Marine Science Institute College of Science University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

SYLLABUS: Course Number: MS 1 Course Title: Oceans and Us Course Description: An appreciation course on the functional balance between the health of the oceans and the survival and improvement of our way of life. Course Credit: 3u Prerequisite: none Domain: Math, Science, and Technology Course objectives: At the end of the course, the student should be able to: 1. discuss marine ecosystem functions and processes based on geological, physical, chemical and biological concepts; 2. examine current environmental issues concerning our oceans; and 3. propose rational strategies on the use of this resource. MARINE SCIENCE 1: Oceans and Us 1. Background (1 week) 1.1. Overview of the sciences: contract of science with humanity 1.2. Status and prospects of marine science for developing countries 2. Introduction to Marine Science (1.5 weeks) 2.1 Functions of the ocean: regulation, carrier, production and information 2.2 Aspects and processes: geological, physical, chemical, biological 2.3 Interactions of processes and effects on ecosystems EXAM 1 (0.5 weeks)

3. Oceans as Ecosystems (4.5 weeks) 3.1 Applied ecological concepts and principles: population interactions, community, diversity, limiting factors 3.2 Habitat estuaries, coastal areas, continental shelf, open ocean and deep ocean 3.3 Ecosystem: integrative levels, ecological succession, biogeochemical cycles 3.4 Ecosystems as units of sustainability EXAM 2 (0.5 weeks)

4. Oceans as Resources: (7.5 weeks) 4.1 Utilization: extractive and non-extractive uses of living and non-living resources 4.2. Conservation: species and genetic biodiversity; endangered, economically important species 4.3 Management: environmental issues, marine protected areas and Law of the Sea EXAM 3 (0.5 weeks)

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS UVLE Site: http://uvle.up.edu.ph/course/category.php?id=57 Enrol in the course using this case sensitive enrollment key: MS1amihan Special assignment: Students will be asked to search for news articles on marine science and environmental issues, preferably from popular scientific journals. A good source is from the web site, Science Daily (http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/oceanography/). All students will be asked to make a 5-minute oral presentation on their chosen topic, the schedules for which will be announced. Typically, two students will be assigned to do a presentation each meeting. Reporting may start on the 3rd week of class. Project: To reflect the potential students multiple disciplines, a special project for the semester will merge the principles taken up during the course with those of the students specific discipline. The students have the option of working on the project individually or as part of a group with the same course. Submission is on the last week of classes before the final exam. Sample projects are posters/brochures for those enrolled in advertising courses, and video presentations for those enrolled in media courses. Examinations: There will be a total of four examinations for the semester. The first three covers topics discussed immediately before the exam date and after the previous exam. The tests are scheduled for weeks 3 (parts 1 & II), 8 (part III) and 16 (part IV). Then there will be a final integrated exam. Field exposure: The students will have a field trip aimed at exposing them to the status of Philippine marine waters. Teaching strategy: Lectures and class discussions with special emphasis on Philippine case studies. GRADING SYSTEM: Exams Special assignments / class participation Project Finals 30% 20% 30% 20%

Suggested readings and websites for the course:

Books: Sverdrup, K.A., Duxburry, A.C., and Duxburry, A.B. 2005. An introduction to the worlds oceans. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 514p. H.V. Thurman and A.P. Trujillo. 1999. Essentials of Oceanography, 7 edition. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey. Ellen J. Prager with Sylvia A. Earle. 2000. The Oceans. McGrawHill, New York, 314p. Robert Stewart. Our Ocean Planet - Oceanography in the 21st Century (an online textbook) http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/contents.htm
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Websites: Essentials of Oceanography, 8 ed., Thurman & Trujillo, Prentice Hall Companion Website. http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_thurman_essofocean_8/22/5774/1478350.cw/index.html NOAA Ocean Explorer http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/gallery/gallery.html 100 excellent websiteS for exploring the ocean online http://www.matchacollege.com/blog/2009/100-excellent-websites-for-exploring-the-ocean-online/ Scientific American Oceanography http://www.scientificamerican.com/topic.cfm?id=oceanography Ocean Planet http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ocean_planet.html Law of the Sea http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/oceanography/ Google Earth Oceans http://www.justmagic.com/GM-GE.html Podcasts/videos: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=12515 The Blue Planet: http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Science/Environment/The-Blue-Planet-AnIntroduction-to-Oceanography-Podcast/22717 Scripps Institution of Oceanography http://explorations.ucsd.edu/category/video/
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