Department of Communications Studies, URI, Kingston RI 02881
Phone: 401-874-2970; Fax: 401-874-4722
Email: mayfly@uri.edu
COURSE GOALS
Through a review of contemporary books, periodicals, and government publications, we will study the biological and physical science behind global warming, peak oil, and global resource limits. Focus will be on the varying messages coming from government about the nature of limits and what we must do. We will look for messages that focus on the present versus those that give significant weight to the concerns of future generations, with emphasis on rhetorical differences between scientists, politicians, and various special interest groups.
PREREQUISITES
A passion for reading, a quest for knowledge of where the world is heading, and a faith that we can make critical differences of a planetary scope.
TEXTS
Book orders were shared with The URI Book Store (Memorial Union) and The RI Book Company (Emporium)
- Heinberg, Richard. 2005. The Party’s Over, 2nd edition. New Society Publishers. 306 p.
- Lovelock, James. 2006. The Revenge of Gaia. Basic Books. 177 p.
- Meadows, Donella and Jorgen Randers, Dennis L. Meadows. 2004. Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update. Chelsea Green. 338 p.
- Mooney, Chris. 2007. Storm World. Harcourt. 392 p.
Additional readings are either required or supplemental. "Required" will be copied and distributed in class. "Supplemental" readings are listed separately; links to online copies are here. Supplemental readings will be discussed by the instructor; this list is subject to change during the semester (online links will be updated), as new material arises in the popular press or online. Links are provided for those with time and interest to delve deeper, but the volume, reading time, and costs of reproducing are prohibitive, which is why they are considered optional.
FORMAT & GRADING
We will have two weekly classes for lecture and discussion. The course will focus on analysis and written critiques of books and assigned reading materials. This course is reading and writing intensive; there will be 4 book reviews, reading-related quizzes, and a final paper. Grades are based on assignments, quizzes, degree and quality of participation (including but not limited to simple attendance). (details).
ATTENDANCE
Students should be prepared to think long, hard, and deeply in this course, and to reflect the seriousness of the subject matter with their attendance, diligent preparation, and activity in class. For greater clarity, see grading.
SCHEDULE (Spring, 2008)
Class: Tues. & Thurs., 12:30-1:45, Independence 311
Office hours: see Spring Schedule.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1 (January 24)
Knowing Where We Are at the Start
Introduction: Course goals, requirements, procedures, assignments (critiques, term paper) and exams. What is "the century of limits"?
What do we expect?: Personal visions, material desires, and senses of entitlement.
What do we know?: Biases about the world's resources, sinks, and human potentials?
Core Concepts: Global carrying capacities, exponential growth of human numbers, overshoot.
Reading:
- Meadows, chapters 1-2 (pages 1-50)
- Supplemental (2)
Entry Survey: Initial Perspectives (due January 29)
Book Review #1: Growth and Limits (due February 5)
Term Paper: What We Must Do, and What I Will Do (due April 17)
Week 2 (January 29, 31)
A Finite World
Ecology of the global biosphere: Open and closed natural systems. The role of water. A planet of finite resources and finite sinks.
Reading:
- Meadows, chapter 3 (pages 51-128)
Week 3 (February 5, 7)
Global Climate Change
Is it getting warm in here? Experiencing and Modeling Weather and Climate Change
Reading:
- Required:
- Mooney, part I (pages 1-102)
- Oreskes, N. 2004. Science (306): 1686. "The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change."(pdf)
- Supplemental (several)
Book Review #2: Storm World (due February 26)
Week 4 (February 12, 14)
Heated Discussion
First solutions: Is yuppie environmentalism the best we can do?
Critical response: The special case of James Hansen.
Reading:
- Required:
- Mooney, part II (pages 103-204)
- Supplemental (several)
Week 5 (February 19, 21)
Why Are We at War with Science?
The Scientific Community: What are the messages? How and why are they being delivered? What is the outcome? How can scientists and their publicists (e.g., Mr. Gore) do better?
The government: Are these the same messages? How and why are government messages being delivered? What is the outcome? How can politicians do better?
Reading:
- Required:
- Mooney, Part III (pages 205-276)
- Supplemental (several)
Week 6 (February 26, 28)
Sliding Down the Other Side of Hubbert's Curve
Peak Oil: Is the Party Really Over?
Fossil Fuels: Estimating Reserves and Depletion Rates.
Reading:
- Required:
- Heinberg, chapters 1—3 (pages 1-136)
- Supplemental (1)
Book Review #3: Heinberg. (due 3/13)
Week 7 (March 4, 6)
(March 7 is mid-semester.)
What Are the Alternatives?
Post-Peak Oil: Energy Scenarios for the 21st Century.
Gain: The Energy Cost of Harder-to-Extract Reserves and Alternatives
Reading:
- Required:
- Heinberg, chapters 4—Afterword (pages 137-274)
- Cleveland et al. Science 225: 890-897. 8/31/1984. "Energy and the U.S. Economy: A Biophysical Perspective."
- Supplemental (several)
Week 8 (March 11, 13)
Through the Looking Glass
Computing tomorrow: Understanding models used in Limits to Growth.
Model building: Introduction to systems science and simulation.
Model validation: What makes a model "real"? Who and what should we believe?
Reading:
- Meadows et al, chapter 4 (pages 129-180)
Week 9 (March 24, 27)
March 17-21 is Spring Break!
Living Within the Limits
Transitions: Bending exponential curves into asymptotes—OR—Bouncing off the carrying capacity.
Environment and economy: How environmental limits from resources and sinks constrain the economy.
Reading:
- Required:
- Meadows et al, chapters 5-6 (pages 181-234)
- "The Shape of Current Thought on Sustainable Development," from Beyond Growth, by Herman Daly (handout).
- Supplemental (several)
Week 10 (April 1, 3)
Communicting science, politics, and the uncertain future.
Mourning the future: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Sifting through visions: Who says what, why are they saying it, what should we believe?
Reading:
- Meadows et al, chapters 7-8 (pages 235-284)
Week 11 (April 8, 10)
Searching for Social Solutions
Doing nothing: Can we party on?
The prime directive: Discounting people who are distant in space and time.
Last man standing: Global Domination or Global Leadership?
Return to Adam Smith: The Theory of Moral Sentiment and The Wealth of Nations?
Readings:
- Supplemental (2)
Week 12 (April 15, 17)
Engaging for Solutions
Engaging: Going beyond "I can't do anything; we must do something."
Evolution: Moving from H. sapiens individualis to H. sapiens socialis—the prospects for rapid global change in human outlook
Pace: Thoughts on enduring cultural change
Week 13 (April 22, 24)
Is the Future Frightening?: Reflections on Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel and Collapse, and James Kunstler's The Long Emergency.
The Rhetorical University in the Century of Limits: Returning to the role of education, and in particular higher education, in preparing us for our future.
Week 14 (April 29)
(Tuesday, April 29, is the last day of class.)
Your Final Thoughts. Comments and suggestions for future course improvements.