The idea that everything is connected can be good and bad news. Give an example of a good situation and a bad situation.

When there is a virtuous cycle, any little action can improve the whole situation. But when there are traps and surprises, any little action may make it a lot worse. We try to determine which (virtuous cycle or downward spiral) by looking at the problem from multiple perspectives.

Poverty directly relates to environmental science because people who have limited financial resources aren't able to make long term choices on how to use their natural resources most effectively over a long time scale.

Many poor people are in rural areas rely directly on natural resources for everyday living, such as water, wood for cooking, and agriculture.

Describe how the exponential growth curve results from having the same growth rate during each time period.

What happens if you look at the "J curve" for population growth over just a couple decades? Why is it no longer a J shape with runaway population growth?

Name several icons in the Systems View. Explain how the units of measurement for the flow rate out of a reservoir (stock) will relate to the measurment of what's in the reservoir.

Describe how a stock can be in "steady state".

Human population size is determined (in a simple Systems View) by birth rates and death rates. Describe what happens if BR > DR, BR < DR or BR = DR.

Describe the four stages of the demographic transition in terms of population, BR, DR and community development toward and industrialized economy.

Name several factors that are related to the demographic tranistion of a society toward a stable population and economy. Why can't these factors be treated as causes and what's the implication of that?

If a region has a human population that is at steady state, what does that mean about the birth and death rates?

What is the demographic trap and how does it relate to poverty?

How are poverty, human health, and environmental conditions related? Give an example that illustrates this interwoven relationship.

What are environmental factors that can lead to a poverty trap (according to the Millenium Development Goals)?

How does a disease, such as malaria, exacerbate the poverty trap? Why is mararia in particular considered to be a disesase that is linked to environmental conditions?

Why is the beginning of the growth of a population in positive feedback?
What's the difference between an open and closed system?
Stock limitation is when the source runs out. Give a simple example other than water flowing out of a reservoir.
The growth of population and wealth can be compared by creating an index of per capita wealth. Why is this an important indicator for developing countries?
Describe how you can use a systems approach to track both heat in the atmosphere and CO2?
What is a basic condition necessary for sustainable use of resources?
Summarize the story of Easter Island.
Explain how the over cutting of trees lead to a downward spiral for the health of the island.
see the self assessment questions at the end of Chapter 5

It seems like the reading is a bit too much for this week. Focus on the major concepts.

Demographic transitions, - be able to interpret the graph on the first part of the wiki article (and fig 4 of the Enc of earth article) that has birth and death rates and total population.

What is the biological definition of "over-population"? Give an example of how human over population has depleted a natural resource. Why can this (over-population and stripping resources) also be described as a Malthusian catastrophe?

What is the basic tenet of Malthus vs. Boserup.

Describe the demographic trap in terms of the stages of the demographic transition. Why is this a "trap" and not just a simple problem?

What does Hans Rosling predict will happen to the bottom 2 billion people who are in poverty over the next 40 years. What role does renewable energy play in this prediction?

I will probably ask a question just to make sure you know how to operate the simulations. Not so much about content.

Describe what happens to the outflow rate when you increase the inflow rate? Why does it reach a steady state every time?

The exponential growth model and the "logistic" growth model in the second simulation are good examples of potential paths for the human population. Why would we like to see a human population that has the shape of a logistic growth curve? Can you see that the Earth's population might be in the region (that we see on these simulations) where we can't tell if the population is still growing exponentially are starting to level off quickly?

Ability to use the viewer

The focus of this term is to be able to apply the viewers to different problems. This week's viewer is the Systems View. It was only introduced in class. The main source for you to learn this is from the text chapter.

Use the systems approach to describe the water available for a community over a year. Which factors might lead to increased water available (stored) and what causes decreased water available? How could you change the amount available?