This syllabus is "dynamic" or a "living document", it will change throughout the term. Come back here before each lecture.
These lectures are also available in the resources section of OWL (Readings are listed in brackets)
| Date | Topic | Reading |
| Jan 8 | Scope of Course | None |
| Jan 15 | Introduction - Key Concepts | Moeller Ch 1 |
| Jan 22 |
Measuring Health-Environment Links: Toxicology Discussion Assignment 1 |
Moeller Ch 2 |
| Jan 29 | Measuring Health-Environment Links: Epidemiology | Moeller Ch 3 |
| Feb 5 | Contaminants in Air | Moeller Ch 5 |
| Feb 12 |
Risk Assessment and Management Assignment 1 Due |
None |
| Feb 26 |
Midterm Exam |
None |
| Mar 5 |
Built Environment and Health I Discussion Assignment 2 |
Frank et al. Ch 1 & 3 |
| Mar 12 | Built Environment and Health II | Putnam (2000) Ch 1 & 20 |
| Mar 19 | Environmental Equity and Policy | Cutter 1995 |
| Mar 26 |
Environment and Health and the Media Course Instructor Evaluations |
Beseley and Shanahan 2004 |
| April 2 |
Video - Nature of Things - Playing with Poison (examinable) Assignment 2 Due |
Guillette et al. (1998) |
| April 9 | Review | None |
NEW: Each student is required to complete the readings and have responses to the "think questions" posted by the TAs on WebCt. The think questions will be posted at least a day before tutorial. All are expected to participate in the tutorial discussions. In general you will be critically appraising the readings by summarizing key themes, findings, methods, deficiencies, and directions for future research. Avoid the pitfall of too much summary, focus on critical commentary (e.gs., What might a different method reveal? Who was studied, and would it matter if a different group was studied? What is the strength of the evidence relative to the conclusions?). You may find the following critical appraisal form helpful.
| Date | Topic | Reading | 10:30 | 11:30 |
| Jan 9 | No Tutorial | none | TBA | TBA |
| Jan 16 | Introduction and Ice-Breaker, sign up for tutorial facilitation | none | ||
| Jan 23 |
Epidemiology in Contaminated Communities Case Study: Love Canal |
Health et al (1984); Bari Kolata (1980); Holden (1980) | ||
| Jan 30 |
Water Contamination by Pathogens Case Study: Walkerton |
Hrudey et al (2003); Parr (2005) | ||
| Feb 6 | Limits to Epidemiology | Taubes (1995); Taubes (1997) | ||
| Mar 6 |
Built Environment and Health (obesity) Case Study: Canada vs USA |
Morland and Evenson (2009); Seliske et al. (2009) | ||
| Mar 13 |
Built Environment and Health (social capital) Case Studies: Wales and Ireland |
Araya (2006); Leyden (2003) | ||
| Mar 20 |
Environmental Equity Case Study: England and Wales |
Wheeler (2004) | ||
| Mar 27 |
Pesticides and Health Case Study: Mexico |
Guillette et al (1998) |
Lecture: Wednesday, 2 hours, 13:30 - 15:30, TH 3102
Tutorial 1 - Thursday 10:30 - 11:30 P&AB 117
Tutorial 2 - Thursday 11:30 - 12:30 P&AB 36
Participation (tutotial and lecture) - 10%
Assignments (two) - 35%
Midterm Exam - 20%
Final Exam - 35%
You must complete all course components to pass the course.
No electronic devices - e.g. phones, calculators, are allowed at the midterm or exam
For a full description of assignments and exams please click here.
Course text:
Moeller , D. (2011) Environmental Health (Fourth Edition) Cambridge Mass: Harvard University Press.
All other material will be made available via Sakai
For cases where your reason is not medical, compassionate grounds (e.g., family death) etc. as per below there is a 5% per day penalty - a weekend counts as one day. The clock starts at 9am every morning. You can slide the paper under my door (I typically arrive before 9).
For UWO Policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness and a downloadable SMC see:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf
Downloadable Student Medical Certificate (SMC): http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/medicalform_15JUN.pdf
Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed graded course components must apply to the Academic Counselling office of their home Faculty and provide documentation. Academic accommodation cannot be granted by the instructor or department.
And now some messages from our lawyers...
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.
The Department of Geography has a zero tolerance policy towards plagiarism. If a student commits plagiarism, the instructor will assign a grade of zero to the assignment. A second instance of plagiarism is regarded as a scholastic offense and will be dealt with according to The University of Western Ontario policy for Scholastic offenses - more on our policy on plagiarism via this link. The most common offense is failing to cite properly - if you quote directly, cite the author! You do not get the benefit of the doubt (you are not presumed innocent until proven guilty) when such offenses are committed. That is, the burden of proof is reversed. Can you prove "it was an accident" (this is a rhetorical question)?
The following is an excerpt from the university secretariat: Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
Not citing the work of others is generally the main violation - ignorance is no excuse! See next...
Unfortunately turnitin has "caught" several offenders in my classes, please do not be the next one - it is awkward for everyone involved. If you do original work and write and cite properly you have nothing to worry about. The university has provided this mandatory wording: "All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com"
Once logged in to Turnitin copy the id and pass below to the appropriate fields at the Turnitin website.
1. Login to turnitin - register if you do not have an account.
2. Join the course with the following credentials:
