Category: Environmental science

Complete one of the four options found in the assignment. ONE SQUARE METER-1-1.docx Disregard the note to ‘see writing assignment guidelines within the document’. Your writing guidelines are noted below. *typed *double spaced *if you cite work other than your own, reference it…MLA style *drawn pictures, photos, drawings, field notes are all acceptable to add to your paper if you like *2 page minimum

Task:

You are the PM and must choose one major environmental challenge facing Canadians. Your paper should:

• Describe the problem.
• Present a solution supported by scientific evidence.
• Show awareness of environmental issues in Canada.

Format & Requirements:

• Microsoft Word, 12pt Arial or Times New Roman, double-spaced.
• Research thoroughly and include accurate details (dates, numbers, places, etc.).
• Use proper spelling and grammar.
• Cite sources correctly; cited work should support your ideas, not make up most of the paper.

Academic Integrity:

• All work must be your own; AI-generated content is not allowed.
• Plagiarism includes copying, buying papers, misquoting, or reusing past work without citation.
• Sharing work with others or collaborating on individual assignments is prohibited.
• Turnitin will check all papers; violations are taken seriously.

Submission Rules:

• Late submissions accepted up to 3 days, with 10% penalty per day.
• Extensions must be approved before the due date.

Resources:

Goal: Strengthen critical thinking, problem-solving, and original thought.

BIL 107: Assignment 1 Spring 2026

Due: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 11:59pm, in Blackboard

Your goal for this assignment is to explore a recent exciting discovery in biodiversity, either a recently discovered extant species (extant = alive today), or a recent fossil discovery that represents something new to science. It can be any kind of species, but for full credit you will need to address the 8 questions below. Extra credit will also be possible, but only if you explore a more unusual discovery. More details below.

First thing to do: Find an account of a new species discovery (fossil or extant) in the mainstream media (=MSM). It should be reputable. It should be published in the last five years. New York Times has an excellent science section that describes all the big breakthroughs, but other print media are also good sources. TV/video news sources usually have less information, and will be harder to work with. You can access NYT and many other MSM through Richter Library. Why the MSM? Your species should be an exciting discovery. The MSM are more likely to have a story on something perceived as exciting. Dont forget about the mainstream in MSM it should be a source that is familiar to an average person. Its easy to find new species announcements in obscure science/conservation sources please dont use these.

Next thing to do: Trace down the original research article that describes your species or fossil. Your MSM article may give the reference, or it may just mention an author, or a journal. Try to read at least the abstract, and look at some figures. Its possible that the discovery is so new and so exciting that it hasnt been officially published yet. Thats ok, but you need to be sure thats true before you state it.

Third thing to do: Provide information for the following eight items. You do not need to write a paper. You can answer them in a numbered list.

1. What is the name of the MSM where you found your article? Give a link to your article. It really does need to be mainstream something a regular person might read.

2. Give the citation for the research article describing the species. Use the format under Journals on this site: If the work has not been publish yet, note that and say why you think so.

3. Scientific name of species. Its unlikely that it has not yet been named, but if thats the case, state that.

4. What lineage does it belongs to? That is, what are its closest known relatives? For example, is it an animal? Is it a vertebrate? An arthropod? A cetacean? Be as precise and as informative as you can.

5. For extant species: where does the species live? What can you say about its geographic distribution and its ecology? For extinct species: where was it found? How old is it? Can you say anything about its distribution and ecology?

6. New species are discovered all the time. Most of them get ignored by the MSM. Why did this particular new discovery get covered? What is exciting about it? For example, if its a fossil, does it tell us something new about the history of life on Earth? If it is extant, is it surprising that it hadnt been discovered earlier? In short, WHY IS THIS COOL?!

7. How was it discovered and who discovered it? What is the evidence that it is a new species?

8. What is still not known about this species?

Finally: You need to turn this is to Blackboard by 11:59PM on Tuesday, Feb. 3. It will be worth 10 points. Late assignments will not be accepted.

Extra credit opportunity! You will get two points of extra credit if:

No more than one other student in the class use the same discovery that you use.

You answer the 8 questions above to a high standard.

