academic career at Wesleyan and how they see their interests and skills contributing to the course. Quality of writing in this description will be considered. |
| Instructor(s): Johnston,William D. Otake,Eiko Times: .M..... 01:10PM-04:00PM; ..T.... 07:30PM-09:30PM; Location: FEAS SEM; FEAS SEM; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 19 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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