ENVS 124 Intro to Urban Ecology

More than half of the world's human population lives in an urban setting. Population projections suggest two out of three people will live in cities by 2050. Increasing urbanization will give rise to novel ecosystems consisting of complex human-nature interactions. Through readings of primary scientific literature, lectures, and short excursions in and around campus, this class examines how urbanization alters natural ecosystem dynamics and what that means for the ecosystem services we rely on. Course uses an interdisciplinary lens to examine topics such as urban biodiversity, pollution, climate change, and the urban/rural interface. Explores sustainable urban development as a strategy to help slow global environmental degradation.