Course Syllabus

Zero Waste: Solutions for a Sustainable Future

ESPM 198 | 4-5pm Wednesday | 105 Stanley

Instructor: Sage Lenier                                                                                         mlenier@berkeley.edu

TA (Last Names A-M): Lova Lagercrantz                                                     lovisalagercrantz@berkeley.edu 

TA (Last Names N-Z): Nyah Tisdell                                                               nyah.t@berkeley.edu 

Anonymous Feedback:                               Google Forms

Course Website:                                             Google Sites 

*Facilitator Application 2020*               Facilitator Application-1.docx

Description 

"Zero Waste: Solutions for a Sustainable Future" is an award-winning, crash-course Everything We Can Do to Save The Planet 101 that aims to equip its students with the tools necessary for changing the fate of humanity. We begin with an in-depth look at consumption, waste streams, and the materials that modern society is made of. Following that, we delve into the circular economy, cradle-to-cradle design, the industrialization of modern food, sustainable cities & architecture, climate change & politics, decarbonization, and more. This course is solutions-based, with scalable actions that you can implement in your life, community, and career to properly address the ecological crisis. Past students agree that it will invariably change your life and make you see the world differently. 

Learning Objectives

• Students are equipped to make informed personal and political decisions regarding the topics discussed in class.
• Students have learned to view every resource as valuable and limited.
• Students leave the class feeling inspired and capable of making positive change in the world.

Email Policy

Please only email the teaching team for legitimate inquiries; questions relating to due dates, attendance, and the like should be posted within the corresponding 'Logistical Questions' bCourses discussion and a TA will respond to you. For non-administrative questions, contact your assigned TA, not the instructor, unless you have an inquiry that can only be answered by the instructor. This system is maintained in order to maximize the teaching team's time.

Grading Breakdown

Weekly Discussion (30%)

Students will contribute to a bCourses discussion following each class with a minimum of 4 sentences. Responses should be thoughtful and demonstrate understanding of the lecture; we also encourage the inclusion of personal reflection. Each discussion is equally weighted (5 points).

Attendance & Participation (40%)

• Show up to first class or be dropped from the course.
• Two absences are allowed. Missed material must be made up by watching the lecture at home and writing a short summary essay.

Final Exam (30%)

The final exam will be an at-home open-response set of questions. It will be thirty percent of the final grade, but it is not meant to be strenuous, merely an incentive to learn the material.

Accommodations

In accordance with the University and the Disabled Students Program, the Zero Waste DeCal adheres to the principles of equity and inclusion. If you require special accommodations, please contact us via email.

This course adheres strongly to the UC Berkeley Principles of Community:

We place honesty and integrity in our teaching, learning, research and administration at the highest level.

We recognize the intrinsic relationship between diversity and excellence in all our endeavors.

We affirm the dignity of all individuals and strive to uphold a just community in which discrimination and hate are not tolerated.

We are committed to ensuring freedom of expression and dialogue that elicits the full spectrum of views held by our varied communities.

We respect the differences as well as the commonalities that bring us together and call for civility and respect in our personal interactions.

We believe that active participation and leadership in addressing the most pressing issues facing our local and global communities are central to our educational mission.

We embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our obligation and goal.