Earth Systems Field School
Biosphere 2 Center/Columbia University

Overview Syllabus

Last Modified: 6/6/99

Date Activity Assignments
Module 1: Introduction to the scientific method and systems thinking
Mon June 7 Course overview  
Tue June 8 History of the Biosphere  
Wed June 9 Plant/Rock ID   Lab exercises. Due 6.14
Thur June 10 Desert Ecology  
Fri June 11 Desert Museum trip  Essay. Due 6.14
Sat June 12 Pace and compass mapping Map. Due 6.14.
Notebook. EOC (end of class)
Sun June 13 Day Off  
 
Module 2. Observing marine and near-marine ecosystems of the Sea of Cortez
Mon June 14 Drive to CEDO, camp CEDO  
Tue-Wed June 16 CEDO, camp CEDO  
Thur June 17 Drive back to Bio2  Essay. Due 7.1
Fri June 18 BA National Wildlife Refuge  Lab report, notebooks.
Sat June 19 Day Off  
 
Module 3. Observing ecosystems in the geologic record
Sun June 20 Introduction to Northern AZ trip  
Mon June 21 Introduction to Northern AZ trip Diagram. Due 6.30
Tue June 22 Drive to Grand Canyon, camp GC  Readings/lecture quiz
Wed-Fri June 23-25 Grand Canyon, camp GC  Map, Strat section. Due 7.1
Sat June 26 Meteor Crater/Petrified Forest, camp Homolovi  
Sun June 27 Vegetation communities/drive back  Essay. Due 7.12
Mon June 28 Day off  
 
Module 4. Ecosystem change as a response to abiotic factors I
Tue June 29 Soils  
Wed June 30 Catalina Gradient, camp Mt. Lemmon  
Thur July 1 Catalina Gradient  
Fri July 2 Soils  Presentation
Sat July 3 Work on presentation  
Sun July 4 Day Off  
 
Module 5. Ecosystem change as a response to abiotic factors II
Mon July 5 Gradient presentations  Project Presentation
Tue July 6 Intro to Geographic Information Systems  
Wed July 7 Nugget Canyon field exercise  
Thur July 8 Nugget Canyon field exercise  
Fri July 9 Nugget Canyon field exercise  
Sat July 10 Nugget Canyon field exercise  Map, Notebook
Sun July 11 Day off  
 
Module 6. Managing ecosystems  
Mon July 12 Biosphere research project  
Tue July 13 Biosphere research project  Readings/lecture quiz
Wed July 14 Biosphere research project  
Thur July 15 Biosphere research project  
Fri July 16 Bio2 Presentations  Project Presentation