Choosing a City to Live in with CO2 at 1000 ppm and Melting Ice on Earth

For this final class project, form a group of three students from your lab class.  Your task is to create a PPT or similar presentation on the following topic Assume the world’s CO2 levels reach 1000 ppm (they are currently at 410 ppm).  All the ice on earth has melted and the climate has changed drastically.  Which city would you choose to live in and why? 

In order to answer this, you will first need to do some research on what the predictions would be if this scenario actually happened.  It will be difficult to find specific articles on CO2 levels reaching 1000 ppm, but it should be no problem finding resources about what would happen if all the ice on earth has melted.  There are other consequences to drastic climate change (changes in ocean health, disease, insect infestations, war, etc) that will need to be considered.  

In order to answer this question, think about what a community/society needs to survive.  Below is a list of some basic things that should be included in the project, but it is by no means a comprehensive list.  

•    Availability of fresh water – this is the most fundamental thing.  It will provide drinking water as well as irrigation water.  If global temperatures were to rise drastically, the lack of fresh water in much of the world would cause chaos and war.
•    Availability of arable land - you will need to find land that is good for growing crops and livestock.  Think about what is needed to grow large amounts of food
•    Availability of forests – trees are a resource often forgotten.  Not only do they provide food, they help cool the environment, remove CO2, provide wood etc.  Do some research on the importance of trees
•    Availability of mineral resources – remember, this doesn’t mean only metals, everything we use depends on minerals.  Will your location be able to provide any of these?
•    Power generation – Power generation is vital for any community.  How will yours be generated?
•    Waste management – how will your community deal with waste and recycling?
•    Safety and security – assuming things are as bad as this, how secure will your community be?
•    Health concerns – what will be the health concerns of your community with the changing climate?
•    Natural disasters – did you choose a location that is resilient to dire climate changes only to choose a location that will be bombarded with tectonic and other natural disasters?  
•    Other important things to consider?

Research on CO2 Levels and Melted Ice on Earth

We will have several work days in lab for you to work in your groups, but you should be prepared to do a fair amount of work outside of class.  Make sure your groups discusses and agrees on the best way to communicate and work together (even if you can’t meet outside of class).  Being communicative about these things early on will help avoid problems later in the semester.

This project is worth 150 points (15% of your course grade).  Here is how you can earn or lose points:

1.    Missing group work days in lab – this is a group project.  If you decide that you just don’t need to come to lab on days allocated to work on the project, you will lose up to 10 points for each missed day.  If you come to lab but don’t contribute to the group work, points will also be deducted.  The dates for group work will be given to you in advance.  The only exceptions to this are excused TCC absences and extenuating circumstances (please discuss with me in advance).
2.    Missing project deadlines – throughout the semester, there will be deadlines for certain parts of the project. If your group does not turn in the required work at these deadlines, 5 points will be deducted for each missed deadline.  These dates will be announced in class and posted in Blackboard.

3.    Peer review (10 pts)– at the end of the project you will complete a self-assessment and peer review.  Part of your project grade will depend on the assessment and review from your group mates. Not everyone in the group will necessarily receive the same grade on the assignment.  If it is determined that a person contributed no work, or an insignificant amount of work to the project that person may receive a zero or significantly lower grades than the rest of the group.

4.    Design and flow of presentation (20 pts) – is the PPT well designed and does the information flow well?  Are the images relevant and of sufficient resolution?  No spelling or grammar mistakes.

5.    Introduction (10 pts) – Just like you would have an introductory paragraph in a paper describing what is to come, do the same in a slide.  

6.    Limitations (15 pts) – No place is perfect.  Make sure you address any limitations your location has and how you will best cope with those limitations.

7.    Conclusion (10 pts) – again, as with a paper, wrap up and summarize the presentation

8.    References (10 pts) – list all references on a slide at the end of the presentation (APA format is best)

9.    Depth and breadth of material (75 pt)– it needs to be clear that you did thorough research and thought about and analyzed the material.  There is a clear difference between stating the facts of your information and going into depth explaining it.