ILS 126 & ENV ST 126: Principles of Environmental Science

Welcome!

In this course, we position ourselves with our feet on the UW-Madison campus and ask questions about the energy we use to heat and cool our buildings, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the electricity to run light bulbs and appliances, the goods we purchase, and the waste we create.

On campus, you will learn about sustainability-related initiatives, including those of the Office of Sustainability. Furthermore, your laboratory will meet in the "dream" collaborative teaching spaces of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery that showcase sustainable building design.

Off campus, you will travel to places in Madison that can help you see the bigger picture of energy, food, and waste.

This course rests on core principles from environmental science, a multi-disciplinary field:

We live on a finite planet. On this planet, our actions connect across space to neighbors near and far.  Our actions connect across time to past and future generations. Even though the connections may be difficult to perceive, they have profound implications and

are worthy of our attention.

Ultimately, the goal of this course is to give you the tools to see the world around you in new ways, noticing things you may have missed and encouraging you to seek paths that both care for yourself and for all with whom you share this planet.

Your instructors will engage you in learning about these connections with the best knowledge they can provide (which admittedly can be frustratingly incomplete).  Again, welcome.

Lake Mendota, 2014, a few weeks before freezing 

Laboratory 

We have assembled a set of weekly activities that will coordinate closely with what you learn in lecture.

Each Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, your laboratory section begins at 3:30 pm sharp. Most weeks, lab will last until 6:30 pm. Check the calendar so that you know where it will meet. The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery is the usual venue.

Laboratory notebooks containing the activities (3-hole punched) are required. Bring your notebook each week to lab to record answers to the questions.

Each week's activity will be collected the following Thursday in lecture.  Please turn in only one week at a time.  Your responses to several (but not all) questions will be graded each week.  You will earn up to 25 points each week.

Feel free to turn in your weekly activity early on Tuesday.  The penalty on Thursday for late work is 10 points.  Anything after 1:05 pm is late.  You may still get partial credit until 1:00 pm on Friday.

The questions in lab activities are fair game for the quiz in lecture the following Tuesday.  No surprises!  Questions from your lab manual will be taken word-for-word except for small changes in style to fit the format of a quiz.

Before each lab, find the Top Hat survey question in the write-up.  Answer the question and hand in the sheet at the beginning of lab. When you arrive in lab, first thing use your device (phone, tablet, or laptop) to enter your response. Do this no later than3:35 pm.  Note the 5-minute grace period; lab starts at 3:30 pm.

Arriving on time counts! We need everybody assembled to launch the activities of the day. A late arrival means after 3:35 pm, and the penalty is 5 points. If for some reason you know you will arrive late, please inform your TA.  Do this at least 24 hours before your lab period.

Attendance counts! We cannot provide makeup labs. If for some reason you need to miss lab, please tell your TA at least 24 hours before your lab period. With enough lead time, you may be able to attend on another day or make other arrangements.

Attendance counts! If you miss 2 lab periods, the highest grade you can earn is a D. For missing 3 or more labs, it is an F. Check the grading section for details.

Safety counts! Each week, check carefully the different safety precautions. For example, with the trash audit we will provide Kevlar gloves and eye protection for you to wear. Also check the need for proper dress. Some field trips and lab activities require proper clothing and shoes.

 

 Grading

Yep, you found it. This section provides an overview of grading practices.  Read the sections on surveys, quizzes, and exams for the specifics.

This course is set up to promote your success! For example, grades are assigned on a point scale. If you earn an A, you receive an A. This means that you are not competing with your classmates. Instead, we hope you will work together, enjoy each other's company, and perform well.

This course is set up to promote your success! As another example, your instructors will give you feedback via a short quiz in lecture each week. The questions are pre-announced, that is, no secrets. You will get clear signals about what is important. 

This course is set up to promote your success! As one last example, your TAs are available each week in lab to answer your questions. Feel free to consult with them if you need help.

Attendance in lab counts! This is a UW rule.  If you miss 2 lab periods, the highest grade you can earn is a D. For missing 3 or more labs, it is an F. Check the lab section for more details about lab.

