Science Forward

 Readings and Videos for Class 2

Due September 16:

1. Law et al. (2010) – Plastic Accumulation in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre
(Let’s start to get some real numbers on the extent of plastic accumulation in the oceans, and the trends over the past few decades. When reading this paper, think about methods and implications)

2. Hidalgo-Ruz et al. (2012) – Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification
(This paper provides a review of methods used to quantify, identify and classify marine plastics. Think about why different methods are used, the limitations of each, and how it affects uncertainty)

3. Zettler et al. (2013) – Life in the “Plastisphere”: Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris
(What is the “Plastisphere? Are plastics biodegradable? Are all plastics created equal?)

Due September 9:

1. A YouTube primer on biodersity (basic but good introduction to the topic):

2. A link to Gotelli and Colwell (2001). (This paper discusses the methodological challenges to determining species richness and has been cited 2280 according to Scopus. It is a difficult paper to read, but try to get the gist of accumulation curves, rarefaction curves and what the authors’ main point(s) is. Don’t try to master the details. Seek other resources on the Internet to supplement your understanding of the issue here.)

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2001.00230.x/pdf

3. A link to Cohn (2008), a paper about the value of Citizen Science. (think about the relationship between citizen science and the need for reliable data)

http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1641/B580303
Due September 4:

1. E.O. Wilson discusses Bioblitzes:

2. Brooklyn College Jamaica Bay Bioblitz:

3. Science Forward Video: Urban Ecology

Due September 2:

1. Science Forward Video: Science Senses

2. Science Forward Video: What is Science? (watch this video, then read the excerpt from Bauer below. What are the similarities and differences in the discussion of what science is?)

3. Excerpt from Bauer (1992) (compare this to the view of science presented in the Science Forward video above)

Download (PDF, Unknown)

4. NY Times Op-Ed by Charles Moore, August 25, 2014 (Exercise your Science Sense. How can you apply them to this op-Ed?)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/opinion/choking-the-oceans-with-plastic.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

5. Sea Education Association, Plastics at Sea Cruise 2012: Final Reflections (Compare this video from SEA with the op-Ed above. Which one did you find to be more informative? Which one was more “sciency” and why?)