INST 3019 - Lake Erie in Good Times and in Bad

Hours: 3
Lake Erie is sometimes the poster child of environmental failure and sometimes the Wheaties Box of environmental success: the lake was formed when one destructive force (glaciers) met what some might think an immovable force (northern Ohio). Shortly after its formation (in geologic time) the lake was pronounced DEAD, then it was recovered and now it is on life support. Exploring the history of Lake Erie from its birth to present-day and asking questions about its future, with the perspectives of a natural resource manager (applied science) and a field zoologist (basic science). Thinking about Lake Erie as an example of the complex decisions that frame our use, misuse, and non-use of a resource and seek to understand the resiliency of nature under an onslaught of human and non-human activities. As Lake Erie is larger than its boarder in Ohio, we will also ask who is the public when it comes to the lake and what are the goods and services provided by the lake. We will create a quilt that demonstrates our understanding of the lake, its environment, our relationship with that environment, and what public good is when confronted with such an entity as a Great Lake.
Prerequisites: Junior standing or above, and a minimum of one course from at least four of the following INST threads: 2000, 2200, 2400, 2600, and 2800.

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INST 3019 - Lake Erie in Good Times and in Bad