Blog Assignment #1 – My Urban Sustainability Impact
Due 6 PM on 01/29
UIC Campus (Source: http://www.uic.edu, no restrictions.)
There are approximately 27,000 students who attend UIC, an urban research university, in the heart of the Chicago region, which is home to almost 10 million
people. Such a large number of students and people are bound to have some impact on the campus, the city and its surroundings. Whether you live in the city or suburbs, your actions can have positive and negative effects on the man-made and natural environment.
Identify 2 or 3 sustainable and/or unsustainable impacts that you as an individual have on this planet.
Think about the following questions and address one of them: 1) What outside factors (things that are beyond your immediate control) make it difficult or easy for you to be sustainable? 2) What can you as a student or citizen do to be more sustainable for the UIC campus or your community? or 3) Consider your personal habits, the forms of transportation you use, and your overall perspective, what do you see as the most critical urban sustainability challenge for the coming decades?
Due 6 PM on 01/29
See US 130 Blog 1 Assignment Sheet for additional instructions and information.
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Blog Assignment 2 Public Health Concern
Due 6PM on 02/19 (via email & posting on US 130 site)
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Environmental impact is one factor that contributes to public health issues, especially in urban areas, where there are large concentrations of people. Chicago, a large metropolitan area, has its own set of public health concerns that goes beyond its city limits and even crosses state lines.
Identify a specific public health concern in the Chicago area and suggest an informed, sustainable plan to alleviate/mitigate the problem.
Think about the following questions and address at least two of them: 1) What would be the best course of action and who would be affected? 2) Why would this plan be beneficial and how would it relate to urban sustainability? 3) How should a city government prioritize in order to address health-related and environmental bottlenecks?
Due 6 PM on 02/19 (via email & posting on US 130 site)
See Blog Assignment 2 Public Health Concern for additional instructions and information.
Don’t forget to use at least 1 reading material from the class and 2-3 additional references when writing your blog. Always cite your sources.
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Blog Assignment 3 Environmental Policy/Regulations
By NASA/Apollo 17 crew; taken by either Harrison Schmitt or Ron Evans – http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/115334main_image_feature_329_ys_full.jpgAlt: http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-001138.html (direct link), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43894484
Environmental Policy has been a rising sector in laws and regulation. On a federal level, the EPA is responsible for dealing with environmental policy and U.S. regulations regarding the environment. On a state and regional level, regulations become more specific to cater to that area’s specific needs.
Identify an environmental/sustainable policy or regulation in Chicago.
Think about the following questions and address at least two of them: 1) What is its purpose and what issues prompted the rule to be put into effect in the first place? 2) Has the history or implementation of the regulation changed over time? 3) Has it been productive? If yes, in what ways? If not, what can be done to encourage people to abide by these regulations? 4) How do urban and national politics intersect around environmental issues?
Due 6 PM on 04/01 (via email & posting on US 130 site)
See Blog Assignment 3 Environmental Policies/Regulations for additional instructions and information.
Don’t forget to use at least 1 reading material from the class and 2-3 additional references when writing your blog. Always cite your sources.
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Blog Assignment 4 Science, Innovation & Technology for Urban Sustainability
Due 6PM on 04/18 (via email & posting on US 130 site)
Co.Exist Canopea’s “Nanotower” Design (http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680718/a-new-vision-for-sustainable-urban-housing-combines-technology-with-open-spaces#2)
Science, innovation and technology are important components of urban sustainability. They can provide solutions from the high-technology end to retrofitting, biomimicry, and more basic, inexpensive and readily-available technologies and planning approaches. Information and communication technologies (ICTs), and urban science and data can play key roles to solve urban challenges without expensive infrastructure requirements.
Identify an urban innovation project in any city in the world.
Think about the following questions and address one of them: 1) What role does this urban innovation project have for the city’s sustainable development goals? 2) What are the project’s sustainability outcomes and what methods/plans are they implementing to make the project a success? (Use valid examples to support your claim.) or 3) How does the project address all 5 factors for sustainable development (environment, economics, social equity, energy and health)?
Due 6PM on 04/18 (via email & posting on US 130 site)
See Blog Assignment 4 Science Technology Innovation for additional instructions and information.
Don’t forget to use at least 1 reading material from the class and 2-3 additional references when writing your blog. Always cite your sources.
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Principles of Urban Sustainability 