IN 326 - Too Thick to Navigate: The Ecology and Economics of Rivers

Credits: 4 credits

Examines how to integrate ecological and economic perspectives to inform public decision-making related to natural resource management. Students use the latest version of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’s Ecosystem Services framework and case studies to illustrate many different kinds of issues related to local and regional economic interests, protecting habitat for endangered species, and the appropriateness of using dollar values in considering the importance of both ecology and local opinion. The course concludes with student mastery of cataloguing ecosystem services and a cost-benefit analysis exercise that assesses a proposed project from ecological, social-welfare, economic, and historical perspectives. Students also address the importance of informed and critical interpretation of ecological and economic issues and their coverage in the media as a basis for informed participation in democratic processes.

Prerequisite(s)/Course Restrictions: SC 220-226, SC 292, SC 320, SC 392, or EC 203.
Fulfills the Interdisciplinary Perspective