Detailed Schedule -- MONT 104N, Modeling the Environment

Fall 2018, Prof. Little

Note: All information on this page is still under development and subject to change.
The following day-by-day listing shows the planned topic for each day's class and the due dates of the larger individual assignments. There will also be several smaller writing assignments and group writeups from the group project days. The due dates for those will be announced when the assignments are made. This is a tentative, evolving schedule. Topics may be added, deleted, or rearranged during the course of the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and here. Note: Reading assignments labeled

Date Class Topic Reading
10/8,10,12 Fall Break -- no class MDA, Chapter 4
10/15 Group project day 4 -- The Mauna Loa atmospheric CO2 data MDA, Chapter 4
10/17 Class visit from member(s) of the Black Inscription team MDA, Chapter 4
10/19 Group project day 4 -- The Mauna Loa atmospheric CO2 data, continued MDA, Chapter 4
10/22 Exponential functions and models MDA, Chapter 5
10/24 Exponential regression MDA, Chapter 5
10/26 Midterm Exam covers: Frankenstein, MDA Chapters 1 - 4
10/29 Group project day 5 -- The 2014-15 Ebola outbreak MDA, Chapter 5
10/31 Power functions and modeling MDA, Chapter 6
11/2 More on power function models; Zipf's Law -- Problem Set 4 due MDA, Chapter 6
11/5 Begin difference equations, affine equations and solutions MDA, Chapter 7
11/7 Equilibrium points and stability MDA, Chapter 7
11/9 Logistic population models -- Problem Set 5 due MDA, Chapter 7
11/12 Group project day 6 -- logistic models with harvesting MDA, Chapter 7
11/14 Group project day 6, continued -- logistic models with harvesting, sustainability MDA, Chapter 7
11/16 Systems of difference equations -- Paper 2 due MDA, Chapter 8
11/19 More on systems -- structured population models MDA, Chapter 8
11/21,23 Thanksgiving Break -- no class
11/26 More on systems -- epidemic models MDA, Chapter 8
11/28 Predator-Prey Models MDA, Chapter 8
11/30 Begin student-led discussions -- Problem Set 6 due (articles to be chosen)
12/3 Continue student-led discussions (articles to be chosen)
12/5 Continue student-led discussions (articles to be chosen)
12/7 Semester wrap-up -- Problem Set 7 due
The Final Exam for this course will be given at the published time for MWF 9:00am classes -- Thursday, December 13 at 8:00am.

Last modified: November 13, 2018