Southeast Missouri State University

Environmental Science Program

Case Studies Subcommittee, Fall 2000

    Margaret Waterman,  Bill Eddleman, Larry Hamilton, Hamner Hill

 

Click here to learn more about case based learning

THEME

SELECTED CASES SELECTED RESOURCES

Wetlands

Cases:

Local: Mississippi Delta Land trust

National: EPA and wetlands for wastewater treatment, restorations in WI

Global: Rehabilitation of Lake Moira, Aus.; Local and indigenous people's management of wetlands

Resources

Water Quality

Cases

Local: Nonpoint pollution by MO poultry farm

National: Watershed case studies, urban runoff

Global: principles of water management, sustainable agriculture and water.

Resources

Global Climate Change

Cases

Local: Letters to the editor

National: same, Acid rain, SUV’s.  The petition, a teaching case on climate change

Global: Effect of climate change on Egypt

Resources

Many helpful links to other countries, the current UN conference, etc. 

Air Pollution/
Quality

Cases:

Local: general intro case on standards and emissions

Regional:  Acid Rain in Northeast, waste incineration (also useful for ecojustice), how a city turned around

Global: urbanization and air pollution in Argentina, India, Bhopal toxic gas release, lead in Sydney

Resources:

Local, state and national ordinances; transboundary air pollution issue paper; pollution cams, a java program on spread of toxic spills, data, background info, sites that index specific topics on air pollution

Food Sustainability

Cases:

Local: Empty food pantries,  Bt crops

National: Hunger, GM crops

Global: GM crops, novel food proteins, population and funger

Resources:

Info on food pantries, organizations specializing in hunger relief, Food insecurity, national and international policies re: food, data on extent of hunger

Population and Sustainability

Cases:

Local: Rates:  Teen pregnancy, immigration

National: Immigration, hunger

Global: Policies to control population, violence and overpopulation, ecological threats. 

Resources: 

Census population spreadsheets, Census data, Issues papers, Organizations, Those who say overpopulation is a myth, interactive museum exhibit on population.

Hazardous Wastes

Cases: 

Local: Aquarium enthusiasts, Americium in Magill

National: EPA superfund site cleanup, nuclear waste storage and states rights and Native Americans, hog farming

Global: Many TED cases involving several nations, Best environmental practices in mining. 

Resources: 

Background readings, links to sociological aspects, Several sites with follow up links

Themes to be developed, available cases and resources identified

Ecojustice

Local: local dumps, Paducah gas diffusion,

Regional: Cancer alley in Louisiana

Global: First v. Third world

Resources: EPA has extensive maps to overlay SES and industrial zones

 

Environmental Community Action

Local: Grassroots activism, Calvert City,

Regional: ACORN in STL

Global: Greenpeace, FOE, WWF, Union Conc. Sci..

Resources:

Trade and Environment 

Local: Biokyowa lysine

National: NAFTA, Steel production

Global: WTO, IMF

Resources

Biodiversity 

Local: Mo River levels to protect endangered fish

National: Prairie restoration at Fermi

Global: Extinction rates and deforestation.

Resources

Natural Resource Management 

Extractive vs. renewable

Local: Chip mills

National: Mining vs. manufacturing

Global: Depletion of 3rd world resources by 1st world

Resources

Habitat destruction and deforestation 

Local: chipping mills

National: Oil production in Alaska & parks, moving the highway in Thrace to preserve habitat

Global: Rainforest destruction, Desertifcation, Urbanization

Resources

Alien Species

Local: Japanese honeysuckle

National: Kudzu, killer bees, dutch elm, European corn borer, Starlings

Global: Rats in Polynesia

Resources: