Syllabus,G106:WaterandtheCity Fall,2017

G106
WaterandtheCity:ASocioHydrologyofWorcesteranditsEnvirons
Tuesdays,2:505:50pm
JAC200

PleasecheckMoodleregularlyforupdatedcoursematerials.

Instructor: Dr.RinkuRoyChowdhury
Office: JAC201B
Off.Hrs: Wednesdays24pmandbyappointment
Tel: 5084213858
Email: [email protected]

TeachingAssistant:BenFash
Office: GeographyBuilding,JKWright
Off.Hrs: WF,11am12pmandbyappointment
Tel: 8572316884
Email: [email protected]

Courseoverviewandobjectives:
Over50%oftheworldspopulationlivesinurbanareas,aproportionexpectedtorisetotwothirdsof
thepopulationby20501.Thisconcentrationhassignificantimplicationsfortheuseandmanagementof
naturalresourcestoprovisionurbanplacesandpeople,particularlywater.Thisisafirstyearintensive
course,involvingyouaspartofasmallgroupofstudentsinadeepexaminationofurbansocio
hydrologicalrelations.G106offersahistoricalandcontemporarydeepdiveintothesocialrelationships
betweenourcityregionanditswater(aslifeline,right,culturalandecologicalresource,economic
engine,waste,andcentraltopolitics,regulation,managementandfutureclimatevulnerabilityand
resilience).Wereadwidelyfrominvestigationsofurbannature,urbandevelopmentandchange,
planning,andclimateandenvironmentalhistory,drawingfromacademicworkaswellaspopular
literatureandperiodicals(newspapers,regionalwatershedrelatedblogsandwebsites,policybriefs).
Wewillusethisknowledgetoestablishafoundationalframeworkofurbansociohydrology.

Inaddition,wewillstronglyintegratethisintellectualworkwithfieldexperiencesinWorcesterandits
environs.Worcester,theBlackstoneRiverValleyandtheCentralNewEnglandregionarecollectivelya
livinglaboratory,whereonecanwitnesskeymomentsandfeaturesthathaveshapedregionalhistoryas
wellascurrentissuesinwater(andwastewater)management,conservation,andplanning.Wewillvisit
aselectionofsitesfromthefollowinglocations:Clarkcampusraingardenandpublicparksandlocations
throughoutWorcester,theWorcesterArtMuseum,WorcesterHistoricalMuseum,theBlackstoneRiver
andCanalHeritageStateParkandtheMillvilleLock,regionalwatershedassociations,theBroad
MeadowBrookWildlifeSanctuary,TheHarvardForestFisherMuseumandtheCityofWorcesterWater
TreatmentPlantandPineHillDamRestorationsite.Totheextentpossible,wewillalsoengagewith
regionalcouncilsandwatershedassociationssuchastheRegionalEnvironmentalCouncilandregional

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United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs, World Urbanization Prospects, The 2014 Revision
Highlights. Available online at http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/Highlights/WUP2014-Highlights.pdf.

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Syllabus,G106:WaterandtheCity Fall,2017

WatershedAssociations(e.g.,BlackstoneRiver,IndianLakeandTatnuckBrook),orwithmeetingsatCity
Hallpertainingtowaterpolicyandplanningissues.Theseexperiencesofregionallanduse,watershed
changeandurbanwatermanagementwillbethreadedthroughandinformouracademicinvestigation
ofurbansociohydrology.

Throughoutthesemester,youwillworkonvariouscreativeandcriticalactivities,withacombinationof
individualandteambasedprojects.Throughthisworkinandoutoftheclassroom,youwillbuildskillsin
criticalthinkingandeffectivecommunicationamongeachother,withmeandwithmembersofthe
broaderWorcestercommunity.Overall,thecourseobjectivescenteronyourdevelopingafundamental
understandingofurbanregionsintermsoftheirrelationshiptowater.Thisentailsexploringthese
connectionsfrommultipledisciplinaryperspectives,includingurbangeographyandsociology,
environmentalscienceandmanagement,urbanecology,anddiverseperspectivesfromnaturesociety
geography,includingpoliticalecologyandenvironmentaljustice.Wewilldevelopanappreciationfor
thescalarchallengesofurbanwateruseandmanagement,andreflectonitspolicydimensions.Youwill
gainbothscholarlyandimmersive,realworldexperienceofthehistoricalevolutionofurbansocio
hydrology.

BasicConcepts:Bytheendofthecourse,youwillhavedevelopedafoundationalknowledgeof
Urbanwatershedsassocial,ecologicalandhydrologicalentities
Thecomplexitiesofproblemsandsolutionstourbanwaterchallenges
Thelegaciesofregionalhydrologyforurbandevelopment
Spatiallyunevenprocessesandoutcomesinwateraccessandquality

Skills:ThiscoursepromotesthedevelopmentofskillspertinenttoLiberalEducationandEffective
Practice(LEEP)objectives
Conductindividualand/orcollaborativeresearchonspecificcoursetopics
Developcriticalanalysisskillsandaninterdisciplinaryapproachtourbanwaterproblems
Practiceknowledgeintegrationwithimmersiveexperienceinourcommunity,cityandregion
Practicecommunicationskillsamongacademicpeersandwithpractitionersfromthe
(nonacademic)community

ThiscoursemeetsthePLSValuesPerspective.

Readings,AttendanceandParticipation,Discussion
WeeklyReadings
Readingswillbeassignedeachweek.Finalreadinglists(assignments)willbepostedinMoodleeach
week,followingthecoursescheduledetailedabove.Thereadingsareavailablefrommyoffice,Moodle,
theKaspersonlibraryorthroughtheGoddardlibrarysonlineresources.Pleaseensureyoucompleteall
requiredreadingsbeforeeachclasssessionorfieldtrip.

AttendanceandParticipation
Youareexpectedtoattendallclassesandfieldtrips,readcritically,comewithquestions,andengage
activelyindiscussion.Inordertodowellonparticipationyoumust:
RegularlyattendclassThisonceaweekclassfocusesstronglyonindependentthinking,
learningandfieldbasedlearning,andattendanceiscrucial.Reasonableandsubstantiated
absencesareacceptable,butyoumustinformmeinadvance,and/orprovideacceptable
medical/legaldocumentation.Threeormoreunexcusedabsencesmayresultinafailinggrade.

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Syllabus,G106:WaterandtheCity Fall,2017

EngageinclassroomdiscussionAskquestions!Youwilldoafavortootherstudents,asothers
mayhavethesamequestionsinmind.Answerquestions:answersarefrequentlyneither
rightorwrong.Andevenwhenincorrect,ananswercanformalegitimatebasisforfurther
discussionandclarification.Engageingroupdiscussionwhenwebreakintosmallgroups.
MeetwithyourinstructorYoushouldmeetwithmeatleastonceortwiceduringthe
semestertodiscussyourproposedresearchproject,evolvinginterestsandcoursetopics.
Attendfieldtripsfieldvisitsareanintegralpartofthecourse,andyouareexpectedtoattend
allourfieldvisits.Severalofthesewillbeinoutdoorlocations.Iwillprovidemoreinformation
byweek,butbepreparedtodressfortheweather.Bringupanypossibleconflictsorissues
(e.g.,specialaccommodationsforadisability)withmeattheverybeginningofthesemester.
ExtenddiscussioninMoodleAsidefrominclassdiscussions,youalsohavetheabilitytouse
ouronlineDiscussionForumsinMoodleforeachweekstopic.Beforeourclassmeeting,I
encourageyoutopostathoughtfulcommentorquestionontheweeksmaterials,ortoreply
todiscussionthreadspostedbyothers.

Writingassignments
WritingassignmentswillconsistofcompilingaweeklyUrbanWaterjournal,afinalpaperchosenby
youwithmyapproval,andafieldnoteswriteupforeachofourfieldvisitsthroughthecourseofthe
semester.Anexampletemplatefordraftingyourfieldnotesassignmentisbelow;thisassignmentand
otherdetailedassignmentswillbepostedinMoodle.

UrbanWaterweeklyjournal
<guidelinesTBAinMoodle>

FieldNoteswritingassignmenttemplate(dueinMoodlewithin1weekoffieldvisits):
Titleandlocation
Date
Descriptionofactivity
Reflections
Emergingquestions/analyses
Resources/plansforpossiblefollowup

Finalprojectwritingassignment(duelastweekofclasses)
<guidelinesTBAinMoodle>

Inallwriting,pleasesupportyourargumentswithevidenceandlogicalreasoning.Creditauthorsand
sources(includingwebsites)whoseideasyoudrawuponwithcitationsandreferences,inkeepingwith
thestandardsofgoodscholarshipandacademichonesty.Allassignmentsshouldincludeyourname,
assignment#anddescriptivetitle,date(e.g.,FieldNotes,Visit#2:TheHarvardForestFisherMuseum;
September12,2017),andwordcount.Itshouldbesinglesidedanddoublespaced,andtypedinTimes
12fontorequivalent.Literatureciteddoesnotcounttowardsthewordlimit,andshouldbeappended
onseparatepages.PleasefollowtheAPAorsimilarcitationformat(e.g.see
http://www.bibme.org/apa).

