FRS 002E —
Sec. 001 —
(2 units) — CRN 76162 — W 6:10-8:30pm — 21 Olson
Using Stella to Model Environmental Change
Instructor: Kurt Kreith, Department of Mathematics, College of Letters
and Science
Description: Many environmental issues are clouded
in uncertainty
because of the complexity of the global system upon which our future
welfare depends.
An engaging way to think about such issues is to develop
“models for change,”
ones that can serve as scenarios for possible futures. In this seminar we will
explore the use of a computer simulation package called Stella to develop such
models for change. These models will provide insight into the role
that mathematics
can play in efforts to understand some of the environmental issues
that confront
future generations. Students will become proficient with Stella and
learn techniques
for applying the computer’s capacity for rapid iteration to the study of
dynamical systems. These skills will enable us to demystify concepts
such as feedback,
entropy, and chaos, and to explore the role that mathematics can play in coming
to terms with issues of global environmental change.
Format: Weekly classroom discussions of 30-45 minutes will be
followed by a computer laboratory session where students develop Stella models.
Once basic modeling skills have been attained, students will work in groups of
2-3 to develop modeling projects for presentation/discussion at a
final (8th week)
meeting. Grading: Students will be graded on the basis
of their participation in classroom discussions (1/3), the student
project presentation
(1/3), and on the quality of the group project submitted (1/3).
About the Instructor: Kurt Kreith is a Professor Emeritus of
Mathematics at UC Davis. Since 1982 he has been actively involved in
mathematics
education, including summer institutes relating mathematics to
environmental studies
curricula at the secondary school level. He is co-author of
“Iterative Algebra
and Dynamic Modeling,” a recently published text that sets the stage for
mathematical modeling at the secondary school level