Ecosystems, Energy, and Sustainability

This unit examines how energy, water, soil, and biological communities interact with human systems, policies, and practices. Students investigate renewable and nonrenewable energy, water and wastewater treatment, pollution and waste management, and conservation strategies, applying scientific methods and multiple ways of knowing to develop data-driven, sustainable solutions.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze interactions among energy sources, water systems, soil properties, and biological communities to determine their combined effects on ecosystem health and sustainability
• Evaluate environmental impacts of human activities (including fossil fuel use, pesticides, waste generation, and land-use change) using data on greenhouse gases, pH, pollutants, and indicator species to prioritize mitigation actions
• Design a local conservation, restoration, or waste-reduction plan that integrates scientific evidence, traditional/indigenous knowledge, and economic/social considerations (triple bottom line) to improve habitat quality and resource resilience
• Apply field and laboratory monitoring techniques (water quality testing, air quality indicators, pathogen surveillance, and soil assessment) to interpret results and communicate evidence-based recommendations