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• Benoit Cushman-Roisin
• Thayer School of Engineering
• Dartmouth College

Syllabus: Fall 2011

Instructor

Benoit Cushman-Roisin
134 Cummings Hall
Telephone: 1-603-646-3248
Email: Benoit.Cushman.Roisin@dartmouth.edu

Teaching Assistants

Harold Dansu, Sarah Laird, Robbie Moss, Alexander Reeder

Course description

A survey of the sources, measurement techniques, and treatment technologies relating to environmental pollution resulting from human activities. The course is technology-focused but also touches on topics related to the implementation of technology in the real world such as public perception, policy and legislation, and choosing between technological alternatives. Topics include water pollution, air pollution, solid waste, fate and transport of pollutants in the environment, and pollution prevention. Consideration of each area includes general background and key concepts, detailed design examples, and case studies/current topics. The course includes guest lectures and three field trips, including a visit to the local wastewater treatment plant.

Web address

http://thayer.dartmouth.edu/~cushman/courses/engs37.html

Textbook (required)

Introduction to Environmental Engineering
by Richard O. Mines and Laura W. Lackey
Prentice Hall © 2009 (paperback)

Course Objectives

• Knowledge of the main forms of air, water and land pollution,
• Ability to perform a mass balance for an open system,
• Ability to design scrubbers, cyclones and electrostatic precipitators, and ability to select the technology appropriate to the application,
• Understanding how a wastewater treatment plant works,
• Knowledge of methods of pollution prevention inside a manufacturing plant,
• A basic understanding of risk assessment,
• Knowledge of what an environmental engineer is and does.

Course Format

• Lectures by instructor (Auditorium 200, Cummings Hall, MWF, 10:00-11:05)
• Three lectures replaced by local field trips (mandatory attendance)
• Weekly in-class quizzes (Wednesday, first 15 minutes of class)
• Weekly graded homeworks (Friday to Friday)
• No use of X-hour (unless something happens)
• TAs will run review sessions (to be scheduled, likely in the evening)
• Take-home mid-term examination (2+ days, open books)
• Final Examination (several days, open books)

Office hours

Mondays and Wednesdays, from 2 to 4pm.
Cummings Room 134 (Professor's office)

Grading

• 30% Homeworks
• 20% Quizzes
• 25% Mid-term exam
• 25% Final exam

Academic Honor Code

As always, students are expected to observe all aspects of the Academic Honor Principle, as defined in Organization, Regulations and Courses. In this course, collaboration is allowed during homework preparation, although students have to turn in their individual answers. No collaboration whatsoever is allowed during the mid-term and final examinations. During those assignments, questions can only be directed to the instructor or the TAs.

Dartmouth College policy requires that any apparent violation of the Honor Code be reported to the Committee on Standards. The professor does not have another choice, regardless of how he/she may feel.

Note on laptop use in class

Use of laptop computers is forbidden during class. The only granted exception is to students with documented writing disabilities who need a computer for note taking.

Note on email communications

Email communications with the instructor are most welcome at any time as long as they deal with questions on the materials taught in class or absences from class. Students are asked to refrain from using email to set up appointments. To see the instructor, students are asked to drop by his office (any time is a good time as long as the professor is in!) or use the office hours listed above.

Note to students with disabilities

Students with any type of disability are encouraged to contact the instructor to discuss their needs and what accommodations are necessary. Such contact should be made at the beginning of the term or, in the case of a new condition, as soon as it occurs.

Scheduling

(*) Students gathered in three groups (Groups 1, 2 & 3) take turn participating in three different field trips: Visit of the local wastewater treatment plant, campus tour of energy-efficient buildings, and tour of the Dartmouth Organic Farm.

© Copyright 2011 by Benoit Cushman-Roisin