PEOPLE, LAND AND FOOD: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS

AGROECOL/ENVIRST 724

Impacts of global change drivers (climate change, atmospheric chemistry, bioenergy, urbanization, policy) on agroecosystems and their associated goods and services; environmental impacts of agricultural land use and feedbacks to climate; modeling approaches; critical review of current scientific literature.

GEOG/SOILSCI 526

Takes an earth systems approach to explore the role of human societies in shaping earth surface processes from local to global scales. We address how alterations to our landscapes and waterways affect biological, physical and chemical interactions among our biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. We discuss methods used to distinguish the "human impact" from background variability.

AGROECOL 303

Explores in-depth agriculture systems as coupled ecological and social complexities. Examines the components of agricultural systems and analyzes how different ecological and social contexts influence and are influenced by the agricultural system. Explores and analyzes how management decisions (crop breeding, in-crop management, landscape-level, etc.) ramify to influence processes and outcomes at different levels of complexity (e.g., ecosystem, landscape, social well-being, human health, economic) and the socio-ecological tradeoffs that ensue. Develops skills to analyze how the design and implementation of integrated agricultural systems can contribute to solutions for pressing societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity declines, unsustainable resource use and social inequality.

ENVIRST/GEOG 139

Explores the global and local nature of environmental problems, including issues of climate change, food, energy, globalization, deforestation, biodiversity loss, resource access, environmental justice, and population. Considers how we should analyze and act on environmental problems as we confront the apparently daunting scale of such issues. What appear to be single global environmental issues are actually composed of many smaller, context-specific, and place-dependent problems or conflicts. Through an interdisciplinary and geographic perspective, these issues can be understood and addressed at the scale of our lived lives.

ENVIRST/GEOG 337

Explores the links between nature, power and society in today's world. Considers the complex relationships between humans and the earth's resources, including food, energy, physical materials, water, biota, and landscapes. Examines issues linked to population and scarcity, resource tenure, green consumerism, political economy, environmental ethics, risks and hazards, political ecology, and environmental justice.