Textbook: Global Climate Change: Turning Knowledge Into Action, Chapter 7

While reading this chapter, consider these questions:

What is the difference between coping with, adapting to, and mitigating climate change?

What is the precautionary principle?

What are some of the case studies presented? How do you approach these case studies or what is measured and studied by scientists?

Website:

• Review this website from a coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar concerns about the environment. .

Discussion Post PROMPT:

When responding to your peers, discuss if society is coping with, adapting to, and/or mitigating climate change. Provide specific examples to support your rationale. Note: There are some vast differences among these approaches and you must explain why any solution must include measures to address a broad spectrum of issues that you have read about in this module.

-This was very interesting to me. While I have been feeling it in general I thought heat sensitivity was due to me aging as I just hit 40, my agin is likely a contributor. After living in Coastal Carolinas for 15 years now I find it getting a few degrees warmer in the summer and this heat tends to drag on longer than when I arrived in 2010. I addition to the heat changes, the winters are marked by 1-2 snow events a year and more freezing. While the overall average may not be affected the extreme swings in temperature are noticeable. The weather patterns here (Wilmington) are affected by shorth period oscillations in climate such as the currently eventful snow in my area…picture for posterity.

The article below highlights how extreme heat waves will affect regional health issues, water availability for consumption and agriculture, and energy generation and distribution concerns globally. Briefly speaking a two degree centigrade increase in global temperatures could generate more frequent and dangerous heat conditions by 2050 (Watts, 2026). Described in the article areas normally equipped to manage such heat will get even warmer affecting human health and causing infrastructure strain. From a social perspective, regions that were once tolerable and people were able to carve out an existence may no longer be able to sustain themselves in a given region. This will likely cause stress on border and political relations caused by immigration and other related cultural issues over natural resource usage. Rising heat and other climate changes affect humans, the environment, and how we relate or co-exist with one another. The looming problem is not as simple as “It is Hot!” – drink water…where is the water coming from, the electricity for cooling, fuel for transportation and agricultural use of that water. These issues cause by shifting climates are a threat to regional security and stability, where the borders get closer and tighter specifically. Wars over resources are historically an issue for the planet.

Watts, J. (2026, January 26). Number of people living in extreme heat to double by 2050 if 2C rise occurs, study finds. The Guardian.

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Watch videos, and complete worksheets as PDF

Select a scenario from the list below: There is a species of fish (with low numbers) that is having trouble traveling up and down the river because of a dam. Chose an area that is economically depressed but has a lot of species diversity, you need to protect the species while providing jobs for locals. An animal is being poached for its horn which is believed in some cultures to cure many diseases, it is not critically endangered. The demand for farming is increasing, which is destroying native forests and affecting their biodiversity. An animal is starting to become isolated because it is afraid to cross roads created by deforestation. Local birds typically migrate over the winter, but people are feeding them and thermal pollution at a local stream is keeping the water warmer the birds are not migrating, resulting in water pollution. A drought has been going on for a period of time; the water needed for homes, businesses, and farms has decreased lake and river levels impacting the amount available for local flora and fauna. Species are being found dead on local beaches due to plastic. Use the textbook and/or “Environmental Resource Management” infographic under topic Resources to find the best resource management practice to implement. Create a pamphlet addressing the following: What is the issue and why is it an issue? Describe the restoration method you selected and why it would be best (with at least 2 examples of how it has worked in similar situations from peer reviewed sources) Time frame to complete the plan (include short and long term objectives) What is the end goal of the restoration project? This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

1. Write a Literature Review You are not collecting data. You must read, compare, and analyze published studies about: ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems in the UAE This means: Use journal articles, government reports, and company sustainability reports Compare what different authors say Do not just describe critically analyze 2. Follow the Required Structure Your paper must contain five clear sections: Introduction explain the topic and why it matters in the UAE Key Drivers & Challenges analyze why companies adopt ISO 14001 and what stops them Current State in the UAE show how ISO 14001 is used, with case studies Conclusion & Recommendations summarize and propose improvements References APA style 3. Use Academic Sources To get full marks: Use at least 10 credible academic references Cite them correctly in APA style Every idea that is not yours must be cited 4. Meet Formatting Rules You must: Write 56 pages no more refrences are including within the 5-6 pages Use Times New Roman, size 12 Double space Number all pages Include a cover page Include a reference list 5. Demonstrate Critical Thinking The rubric expects you to: Explain why ISO 14001 matters Analyze how drivers and challenges affect adoption Evaluate how well UAE organizations are implementing EMS Not just list information 6. Avoid Plagiarism Your Turnitin similarity must be below 20% Paraphrase properly Cite all sources 7. Write Clearly and Professionally To score full marks: No grammar or spelling errors Clear paragraphs Logical flow between sections 8. Support Claims with Evidence Every main point must be supported by: A reference Or a UAE case example

