This document provides information about an introductory soils course taught by Dr. James Bonczek. The course objectives are to acquaint students with the importance of soils through studying their properties, distribution, and biological significance. The syllabus outlines grading based on exams, homework, and lecture questions. Topics covered in the course include soil quality indicators, soil analysis, and soils' role in managing nutrients, pesticides, and wastes.
3. Instructor: Dr. James Bonczek
G169 McCarty Hall
392-1951 ext. 249
bonczek@ifas.ufl.edu
4. Syllabus
Course Objective: To attempt to directly serve the
academic or professional needs and goals of the
students. To acquaint students with the importance
of soils to humans and the environment through
study of their morphology, physical and chemical
properties, their distribution, and their biological
significance.
7. Grading
Class attendance is required.
Point Distribution
Exam I 200 points
Exam II 200 points
Exam III 200 points
Homework 100 points
Lecture Questions 100 points
Total 800 points
8. Management of Nutrients, Pesticides, and Wastes
Remediation of contaminated soils, waters and aquifers
Soil Quality/Ecological Indicators
Soil/Landscape Analysis
Wetlands and Aquatic Systems
Synopsis
Story about a young couple living in an overpopulated future where you are
required to have a special permit to have a child. They get a little careless, and
the wife gets pregnant. Without a permit, their child will be put in cold storage at
birth. Later, if they can obtain a permit, the government will unfreeze the baby
and return it. The couple's only hope is for the husband to win a foot race
whose first prize is an acre of land and a baby permit. All of the other
competitors have agreed that if they win, they'll sell the land to a Large
Corporation. The husband won't sell, so the Large Corporation does various
underhanded things to prevent his winning.
The People Trap
By Robert Sheckley
9. How large is the Earth?
To how much are you entitled?
10. How large is the earth?
Radius: 3986 mi (4000 mi)
Diameter: 7973 mi (8000 mi)
Circumference: 25,048 mi (25,000 mi)
11. When was it determined that
the earth was round?
Circumference: 25,048 mi (25,000 mi)
1492?
Digression
12. 1492, constructed one of the first terrestrial globes,
still preserved at the Nuremberg National Museum
Martin Behaim
13. The Round Debate
Pythagoras 525 B.C. philosophical: the sphere is the perfect shape
Aristotle 350 B.C. New stars, ships, lunar eclipse
Eratosthenes 240 B.C. Calculated the earth’s diameter
Physical Proof: 1522
lunar eclipse
14. The Size of the Earth
Radius:
Diameter:
Circumference:
3986 mi (4000 Mi)
7973 mi (8000 Mi)
25,048 mi (25,000 mi)
Surface area: 200 million mi2
Large or small?
18. Soils: meters thick
Supports terrestrial life on earth.
The interface, the first point of contact,
between the earth’s surface and the external
environment.
