Courses:
EE 144 Introduction to Oceanography
Oceanography is a branch of Earth Sciences that encompasses a variety of topics from ocean currents and plate tectonics to chemical fluxes and ecosystem dynamics. Generally oceanography is divided into four main disciplines: physical, geological, chemical, and biological. In this course we examine all four major disciplines of oceanography including physical (e.g., waves, currents, tides, and the behavior of light and sound), geological (e.g., plate tectonics, dune formation, coastal erosion) chemical (e.g., composition of seawater, interactions of seawater with the atmosphere), and biological (e.g. distribution and ecology of marine organisms). By the end of this course you will have a solid understanding of controls on oceanic circulation, the connection between the oceans and atmospheres, the major chemical transport and reactions in the ocean, and the how organisms alter the ocean and vice versa. We also explore how the oceans change on various time scales – from glacial and interglacial periods to seasonal cycles. And we discuss how these time scales are estimated and how the major properties of the ocean change during these periods. Finally, we discuss the science behind marine law, policy, and management. If you are a marine major or in the honors program at BU you also participate in a once weekly discussion group. The discussions change year to year but always include building skills you need to be a marine science major.
EE/BI 423/623 Marine Biogeochemistry - Spring
This course is for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students interested in marine biogeochemistry. Biogeochemistry is a hot topic today in environmental science. It impacts every part of life – in fact, the National Research Council recently recognized, “studies of biogeochemical cycles as the nation’s highest priority in global change research.”
KHC BI 103 Bigfoot: Nitrogen, the Ocean, and You
Without nitrogen there would be no life - no me, no you, no blue whale, no Atlantic cod, no Antarctic krill. But like anything - too much nitrogen leads to a series of negative consequences. Since the beginning of the 20th century, human activities have doubled the amount of nitrogen cycling through the biosphere and in doing so we have introduced large amounts of nitrogen into coastal waters. This excess nitrogen has led to eutrophication, loss of submerged aquatic vegetation, harmful algal blooms, increased low oxygen conditions and dead zones, fish kills, and loss of biodiversity. But this nitrogen has also allowed human population to rise to 7 billion – in fact, about 50% of us are alive because of human fixed nitrogen through the production of fertilizer. We are currently faced with a grand challenge: how do we feed an increasing population while protecting and even restoring our environment? The goal of this course is to take on this grand challenge. We will explore the history of the nitrogen cycle and the role of social contracts, religion, and politics in shaping its current status. We will examine where our nitrogen comes from, where it goes, and what happens when it gets there. We will discuss the ethics of what we eat and how we live. Ultimately we will design a campaign that communicates to a wider audience what our nitrogen footprint (or our Bigfoot) is and how it shapes the world around us.
EE 834: Advanced (Bio)Geochemical Cycles - Ecological and Biogeochemical Considerations of Si Cycling Along the Land-Ocean Continuum.
EE/BI 558 Coastal Biogeochemistry - Tracking the Human Imprint on Coastal Ecosystems is an introduction to biogeochemistry in marine systems with a focus on the impact humans have on altering nutrient cycling and energy flows. Students will learn cutting edge biogeochemical techniques as well as how to plan and carry out biogeochemical field measurements. In addition, students will learn how to design biogeochemical experiments that will help them answer questions about how humans have altered biogeochemical cycles. Students will work in a group to conduct a field research project. They will collect and analyze samples and prepare a 20 minute professional conference style presentation. This course is part of the BU Marine semester and will take place in the second block (October). It consists of field and lab work as well as journal article discussions and review. Class info for 2024 can be found here.
Oceanography is a branch of Earth Sciences that encompasses a variety of topics from ocean currents and plate tectonics to chemical fluxes and ecosystem dynamics. Generally oceanography is divided into four main disciplines: physical, geological, chemical, and biological. In this course we examine all four major disciplines of oceanography including physical (e.g., waves, currents, tides, and the behavior of light and sound), geological (e.g., plate tectonics, dune formation, coastal erosion) chemical (e.g., composition of seawater, interactions of seawater with the atmosphere), and biological (e.g. distribution and ecology of marine organisms). By the end of this course you will have a solid understanding of controls on oceanic circulation, the connection between the oceans and atmospheres, the major chemical transport and reactions in the ocean, and the how organisms alter the ocean and vice versa. We also explore how the oceans change on various time scales – from glacial and interglacial periods to seasonal cycles. And we discuss how these time scales are estimated and how the major properties of the ocean change during these periods. Finally, we discuss the science behind marine law, policy, and management. If you are a marine major or in the honors program at BU you also participate in a once weekly discussion group. The discussions change year to year but always include building skills you need to be a marine science major.
EE/BI 423/623 Marine Biogeochemistry - Spring
This course is for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students interested in marine biogeochemistry. Biogeochemistry is a hot topic today in environmental science. It impacts every part of life – in fact, the National Research Council recently recognized, “studies of biogeochemical cycles as the nation’s highest priority in global change research.”
KHC BI 103 Bigfoot: Nitrogen, the Ocean, and You
Without nitrogen there would be no life - no me, no you, no blue whale, no Atlantic cod, no Antarctic krill. But like anything - too much nitrogen leads to a series of negative consequences. Since the beginning of the 20th century, human activities have doubled the amount of nitrogen cycling through the biosphere and in doing so we have introduced large amounts of nitrogen into coastal waters. This excess nitrogen has led to eutrophication, loss of submerged aquatic vegetation, harmful algal blooms, increased low oxygen conditions and dead zones, fish kills, and loss of biodiversity. But this nitrogen has also allowed human population to rise to 7 billion – in fact, about 50% of us are alive because of human fixed nitrogen through the production of fertilizer. We are currently faced with a grand challenge: how do we feed an increasing population while protecting and even restoring our environment? The goal of this course is to take on this grand challenge. We will explore the history of the nitrogen cycle and the role of social contracts, religion, and politics in shaping its current status. We will examine where our nitrogen comes from, where it goes, and what happens when it gets there. We will discuss the ethics of what we eat and how we live. Ultimately we will design a campaign that communicates to a wider audience what our nitrogen footprint (or our Bigfoot) is and how it shapes the world around us.
EE 834: Advanced (Bio)Geochemical Cycles - Ecological and Biogeochemical Considerations of Si Cycling Along the Land-Ocean Continuum.
EE/BI 558 Coastal Biogeochemistry - Tracking the Human Imprint on Coastal Ecosystems is an introduction to biogeochemistry in marine systems with a focus on the impact humans have on altering nutrient cycling and energy flows. Students will learn cutting edge biogeochemical techniques as well as how to plan and carry out biogeochemical field measurements. In addition, students will learn how to design biogeochemical experiments that will help them answer questions about how humans have altered biogeochemical cycles. Students will work in a group to conduct a field research project. They will collect and analyze samples and prepare a 20 minute professional conference style presentation. This course is part of the BU Marine semester and will take place in the second block (October). It consists of field and lab work as well as journal article discussions and review. Class info for 2024 can be found here.