Fall 2013

Enter the Anthropocene

Humans have wrought such vast and unprecedented changes to our world that we actually might be ushering in a new geological time interval, and altering the planet for millions of years. (Scientists). . .contend that recent human activity, including stunning population growth, sprawling megacities and increased use of fossil fuels, have changed the planet to such an extent that we are entering what they call the Anthropocene Epoch. . . (It) represents a new phase in the history of both humankind and of the Earth, when natural forces and human forces became intertwined, so that the fate of one determines the fate of the other” (Slaughter, 2012)

In this Senior Seminar, we will explore multiple facets of the man’s impact on the planet from various perspectives. We will discuss such topics as medical breakthroughs that prolong human life span, emergent infectious diseases, mass extinction, invasive species, environmental degradation, the depletion of ocean resources, and much, much more.