Please keep in touch. During the semester, things unexpectedly may happen that will affect your ability to study. Let us know when problems arise, and we will work with you to find solutions.

This table summarizes details that you will find in the next three sections. The two surveys (week #1 and week #16) are not included because there are only two of them, and full credit is awarded simply for taking them.

 

    ....Quizzes....   ......Exams......   .....Final.....

  Points 

25 points

 

150 points

 

250 points

  When held 

in class

 

in classMay 7, 5:05 pm

  Number  

11

 

2

 

1

  Material covered 

~1 week

 

~1.5 month

 

semester

  Questions pre-announced 

yes

 

no

 

some

  Drop lowest 

yes

 

no

 

no

  Early exam 

yes

 

yes

 

yes

  late exam 

no

 

no

 

no

 

 

 Surveys

Week 1 and Week 16 The first week of the semester (Week #1), you can earn 15 points by answering 15 survey questions.  All responses receive full credit. Same thing for the last week of the semester (Week #16).

Why a survey? We would like to learn more about you.  We'll tabulate your responses and report them anonymously.

Where do I find the survey? Look under Quizzes in the menu to the left.  The first one is available at the start of the semester; the second one will become available during the last week.

Quizzes

Why quizzes?Quizzes provide an incentive for you to keep up.  Starting Week #2, quizzes will be held during class - usually on Tuesdays - but perhaps a Thursday, now and then. Quizzes are designed to be quick to take (~15 min) and are worth 25 points each. As an example of "low stakes testing," quizzes provide you with timely feedback.

Can you drop your lowest quiz?YES.  Although we expect the quiz grades to run high, you still may drop your lowest score. In return for this, we are not offering make-up quizzes for any reason.

What if you need an early quiz? We know that you cannot be in two places at once. So here's the deal. If you know ahead of time that you cannot attend lecture, you are welcome to take an early quiz at 7:30 am the day of the quiz. Arrange this with your TA at least 2 days ahead of time (= by 6 pm Sunday for a Tuesday quiz). I you miss a quiz for any reason, use this as the quiz you drop.

Where do the quiz questions come from?Quiz questions are drawn from two sources: (1) questions in the lab manual, and (2) a pre-announced set of questions posted on the calendar date that shows the quiz. Each quiz is closed-book, but you will have seen all of the questions previously.

Where to find help Answer keys will not be posted. If you have questions, seek help from your TA, use office hours and your lecture materials, or work together with your classmates.

Cheating No form of academic dishonesty will be tolerated. Period. Any instances will result in failure of the quiz or exam, possibly failure of the course, and a letter placed in your file at the Office of the Dean of Students. Read the statement on academic integrity from the Dean of Students. 

Exams

Timing and coverage This course has two in-class exams worth 150 points, each covering material from the weeks that precede it: Exam 1: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 Exam 2: Tuesday, April 25, 2017Although these exams are not intended to be cumulative, some topics build upon those learned previously. Exams are designed to take 1 hour, but the entire 75-minute class period will be available.

Will last year's exam help me? Yes, to some extent, because the format of exams stays the same year to year.  But the content will vary.  Use the answer keys with this disclaimer:  Determining the correct answer to past exam questions is your responsibility. We do our best to write an answer key that is error-free.  In spite of this, you may find a glitch.    Exam#1 - Spring 2016.docx and Exam#1 - Spring 2016 - KEY.docx  Exam#2 - Spring 2016.docx  and Exam#2 - Spring 2016 - KEY.docx

A minimum of trickiness In writing exam questions, your instructors aim to be straightforward and to send clear signals about what you need to know. We do not intend to be tricky.

This said, it is nearly impossible to construct an exam that is 100% clear and fair. Even with our best efforts, a question or two will miss the mark, meaning that somebody will think that it is unfair or tricky. After each test, your instructors will inquire about any glitches and find ways to address them.

What if you need an early exam? Consult with your TA at least a week before the exam. We'll work with you to arrange something. No late exams.

Final ExamThe final exam is cumulative, worth 175 points (in class) and 75 points (take-home). The exam is designed to take 1.5 hours, and you will have 2 hours to complete it. Scheduled by the registrar, our exam is on Sunday, May 7, 2016, at 5:05 pm. If you have three exams scheduled in a 24-hour period, and if this exam is one of the three, please consult with your professor by Monday, April 24, 2017, for rescheduling.

Final Exam: Take-Home activities On the final exam, 75 points are take-home activities. Select any three, each worth 25 points, from this list:

A. Energy & your shower - Final Exam 2017.docx(Due Monday, February 27, 2017 at 1 pm)B. Amazing Waste Cookbook - Final Exam 2017.docx (Due Monday, February 27, 2017 at 1 pm)C. Bike Trail Clean-up - Final Exam 2017.docx(Due Friday, May 6, 2017 at 1 pm)D. Move Out Day - Final Exam 2017.docx(Due Friday, May 12, 2017 at 1 pm)

 These assignments also are posted on the calendar.

Assigning Final Grades

Your point total determines your grade.  Some points, such as those for quizzes, are easier to obtain because the questions are pre-announced. Strive to get all of them!  Same thing for lab activity points.  Your instructor will assist you in lab to properly answer some questions in the write-up; others will be answered in lecture. 

Exam points are harder to earn.  Even so, most students perform quite well on them. Exam scores typically average around 80% (in contrast to quizzes for which the average is closer to 90%).

Here is the full picture of point distribution in the course.  It includes dropping your lowest quiz score.

   In-class quizzes             275 points (11 @25 each)    Surveys (weeks 1&16)    30 points   Laboratory activities      325 points (13 @25 each)    Exams                           300 points (2 @ 150 each)    Final Exam                     250 points      TOTAL                       1180 points

       Grade         % of the points  

A >92%  

AB 90-92%  

B 82-89.9%  

BC 80-81.9%  

C 70-79.9%  

D < 70% or missing 2 labs  

F < 65% or missing 3 labs  

 

Given unforeseen circumstances (e.g., a blizzard one week), your instructor reserves the right to modify the grading scheme and/or correct any errors in it.

 

Textbooks

2017 Laboratory Investigations Manual for ENV ST / ILS 126

Cathy Middlecampwith contributions from Tom Bryan, Tim Lindstrom, and Kata Dosa.20173-ring binder, $40Required, purchase in room 1375 Chemistry Building (WiscCard only)

 

 

How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything Mike Berners-LeeGreystone Books2011Paperback $16.95Kindle edition available  

Instructors 

 

Dr. Cathy Middlecamp

Professor, Nelson Institute for Environmental StudiesProfessor, Integrated Liberal Studies Program

Email: chmiddle@wisc.eduOffice: Room 64 Science HallPhone: 608-263-5647 (office + voicemail), 608-276-4073 (home, before 8 pm)Office Hours: After lecture and other times as arranged. Nelson Institute Home Page for Cathy Middlecamp

 

Mr. Tom Bryan

Teaching Assistant for 301 and 303 Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Email: tbryan@wisc.eduOffice Hours: After lab and other times as arranged.

Nelson Institute Home Page for Tom Bryan

 

Mr. Tim Lindstrom

Teaching Assistant for 304 and 306Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Email: timothy.lindstrom@wisc.eduOffice Hours: After lab and other times as arranged.

Nelson Institute Home Page for Tim Lindstrom

 

 

Mr. Rob Lundberg

Teaching Assistant for 302 and 305Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Email: rlundberg2@wisc.eduOffice Hours: After lab and other times as arranged.

 

Calendar Summary

Sun Jan 15, 2017 LAB - Week #1 Welcome to the Course

Tue Jan 17, 2017First day of classesLecture 1A

Thu Jan 19, 2017 Lecture 1B

Sun Jan 22, 2017LAB - Week #2a Sustainable ULAB - Week #2b Aldo's Cafe

Mon Jan 23, 2017 Survey Week 1 due by 1pm

Tue Jan 24, 2017Lecture 2AQuiz 1AB due by 1pm

Thu Jan 26, 2017Lecture 2B

DUE Lab Week #1 Welcome to the WID due by 1pm

Sun Jan 29, 2017LAB - Week #3a World of Lighting

LAB - Week #3b Campus Lighting Audit

Tue Jan 31, 2017Lecture 3AQuiz 2AB due by 1pm

Thu Feb 2, 2017Lecture 3B

DUE Lab Week #2a & 2b due by 1pm

Sun Feb 5, 2017LAB - Week #4a Union South, Evaluating the SwitchLAB - Week #4b Pedal Power and Electrical Energy

