Course Objectives: Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate, choose and/or utilize appropriate research and evaluation tools used in a variety of disciplines to conduct research, manage natural systems and evaluate impacts of anthropogenic activities through 1) hands-on laboratory modules taught by faculty from the earth and life sciences, environmental science and engineering, urban planning, information systems, social sciences and others; and 2) synthesis of the tools and techniques learned throughout the course in research application papers describing how they would employ the cross-disciplinary methods to their research topics.

Although this is a required course for trainees in the UIC LEAP program, interested non-LEAP students are strongly encouraged to register.

Course Outline

• 4 credit hours

• The course will consist of modules taught by instructors in experimental design, molecular biological tools, geoenvironmental forensics, geographic information systems and complex modeling

• Each module will have lecture/demonstration and hands on learning experiences

• Lectures/discussions to be held Friday afternoons 1:00 – 4:00 PM in the class room, computer labs, molecular biology labs and environmental science labs

• Grading will be based upon class/lab participation (25%), homework/lab assignments (25%) and two research application papers (50%). Active participation is mandatory and non-participation will be deducted from the course grade.

Spring 2008 Schedule: All class documents are distributed through the BLACKBOARD system.

Date of latest revisions: 2/26/08