Environmental Science Seminar

After gaining an understanding of the structures and functions of natural ecosystems and the material cycles of the elements of life (carbon, nitrogen,
sulfur, etc.), with a focus on aquatic ecosystems, students will learn about environmental pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) generated by human
activity. The seminar will also explain the effects of environmental hormones, etc., on the ecosystem and our health from the perspective of ecology and
environmental toxicology. This class includes content related to gender equality.

environmental science, ecosystem structure, ecosystem function, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, sulfur cycle, environmental pollutant, heavy metal pollution, environmental hormone, agricultural chemical pollution, radioactive material pollution, global environmental problem, group work, SDGs, report feedback

1. What is environmental science?
2. Ecosystem structure
3. Ecosystem function
4. The carbon cycle in the natural world
5. The nitrogen cycle in the natural world
6. The sulfur cycle in the natural world
7. Midterm test; What are environmental pollutants?
8. Heavy metal pollution in the past and present
9. Pollution from organochlorine compounds
10. The reality of pesticide pollution
11. Behavior of environmental pollutants in ecosystems
12. Impact of environmental pollutants on ecosystems
13. Effects of environmental pollutants on the human body
14. Purifying environmental pollutants and environmental restoration (1)
15. Purifying environmental pollutants and environmental restoration (2); class questionnaire
16. Final test

Syllabus (Japanese site only)