Freshwater Resources and Society: Communicating Science and Policy
Our freshwater resources are affected by natural phenomena such as droughts and floods and by human-induced factors such as urbanization and agriculture. The ability to communicate – through writing – the scientific research behind such issues to a non-specialist audience is important for influencing policy and public awareness. Furthermore, such writing will help you develop critical thinking skills that will be useful in any discipline you choose to pursue. This course will have three major writing projects. First, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of different water management strategies and policies, and will write a critical commentary on a particular aspect of water resources policy that you believe needs improvement. To develop this critical commentary, we will work with scientific research articles, other professional literature, and popular news articles.
Second, we will examine the potential impacts of different land use practices on water quantity and quality. Some seemingly positive land management activities have unintended negative consequences. For example, one purpose of tree plantations is to take up greenhouse gases, but these plantations may also reduce stream flow. During our study of such topics, you will improve your comprehension of primary scientific literature and will analyze and compare important research findings. In a short review article, you will then synthesize and discuss the recent literature on a specific topic, and will highlight knowledge gaps and future research directions.
In the final major writing project, you will identify a specific water resources topic that you believe warrants further study and will write a short research proposal. Proposal topics can stem from your short review topic, and may take an ecological, engineering, economic, political or other focus, depending on your interests. For all assignments in this course, careful research, thoughtful self- and peer-review, and frequent revision will be emphasized as components of successful writing.
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