[[ENV 651] () ] / 2023-2024
Seminar in the Biosphere: History, Development, and Consequences
This seminar traces the history and development of the biosphere concept and its consequences: biological, social, and cultural. The course will start with a discussion of four major contributors: Eduard Suess, a paleontologist/geologist who coined the term; Vladimir Vernadsky, who amplified the concept; Arthur Tansley, who coined the term ecosystem; and G. Evelyn Hutchinson, who amplified and quantified the ecosystem concept. Energy flow in the biosphere will also be discussed. Students will be required to give seminars and present a term paper on topics of their choice.