Gulf oil spill subject of new honors course this fall

7/20/2010

Schreyer Scholars interested in learning more about the Gulf oil spill and the scientific and ethical issues raised by the disaster can sign up for a new course, Earth 297H: The 2010 Gulf Oil Spill: Science and Ethics of a Natural Catastrophe, to be offered this fall.

Petroleum formation, Gulf of Mexico geology, wetland ecology, and shallow and deep water marine food chains are among the topics to be covered. Students also will examine issues of corporate social responsibility, government regulation of the oil industry, and the conflicts of interest in remediation efforts.

Besides class work, students will take a multi-day field trip to New Orleans to see firsthand the wetlands of the Mississippi Delta and to hear from industry by a visit to a major oil company.

Open to students regardless of major and semester standing, this course satisfies the General Education (GN) requirement. Schreyer Scholars must complete a Substitution Form and obtain their adviser¹s approval.

For more information, contact professors Timothy Bralower, Geosciences, (bralower@psu.edu) and Nancy Tuana, Philosophy (ntuana@la.psu.edu).