Course Description: This course is designed to provide students with a broad perspective on the subject of environmental health issues pertinent to the Chesapeake Bay. It will be a comprehensive course in which a definitive description of basic concepts and principles, laboratory testing and field situations, as well as examples of typical data and their interpretation and use by industry and water resource managers, will be discussed. Numerous examples and case studies will be presented, many by local leading experts. In addition, concepts and examples will be discussed in a broader perspective with references to other estuarine systems (e.g. San Francisco Bay, Puget sound). Classes will consist of lectures by the instructor together with some guest speakers in addition to group discussions.
Course Rationale: The overall health of the Chesapeake Bay has declined in recent decades for a variety of reasons. This course will investigate some of the reasons for it’s current state of health and provide numerous examples and case studies documenting the major issues concerning the health of the Bay. This will include discussions relating to water quality and the organisms that reside within. Case study examples will relate to issues of environmental sustainability, resilience and include examples of monitoring, restoration and remediation approaches. This wide range of topics will combine the sciences of chemistry, geology, toxicology, pharmacology, molecular biology, epidemiology, ecology, statistics, risk assessment and management.
- Course creator: Christopher L. Rowe
- Teacher: Carys Mitchelmore