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Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey around the globe and beyond? In this course, you will be immersed in the world of cutting-edge science, learning from a team of Biosphere 2 and University of Arizona researchers. This course is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in science and environmental stewardship. It covers everything from plants and soils to oceans and rainforests, the Moon, Mars, and more.
Discover how a one-of-a-kind research station in the Arizona desert is used to investigate big ideas like how Earth systems interact, the effects of climate change, and what the future holds. Travel thousands of years back in time with information locked in ancient trees and into an imagined future where humans become Martians. Collect and analyse your own scientific data, debate big questions with participants from all over the world, and gain new insights and understanding about our wonderful, one-of-a-kind planet.
Syllabus :
1. Biosphere 2, an Icon of Possibilities
- Welcome to the Course
- Meet Joaquin Ruiz, Director of Biosphere
- Module 1 Intro
- Meet John Adams
- Lecture 1a – Introducing Biosphere
- Lecture 1b - The Story of Biosphere
- Lecture 1c - Biosphere 2 Research
- Lecture 1d - Biosphere 2 and the Water Cycle
- Module 1 Wrap Up
2. Climate Disruption
- Module 2 Intro
- Meet Kevin Anchukaitis
- Lecture 2a - Global Warming and Carbon Dioxide
- Lecture 2b - Rain, Snow, & Climate Change
- Meet David Frank
- Lecture 2c - Fires & Climate Disruption
- Module 2 Wrap Up
3. The Science of Water Availability
- Module 3 Intro
- Meet Peter Troch
- Lecture 3a - Water on Earth
- Lecture 3b - How much water do we use?
- Lecture 3c - How will climate change affect water availability?
- Lecture 3d - Water cycle research
- Module 3 Wrap Up
4. Desert Plants, Climate, and Changing Landscapes
- Module 4 Intro
- Meet Larry Venable
- Lecture 4a - Biodiversity and its maintenance
- Lecture 4b - Functional traits and diversity
- Lecture 4c - Vegetation response to climate change
- Lecture 4d - Biological bet hedging
- Module 4 Wrap Up
5. Rainforests in an Altered World
- Module 5 Intro
- Meet Joost Van Haren
- Lecture 5a - The Biosphere 2 Rainforest
- Lecture 5b - Tropical Rainforests of the Amazon
- Module 5 Wrap Up
6. Sea Changes in our Marine Environment
- Module 6 Intro
- Meet Julia Cole
- Lecture 6a - The ocean, climate, and humans
- Lecture 6b - Global warming, Ocean warming
- Lecture 6c - Acidification: Warming's evil twin
- Lecture 6d - The global coral reef crisis
- Module 6 Wrap Up
7. Soil Science - Foundations & Implications
- Module 7 Intro
- Meet Katerina Dontsova
- Lecture 7a - Why do we care about soil?
- Meet Rachel Gallery
- Lecture 7b - Soil biodiversity
- Lecture 7c - Soil microorganisms
- Lesson 7d - Soils and human survival
- Module 7 Wrap Up
8. Feeding the Future
- Module 8 Intro
- Meet Gene Giacomelli
- Lecture 8a - Plant processes and the Lunar Greenhouse
- Lecture 8b - Controlled Environment Agriculture
- Lecture 8c - Home Grown Hydroponics
- Module 8 Wrap Up
9. Life and Resources in Space - Should We Go There?
- Module 9 Intro
- Meet Chris Impey
- Lecture 9a - Living on a finite planet
- Lecture 9b - Resources in space
- Lecture 9c - The future of space travel
- Lecture 9d - The Moon and Mars
- Lecture 9e - Living Beyond Earth
- Module 9 Wrap Up