Tue Feb 7, 2017Lecture 4AQuiz 3AB due by 1pm

Thu Feb 9, 2017Lecture 4BDUE Lab Week#3 - Lighting part 1 due by 1pm

Sun Feb 12, 2017 LAB - Week #5 TRIP to Charter Street H&C Plant

Tue Feb 14, 2017Lecture 5AQuiz 4AB due by 1pm

Thu Feb 16, 2017Lecture 5BDUE Lab Week#4 - Lighting part 2 due by 1pm

Sun Feb 19, 2017LAB - Week #6a Energy & Heating WaterLAB - Week #6b Energy & Your Shower

Tue Feb 21, 2017Lecture 6AQuiz 5AB due by 1pm

Thu Feb 23, 2017Lecture 6BDUE Lab Week#5 - TRIP to Charter Street Plant due by 1pm

Sun Feb 26, 2017 LAB - Week #7 TRIP Aldo Leopold Nature Center

Mon Feb 27, 2017Final Exam A. Energy and Your Shower due by 1pmFinal Exam B. Amazing Waste Cookbook due by 1pm

Tue Feb 28, 2017Lecture 7AQuiz 6AB due by 1pm

Thu Mar 2, 2017Lecture 7BDUE Lab Week#6 - Heating Water due by 1pm

Sun Mar 5, 2017 LAB - Week #8 Carbon Cycle Part 1

Tue Mar 7, 2017Lecture 8AQuiz 7AB due by 11:59pm

Thu Mar 9, 2017Lecture 8BDUE Lab Week#7 Aldo Leopold NC Trip due by 1pm

Sun Mar 12, 2017 LAB - Week #9 Carbon Cycle Part 2Tue Mar 14, 2017 Exam 1 due by 1pm

Thu Mar 16, 2017Lecture 9B

DUE Lab Week #8 - Carbon Cycle 1 due by 1pmSun Mar 19, 2017 Spring BreakSun Mar 26, 2017 Week #11 - No lab

Tue Mar 28, 2017Lecture 11AQuiz 8AB and 9B due by 1pm

Thu Mar 30, 2017Lecture 11BDUE Lab Week#9 - Carbon Cycle 2 due by 1pm

Sun Apr 2, 2017 LAB - Week #12 - Ginger Root Part 1

Tue Apr 4, 2017Lecture 12AQuiz 11AB due by 1pm

Thu Apr 6, 2017 Lecture 12BSun Apr 9, 2017 LAB - Week #13 - Ginger Root Part 2

Tue Apr 11, 2017Lecture 13AQuiz 12AB due by 1pm

Thu Apr 13, 2017Lecture 13BDUE Lab Week #12 - Ginger Root 1 due by 1pm

Sun Apr 16, 2017 LAB - Week #14 - Trash Audit

Tue Apr 18, 2017Lecture 14AQuiz 13AB due by 1pm

Thu Apr 20, 2017

Lecture 14BDUE Lab Week #13 - Ginger Root 2 due by 1pmDUE Lab Week #13 - Excel Sheet Upload due by 11:59pm

Sun Apr 23, 2017 LAB - Week #15 - TRIPTue Apr 25, 2017 Exam 2 due by 1pm

Thu Apr 27, 2017Lecture 15BDUE Lab Week #14 - Trash Audit due by 1pm

Sun Apr 30, 2017 LAB - Week #16 - Last lab!

Tue May 2, 2017Lecture 16AQuiz 14AB and 15B due by 1pm

Thu May 4, 2017 Last Class Day

Lecture 16BDUE Lab Week #15 - Pellitteri & SVdeP Trip due by 1pm

Fri May 5, 2017Final Take-Home C. Bike Trail due by 1pmSurvey Week 16 due by 1pm

Sun May 7, 2017 Final Exam 5:05pmFri May 12, 2017 Final Take-Home D. Move-Out Day due by 1pm