FALL 2002
COMPLEXITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT:
HYDRODYNAMICS & CARBON TRANSPORT
CNS 201 (Recommended prerequisite: Physics 213 or equivalent)
Time: Tu/Th 2:15-3:30pm
Location: Physics 113
(2 graduate credits or 1 undergraduate credit)
The course will explore the role of terrestrial ecosystems in regulating atmospheric CO2 and water uptake. Faculty
participating in the lecture series will explore different areas of science related to this question. A common theme
in this course will be the role of complexity and scaling across orders of magnitude, from dynamics at the level
of plant tracheids to interactions across different landscapes.
This is a special version of NCS 201S/PHY 201S, Nonlinear and Complex Systems 201, which has two components: survey
lectures by Duke experts active in CNCS research on their research areas and regular attendance in the CNCS seminar
series.
During Fall 2002 the survey lectures will have thematic approach. The first series of lectures will be given by
Oren (NSEES) and address the mechanisms associated with fluid flow in the plant xylem. Field data and measurements
will be compared with models across very small and local scales. Bertozzi (Mathematics) will follow with three elementary
lectures on modeling hydrodynamic systems. Elementary ideas from flow in porous media, atmospheric flow, self-similarity
and scaling will be discussed. Katul (NSEES) will present the general problem of the interaction of ecosystems with
the atmosphere, on the scale of forest canopies. Both field measurements and modeling ideas will be discussed. Albertson
(CEE) will discuss current models for transport across different landscapes in conjunction with his field work in
Africa.
Without prior notification, attendance at all CNCS seminars is required.
GENOMICS & ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES
ENV 298 and BIOL 295s
Time: Wed 2:20-4:50pm
Location: Room 140 Bio Sci
Claire Williams, Professor, Texas A&M
University
e-mail: claire-williams@tamu.edu
tel: 919-672-7050
Genomics, once the exclusive domain of health care and agricultural food supplies, is now expanding into ecology,
environmental sciences, and evolutionary biology. The new field of ecological genomics research is continuing to
grow because of increasing concern over the fate of the world's flora and fauna given the burgeoning human population
and because of increasing capacity for high throughput automated data collection in genomics. These two factors
are driving research breadth and depth for comparative studies. This graduate seminar course is taught by Claire
Williams, visiting professor on sabbatical at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences,
and the Center on Global Change.
Course goals: Develop collaborative ideas between environmental studies and genomics-based research. Share concepts,
ideas, and primary literature.
Format: The first part is lecture format with discussion and readings. Second part is a series of student presentations
on selected class projects.
Grading: Class attendance and participation 10%, homework and synopses from reading assignments 30%, concept development
and class presentations 60%.
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