Quantitative Reasoning Foundation: Quantifying Our Eco-Footprint
Introduction
Introduction
Students will learn to make appropriate measurements to quantify the eco-footprint arising out of our current personal lifestyle choices, conduct systematic thought/real experiments to explore improvement opportunities, and propose a model-based sustainable alternative for ourselves, our families or communities such as the USP Residential College.
In this particular iteration of the module, students will learn the QR skills of:
- formulate problems in a quantitative way
- measuring, estimating and modeling data
- reasoning and solving quantitative problems from authentic contexts and everyday life situations.
- interpreting mathematical models and using them for decision making
- creating sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate
Students will gain experience in working with the QR tools of:
- Regression Modeling (Spreadsheet based)
- Data/Trend Visualization (Spreadsheet based)
- Simple Optimization (Spreadsheet based)
Readings
Readings
Wonnacott, T.H. and Wonnacott, R.J. (1990). Introductory Statistics, 5th ed. Wiley.
Galli, A., Wiedmann, T., Ercin, E., Knoblauch, D., Ewing, B., Giljum, S. (2012). Integrating Ecological, Carbon and Water Footprint into a “Footprint Family” of indicators: Definition and Role in tracking Human Pressure on the Planet. Ecological Indicators, 16 (2012) 100–112.
Do the Math Blog - http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/post-index/
Assessment
Assessment
- Participation (20%)
- Mid-term Exam (20%)
- Assignments (Individual: 20%)
- Projects and Presentations (40%)