PPR Overview Presentation

Specialization Description

Pollution can be defined as chemical or biological mis-localization. Humans create pollution in a number of ways: by accident, by improper waste disposal, and in some cases by well-intended management of the environment. There are many challenges in pollution cleanup and in preventing future pollutant releases. This specialization prepares students to recognize pollutants, characterize the extent and consequences of pollution in the environment, identify and evaluate alternatives for remediation and prevention, and evaluate the economic and political viability of alternatives.

COURSE WORK

The main goal of PPR is to prepare students for challenging, rewarding, and long-term careers in pollution management. To achieve this goal, students should have a good background in the following areas. Depending on the student's background upon entering Bren, suggested courses in each area can be considered.

Students do not necessarily need to take courses in all seven areas. Your advisor will work with you, one on one, to determine which of the areas map best onto your training and career trajectory, taking into account your strengths as you enter Bren, and the areas that appear useful for additional coursework.

Typically, students will take 1 to 2 courses in each area; however, the decision about what is best for you will be made as you work with your advisor to carve out a plan that exactly works for you, considering your background and long terms directions in PPR.

Transport of Pollutants: How do pollutants move around in the environment? This involves learning about the physical and chemical properties of pollutants within various environments, and learning about the processes that redistribute pollutants over time.

Distribution of Pollutants: How can we assess pollution distribution? This involves learning how to manage, and make sense of, data acquired while monitoring pollution in the field.

Consequences of Pollution: What are the risks of pollutants? This involves learning what happens to "receptors" such as animals and humans in the environment when pollutants migrate and concentrate at those locations.

Pollution Remediation: How can we clean up pollution? This involves learnign about technologies and approaches that are used to clean up both hazardous and domestic waste streams.

Pollution Prevention: How can we prevent pollution? This involves learning how industrial processes and raw materials can be rethought to limit waste streams and reduce pollution to begin with.

Economics and Policy of Pollution Management: How can we choose management alternatives? This involves learning about policies, economics, and strategies that would factor into recommending management approaches.

Other:The following variable topic courses may also provide curriculum opportunities of value for PPR students