In this module, you have begun exploring how sustainability can be considered in various contexts and within the first sustainability pillar: social justice. Throughout the rest of this course, you will explore two more pillarsbusiness and environmental qualityand will incorporate your knowledge about all three pillars into your project. In this Module Three project draft, you will begin working on your project by examining a scenario and considering sustainable practices related to the scenario. Directions First, consult the Project Guidelines and Rubric to review the scope of the project and the provided scenarios. Next, choose a scenario. To do this, review the Scenario Profiles document, which provides information related to the scenarios, including the organization profile and related case study. Choose a scenario for this Module Three assignment carefully, because you will use the same scenario for the project. Then, with your chosen scenario in mind, address the assignment prompts below by completing the corresponding sections in the Project Template. Note: You can find the Project Guidelines and Rubric and the Scenario Profiles document in the assignment information section of this course. Specifically, you must address the following: Sustainable Practices You will look at the interconnectedness of environmental issues and human behavior as it relates to your chosen scenario. To do this, you will look at both how the environmental systems in use impact the community as well as how the community use impacts the environmental systems in place. You will also look at the groups overall bias in addressing sustainability in your community. Describe how environmental systems in use in your chosen scenario impact human behavior. Consider ecosystems, cultural systems, and organizational systems in your response. Describe the impact of the current resource use on the environment. What resources does the group in your scenario use? What is the impact on the environment? Describe how human ideology impacts behavior regarding environmental systems. What policies or vision impact the environmental systems in use within your chosen group? Think about your chosen group. What behaviors do they practice regarding the environmental systems? Explain the role of cultural bias in your chosen groups approach to global sustainability. What are some of the biases within the group that impact the use of the resources discussed in the scenario? What to Submit To complete this assignment, you must submit the following: Submit your Project Template for grading. Note: You will submit the same Project Template for Module Three Project Draft One, for Module Five Project Draft Two, and for the project. For this assignment, the Module Three Project Draft One, you will complete only Part One of the Project Template. You do not need to complete Part Two and Part Three of the template for this assignment. No sources are required. However, if you choose to use sources, they should be cited according to APA style. Although Brightspace allows the addition of video notes in assignment submissions, you may not use the Video Note tool to complete this assignment. Supporting Materials The following resources will support your work on this assignment: Scenario Profiles This resource contains profiles for each scenario of the project. Project Guidelines and Rubric This resource provides an overview of the project, along with specific criteria you must address. Module Three Project Draft One Rubric Criteria Meets Expectations (100%) Partially Meets Expectations (75%) Does Not Meet Expectations (0%) Value Sustainable Practices: Environmental Systems Describes how environmental systems in use in the chosen scenario impact human behavior Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of the environmental systems or clearer description of the impact on human behavior Does not attempt criterion 22.5 Sustainable Practices: Impact Describes the impact of the current resource use on the environment Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a more detailed description of the impact on the environment or more details on the current resource use of the chosen group Does not attempt criterion 22.5 Sustainable Practices: Behavior Describes how human ideology impacts behavior regarding the environmental systems in place at the chosen group Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough description of the impact or more information about human ideology or environmental systems Does not attempt criterion 22.5 Sustainable Practices: Role of Cultural Bias Explains the role of cultural bias in the chosen groups sustainable global environmental use Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include a clearer or more thorough explanation of the role of cultural bias or clearer description of its relation to the chosen groups sustainable global environmental use Does not attempt criterion 22.5 Clear Communication Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience Shows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication 10 Total: