Dr Choong Mei Fun, Amy

dbscmfa@nus.edu.sg

TOPICS

What is Environmental Biology?

Why study? Learning objectives/outcomes
Module prerequisites
Module content
Time Table
Assessment, group project
Text book and references
Housekeeping
Your lecturer, Teaching assistant, your classmates
First assignment
Geologic history of the earth
Conditions in early earth
Early humans to today

Environmental Biology

Similar to Environmental Science

More emphasis on Biology, Ecology and Man
From conditions in the early Earth to current
Our impact on the environment and how they
impact us

Why study?

Ignorance is not an option

Urgent need to understand the impacts
What are the solutions and are they working
A reminder that we are but one species on
this planet, part of the ecosystem
To SURVIVE

Siberias methane blow hole

Module Learning objectives

Understand the earth its past, present and projected
future
Understand our impact from early man to current
human societies
Discuss basic fundamental concepts on energy, mass
flow, population interactions etc
Recognize the importance of biodiversity
Explain how we meet our booming populations
requirements through modern agriculture, fossil and
renewable energies, fisheries, technologies etc
Identify the sources of pollution and its impacts

Module Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students are able to
clearly communicate with peers, family and
society at large on many aspects of the state of
the environment
Overcome any fear of interacting with strangers
face to face (not online)
be a good team player
execute future projects well by breaking them
down appropriately (work breakdown structure)
How to manage time using meeting minutes

About the module

Module prerequisite: None
Preclusions:
Not for life science majors
Not for Environmental studies major

Module Time table

2 lectures a week: Mon and Thur

Time: 10 am 12 pm
Location: Utown Auditorium 3
Tutorials: only 2 revision tutorials, once before
CA1 and once before final exam

Assessment
1. Continual assessment 50%
Self introduction assignment 1: 2.5%
Project 32.5%
CA1 test 15% - 1 hour
Multiple choice questions (MCQ)
closed book

2. Final exam 50%

Multiple choice questions (MCQ)
closed book

Project (32.5% in total)

Title: Waste management in Singapore
Group : 5 members in each group
Learning objectives:
Time and project management, working with strangers,
interacting with the public
Waste generation, flow and recycling in Singapore
How to design suitable recycling mini-posters to share with
the public to encourage them to recycle
Understand the issues faced by households on recycling in
Singapore
Impact of waste when it gets into the environment
How to write proper meeting minutes

Task 1 (due: 14 Aug, 1200)

submit to google form (A link will be given):

Fill in your name

Gender
How long have you resided in Singapore
Home/hostel postal code
Housing type
Languages spoken (especially dialects)
TA will group you into groups of 5, depending on location,
language and gender. Ideally, a group of mixed genders
and be able to converse in languages other than English
and Mandarin.

Assignment 1
due: 21 Aug, 2359 (weightage: 2.5%)
Personal Intro assignment
A word doc will be sent to you. Please fill in the
info required.
Name of file:
student ID_GEK1515_assignment_1.doc
Please name file properly or 0.5% marks will be
deducted

Assignment 2
(due: 25 Aug, 2359) 2.5%
Once the students have been grouped, grouping will be
announced to you by 18 Aug
You are to meet and exchange tel no, emails, dates
when you are free, come up with agreements, submit
photo of each other to learn each others names and
also attendance. A group meeting record will be
submitted by the group leader to IVLE. Each
subsequent assignment will be submitted by a different
team member.
Submit in word doc format for us to comment.
Name of file: group no_GEK1515_assignment_2.doc
E.g. 1_GEK1515_assignment_2.pptx for group 1

Assignment 3a (due 5 Sept, 2359) 10%

Design 4 A4 sized posters to include:

1. Waste statistics through the years, what kind of waste is generated
2. Where does the waste go from general waste bin and recycling bin to
3. Lifespan of our current landfill, how was it created
4. Impact of improperly disposed waste in the environment
5. What can or cannot be recycled and how to do it properly in A3 size.

Marked with comments and students to re-edit and submit again

assignment 3b (due 25 Sept 2359) 2.5%
Format: Submit in powerpoint for easier editing, you may use any
software while designing
Name of file: Group no_GEK1515_assignment_3a.pptx,
Group no_GEK1515_assignment_3b.pptx
E.g. 2_GEK1515_assignment_3a.pptx

Assignment 4 (due 2 Oct, 2359) 2.5%

Submit a plan on how to execute the door-to-door recycling
education outreach to eighteen households in 3 hours.
All 18 households must have opened their door, listened to
your message and you have addressed their questions.
Determine how many blocks and units in each zone,
demarcate zone clearly if the groups are next to each other.
Indicate when and where it will be executed and how to do it
convincingly and persuasively.

Assignment 4 (continued)
No one is to go alone or in twos, the whole group go
together for safety. Find out about the number and
location of recycling bins in the area that you will be
visiting, locations, whats in there, who are the waste
collectors, recycling firm etc so as to answer queries
from households.
Prepare for potential questions. All members to take
turns speaking, holding the A4 posters and take photo
of members in action or with the household if they
dont mind, ask politely.
Submit in word document format
Name of file: Group no_GEK1515_assignment_4.doc

Assignment 5 (due 3 Nov, 2359) 10%

Actual execution of door-to-door educational outreach, submit
photo and record of home visits. Addresses covered, which
member of family was spoken to. What issues or questions that
household mentioned. Any comments from that household etc.
One family, one slide. If there are questions that you need to get
back to them, ask for contact, get answers from NEA and reply
them, cc me both times. You may include this if you get the reply
from NEA before deadline.
Group indicate name of student who took the picture, who did
which part of poster, who recorded, who recorded the questions
etc.
Submit pdf format.
Name of file: Group no_GEK1515_assignment_5.pdf

Assignment 6 (due 6 Nov, 2359) 5%

ONE A4 page word document: post educational

outreach reflection: what did I learn from carrying out

this CA, suggest any improvement for this CA
Minimum 300 words, maximum 600 words; single
spaced with normal word document margin
Individual
Name of file: student no_GEK1515_assignment_6.doc
At any point in the project, if there is any serious issue,
please raise it for discussion, dont wait till Assignment 6
then criticize, too late and nothing can be done.

Task

Date
release

Activity

Due date

Percen
tage

Task

11 Aug

Input postal code and info

14 Aug (1200)

Assignment 11 Aug
1

Personal Intro assignment

21 Aug
(2359)

2.5

Assignment 18 Aug
2

Students to meet up with group

members and submit meeting
record

25 Aug
(2359)

2.5

Assignment 25 Aug
3a

Design 4 A4 sized posters, 1 A3

5 Sept
(2359)

10

Assignment 18 Sept
3b
return to
students

Edit according to comments

25 Sept (2359)
(3 Oct return to
students)

2.5

Assignment 25 Sept
4

Project execution plan

2 Oct (2359)
(10 Oct return to
students)

2.5

Assignment 10 Oct
5

Door-to-door educational outreach

3 Nov (2359)

10

Assignment 17 Oct
6

Post project reflection

6 Nov (2359)

Assignments and projects

Submit on time or even early (late penalty: 50%)
Write your own assignment, dont copy, be proud of
your own abilities
Contribute, dont be a free-loader
Learn to put yourself in the other persons shoes and
be considerate (Do unto others, what youd like others
to do unto you)
Most of us need to carry out the task at least once in
order to learn it, gain skills (no one can take it away
from you)
Cape Diem!

Examinable topics
Lectures
Videos (given by weblinks or shown during
lectures)
Reference links
Straits Times articles

Text book and references

A. Environmental science: toward a sustainable future . 12th edition.
Wright, Richard T and Boorse, Dorothy F. Publisher: Pearson Usual price
$69.2, member: $62.28
B. Environmental and Climate Change in Asia: Ecological Footprints and
Green Prospects. Victor R Savage and Lye Lin-Heng 2011. Publisher:
Pearson
C. Essential Environment: The Science behind the stories. 4th Edition. Jay
Withgott and Matthew Laposata. Publisher: Pearson
D. Environmental Science, a Global Concern. 12th edition. Cunningham,
William P and Cunningham, Mary Ann. Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. Usual price: $72.2, member: $64.98
The 13th Edition is $89.5, member $74.
E-book from Pearson $37 before GST
- consists of chapters from 3 books (A, B and C).
Chapters from book A: 3,4,6,7, 10, 17, 18, 19 and 21; book B: 6,7,8 and book
C: 7 & 9.
Additional reference articles will be released with each lecture

Housekeeping
IVLE please check for announcements regularly
Weblinks and articles will also be released here
Emails to lecturer and TA: please write in subject
header GEK1515 then the subject of email
e.g. GEK1515 query on lecture
Write proper emails: Dear Dr Choong, or Dear Ms
Cai.
Sign off properly, Regards, Sincerely etc, your
name

Your lecturer

Dr Choong Mei Fun, Amy

Lecturer
Department of Biological Sciences
Room: S2-04
Tel: (65)-65162707
Email: dbscmfa@nus.edu.sg

Full time TA

Cai Hongxia
Full time Teaching assistant
Department of Biological Sciences
Room: S2-04
Tel: (65)-65167665
dbscaih@nus.edu.sg

Learning objectives for today

Summarize how the earth was formed
Realize that the earths environmental
conditions were not static
Recall the different geographical periods and
human evolution
Recognize that Homo sapiens is the only one
left and our future is dependent on how well
we deal with the current and future
challenges

Formation of the Sun and Earth

Hydrogen and helium gases were compressed together
Gravity and pressure initiated fusion reaction and gave
rise to the sun 5 billion years ago
Dust particles got stuck together through electrostatic
forces
Bigger particles later collided due to gravity to become
bigger asteroids
Earth and planets were formed
Earth was formed about 4.54 billion years ago
Moon was formed 4.5 billion years ago
Asteroid bombardment brought water to a dry earth

5 billion years
ago

Sun

4.54 billion years

ago

Earth

3.8 billion years

ago

Meteor
brought
amino acids

3.5 billion years

ago

Stromatolites
carried out
photosynthesis
Oxygen
transformed
the earth

700-650
million years
ago

Snow
ball
Earth

Ice began to melt

540 million years

ago

Cambrian
explosion

Bacteria evolved
Plants

Organisms
become larger,
with bony
skeleton, worms,
sponges,
trilobites

Snowball earth

700-650 MYA Earth was covered in ice

Source:http://web2.
geo.msu.edu/geogmi
ch/Precambrian.html

Hadean

Earth was formed

Oceans of liquid rock
Atmosphere consisted of water vapour, nitrogen, volcanic
gases, carbon dioxide
Moon was formed (Thea crashed into earth)

Archean

Oceans formed from condensed water vapour (rain)

Lava cooled to form ocean floor, small islands collided to
form continents
Blue green algae or cyanobacteria present in the ocean,
their oxygen oxidized iron and other elements forming
mineral deposits

Proterozoic

Earth cooled some more -> Snowball earth

Earth at this time was very cold, huge glacial sheets all over
the continent
Pangaea and Gondwanaland formed
30 million years ago, true multi-celled life appeared, free
oxygen started to appear

Geologic time scale of the earth

was divided into Eons, eras and
periods. The Hadean eon was
4.6 billion years ago. Pangaea
(Pangea) was complete by the
Permian period of the Paleozoic
era. Pangaea (Pangea) began to
break up during the Triassic
period of the Mesozoic era.

End Ordovician, Silurian period: mosses appeared

Modern day examples of moss species, not necessarily present in the past

Relics of cyanobacteria that changed

the earths atmosphere

Thrombolites at Western Australia, Lake Clifton

Phanerozoic eon
Paleozoic era

Tiktaalik

Life existed only in or near the ocean

Trilobites, shellfish, corals, and sponges appeared
Land plants appeared near the end of the Ordovician.
Huge forests and swamplands formed during the warm
climate of the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods
Giant coal beds formation
Animal life also moved onto the land, first the fish called
Tiktaalik, arthropods (spiders and insects), then the
amphibians, and later the reptiles.
Most abundant animals were those like shellfish and
insects that lacked backbones, so the Paleozoic is often
called "The Age of Invertebrates."

Extinction events
Ordovician-Silurian mass extinction 443 MYA
most marine life e.g. Trilobite
Late Devonian mass extinction -359 MYA life in
shallow seas went extinct except bacteria
Permian mass extinction 248 MYA, most life
forms went extinct
Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction 200 MYA mostly marine, large amphibians
Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction (aka K/T
impact) 65 MYA dinosaurs and many
flowering plants

Permian mass extinction (most

significant)
Earths crust split apart, volcanic eruptions
lasted millions of years
95% of all life died
More terrible than the dinosaur extinction 65
MYA
Why it happened?
Will it happen again?

Early human
ancestors

Source:
http://humanorigins.si.edu/ev
idence/human-fossils/species

Early human ancestors

Originated in Africa
Vegetarians, scavengers
Did not grow any edible plants, settle down or
urbanize
Did not use tools
Subsequently, started to use crude stone tools to
smash open bones to extract the marrow
Fire was discovered and used by Homo erectus

Out of Africa
Homo heidelbergensis migrated northward
into Europe and evolved into Homo
neanderthalensis and spread out, occupying
most of Eurasia
H. neanderthalensis crafted many types of
tools
They hunted, skinned and carved up game
animals such as wooly mammoths, cave bears
etc.

About 20,000 years ago

No more Neanderthals.
Genetic study showed their genetic make up was
very homogenous, poor immunity. Climate
change or interaction with Homo sapiens could
have caused its extinction.
Weather in Europe didn't permit agrarian
lifestyle. Short growing season and scarce arable
land.
Cave dwellers followed their game animals,
stored meat during winter. Collected wild grains,
edible plants during lean times.

 Homo sapiens - accidental farmers

When agriculture began then humans stopped
wandering and started to settle. Wheat could
be stored so shifted from hunter gatherer to
agriculture
From small settlements to towns and cities. The
earliest known was atalhyk or Catal Huyuk
9500 B.C.

From the past to the present

Domestication of dogs
Food
Language oral and written
Transport sea, land and air
Fuel wood, whale oil, coal, oil and renewable
energies
Bartering to currency
Organic rubbish to modern synthetic rubbish
Small populations to 7 billion

Cuneiform and the Sumerians 3500 BC

Egyptians and the hieroglyphs 3200 BC

Bamboo scroll 1500 BC

Jiaguwen 1600-1100 BC

From the past to the present

Made everything ourselves: houses, clothes,
shoes, etc.
Craftsmen
Repairs or tailoring, cooking, treating our own
injuries and sicknesses.
Harvested our own medicine
Today, we buy almost everything, most skills
need to be outsourced

Lack of awareness
Where does our food come from?
How do we get water?
Where the raw materials that make stuff come
from?
What happens to our waste?
The importance of biodiversity
Impact of climate change

References
http://www.snowballearth.org/what.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/history_of_the_earth#e
xtinction_events
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/dinosaursother-extinct-creatures/mass-extinctions/endpermian-mass-extinction/index.html
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/humanevolution-timeline-interactive
http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/htmlversion/
hadean2.html
http://smithsonianscience.org/2014/07/humanevolution-rewritten-flexible-response-climate-change/