Population, Food, and Soil

Population, Food, and Soil

This course is part of Introduction to Environmental Science Specialization

Instructor: Andy Friedland

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Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Introduction to Environmental Science Specialization

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There are 4 modules in this course

This course explores the population-environment relationship. In this course, you will learn about the human population and the ways in which changes in the population affect the environment. Agriculture, soils, and the environmental implications of eating meat, vegetables, local, organic, sustainable, industrial, and other types of food are discussed too.

We explore questions such as: 1. How many people live on Earth right now? 2. What is the carrying capacity of Earth? 3. What is the relationship between the number of people, where they live, the resources they consume, and their environmental impact? 4. What types of agriculture are used right now? 5. What is the difference between organic and conventional agriculture? 6. Why would you want to dig a soil pit? A conversation with Phil Connors, an Australian Environmental Scientist, will explore the topic of human population and sustainability. You will also listen to the conversations with Danielle Allen, an organic farmer, and Justin Richardson, a soil scientist.

This module explores the global population trends, how and why population changes, and concepts related to population numbers including growth rate, doubling time, crude birth and date rates etc.

What's included

4 videos13 readings1 assignment8 discussion prompts

4 videosTotal 16 minutes

Introduction3 minutesPreview module
Video: The World Today2 minutes
Video: Population Numbers4 minutes
Video: How and Why Populations Change5 minutes

13 readingsTotal 196 minutes

Introductory Reading30 minutes
Coursera Code of Conduct10 minutes
Coursera Honor Code30 minutes
Discussion Tips and Guide30 minutes
Introduction: The World Today2 minutes
The Human Population30 minutes
Introduction: Population Numbers10 minutes
Population Numbers20 minutes
Introduction: How and Why Populations Change2 minutes
Age-structure Diagrams2 minutes
U.S. Age-structure Diagram, 195010 minutes
U.S. Age-structure Diagram, 200010 minutes
U.S. Age-structure Diagram, 205010 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Population and the World30 minutes

8 discussion promptsTotal 180 minutes

Discussion: Introduce Yourself30 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Transition to Introduction Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: The World Today Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Human Population Reading20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Population Numbers Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: How and Why Populations Change Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: U.S. Age-structure Diagrams20 minutes
Prompted Discussion: Age-structure Diagram30 minutes

This module explores the global population dynamics.

What's included

3 videos4 readings1 assignment4 discussion prompts

3 videosTotal 10 minutes

Video: Global Population Dynamics1 minutePreview module
Video: A conversation with Phil Connors6 minutes
Video: Human Population Review2 minutes

4 readingsTotal 21 minutes

Introduction: Global Population Dynamics2 minutes
Consumption, Equity, and Environmental Justice15 minutes
Introduction: A conversation with Phil Connors2 minutes
Human Population Review2 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Global Population30 minutes

4 discussion promptsTotal 80 minutes

Unprompted Discussion: Global Population Dynamics Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Consumption, Equity, and Environmental Justice Reading20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: A conversation with Phil Connors20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Human Population Review20 minutes

This module deals with the major environmental issues related to global human nutrition, some common practices of modern, industrial agriculture and the potential environmental costs associated with each practice. It also explores sustainable farming practices.

What's included

4 videos5 readings1 assignment5 discussion prompts

4 videosTotal 22 minutes

Video: Agriculture and Human Nutrition4 minutesPreview module
Video: Modern Agriculture Effects - Part 16 minutes
Video: Modern Agriculture Effects - Part 24 minutes
Video: Modern Agriculture Alternatives7 minutes

5 readingsTotal 18 minutes

Introduction: Agriculture and Human Nutrition Video2 minutes
Traditional and Industrialized Agriculture10 minutes
Introduction: Modern Agriculture Effects - Part 12 minutes
Introduction: Modern Agriculture Effects - Part 22 minutes
Introduction: Modern Agriculture Alternatives2 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Agriculture and Environment30 minutes

5 discussion promptsTotal 90 minutes

Unprompted Discussion: Agriculture and Human Nutrition Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Traditional and Industrialized Ag Reading20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Modern Agriculture Effects - Part 1 Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Modern Agriculture Effects - Part 2 Video20 minutes
Unprompted Discussion: Modern Agriculture Alternatives Video10 minutes

This module explores the role of soils in ecosystems, soil horizons, and soil-forming processes. Through a video, you will learn about the soils of a particular landscape and learn about various soil-forming processes.