Classroometiquette
Learningisbestaidedbyaclassroomenvironmentoftrust,support,andrespect.Pleasecontributeto
thecreationofsuchanenvironmentinourclassbyadheringtothefollowing:

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Syllabus,G106:WaterandtheCity Fall,2017

Beontime.Onlyleavetheclassroomwhenabsolutelynecessary,anddosoquietly.
Avoidinterruptingothers.Feelfreetodisagreewiththeopinionsandideasofotherstudents,
butdosoinarespectful,constructivemanner.
Keepmobilecommunicationstechnologiesofforonsilentmode.Textingduringclassisnot
allowed.
Youmayusealaptoportabletforclassroompurposesonly,suchastakingnotesorviewingthe
readings.AvoidlookingupinformationonlineduringclassunlessImakeanexceptionfora
givendayortopic.

MidtermExam
Oneinclassmidtermexamwillevaluateyourcomprehensionofthetopicscoveredinclass.The
examwillbebasedonamixedformatofshortanswersandlongeressays,andwillbeopenbook.

EvaluationandGradingScale
Generalparticipation(attendance,discussionsetc.) 30%
UrbanWaterJournal 10%
Fieldnotes 20%
Midtermexam 20%
Finalprojectpaper 20%

Grading(%):A+(97.5100),A(92.597.5),A(9092.5),B+(87.590),B(82.587.5),B(8082.5),C+(77.5
80),C(72.577.5),C(7072.5),D+(67.570),D(62.567.5),D(6062.5),F(<60)
Therearenoextracreditoptions.

Academichonesty
StudentsareexpectedtoknowandfollowClarkUniversitypoliciesregardingacademichonestyand
integrity.IfyouarenotfamiliarwiththesepoliciesIrecommendyoureviewappropriatesectionsat
www.clarku.edu/offices/aac/integrity.cfm.

Studentswithdisabilities
Pleasespeaktomeduringthefirstweekofclasses.ClarkUniversityiscommittedtoprovidingstudents
withdocumenteddisabilitiesequalaccesstoalluniversityprogramsandfacilities.Ifyouhaveorthink
youhaveadisabilityandrequireacademicaccommodations,youmustregisterStudentAccessibility
Services(SAS),whichislocatedinroom430onthefourthflooroftheGoddardLibrary.Ifyouhave
questionsabouttheprocess,pleasecontactTheDirectorofAccessibilityServices,EmilyTarconish,at
[email protected](508)7984368.IfyouareregisteredwithSAS,andqualifyfor
accommodationsthatyouwouldliketoutilizeinthiscourse,pleaserequestthoseaccommodations
throughSASinatimelymanner.

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Syllabus,G106:WaterandtheCity Fall,2017

ProvisionalCourseSchedule(subjecttomodificationandhostsavailability)

Week Topic Fieldtrip

Week1 Welcome.Introductions,Courseoverviewand VisittoKaspersonlibrary
8/29 logistics,mappingurbanwatercycles
Week2 TheHydraulicState:Citiesandwaterinhistorical FieldTrip1:WorcesterHistoricalMuseum
9/5 perspective ($5perperson)
Week3 LongwavesinNewEnglandwatersheds:Geology, FieldTrip2:TheHarvardForestFisher
9/12 Historicallanduse,Ecohydrology Museum
324NorthMainStreet,Petersham,MA
($10perstudent)
Week4 Classactivity&Discussion:Mappingurbanwater
9/19 RRCatIPBES,CapeTown,SouthAfrica
Week5 Politicsandhydrology;Climatejustice,extreme Filmclips:TheEverglades/Troublethe
9/26 events Water/WhentheLeveesBroke
Week6 Urban/municipalwaterpartI:Drinkingwater FieldTrip3:CityofWorcesterDrinking
10/3 WaterTreatmentPlant;PineHillDam
Week7 FALLBREAK
10/10
Week8 Midtermexam
10/17 RRCatSESYNC,AnnapolisMD
Week9 Waterinregionalandnationaldevelopment;the FieldTrip4:BlackstoneRiverandCanal
10/24 BlackstoneValleyandtheIndustrialRevolution HeritageStatePark;RiverBendFarm;
MillvilleLock
Week10 Socialchange,environmentaljustice,eco Fieldtrip5:WorcesterArtMuseumBeaver
10/31 gentrification BrookExhibit
(freeforClarkstudents)
Week11 Publicurbanecologies:Waterandgreenspace FieldTrip6:Blackstoneheadwaterswith
11/7 DebCaryandDonnaWilliams
($7perstudent)
Week12 Urbanwatershedsandwildlifeconservation FieldTrip7:Mass.AudubonSocietyBroad
11/14 MeadowBrookWildlifeSanctuary
($7perstudent)
Week13 Urban/municipalwaterpartII:Stormwaterand FieldTrip8:CityofWorcesterWastewater
11/21 wastewatermanagement TreatmentPlant;CSOfacility;DPW
Week14 Globalwater:Citiesandcivilizations FieldTrip9:ClarkCampusraingarden
11/28 Climatechangeand100resilientcities
Week15 Studentfinalpaper/projectpresentations
12/5 Wrapup:Sociohydrologyandourcity