Fall 2025 BIOL/OEAS/IDS 466W/BIOL/OEAS 566: Introduction to Mitigation and Adaptation Studies

Courses: BIOL 466W (CRN 16594), IDS 466W (CRN 16595), OEAS 466W (CRN 17380), BIOL 566 (CRN 15618), OEAS 566 (15553); 3 credits Course title: Introduction to Mitigation and Adaptation Studies Instructors: Dr. Hans-Peter Plag (hpplag at mari-odu.org) Office Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 PM and on request. Term: Fall 2025, August 25, 2025 - December 14, 2025 Time: Wednesdays: 4:30 PM - 7:10 PM Location: ED2 1100

The 466W course is one of the two courses in the Impact Learning Community “Sustainability Leadership.” The second course is PRTS 475. The course also counts for LeADERS in the Research category (see the Curicullum guide as pdf or as Google doc).

The 466W course is also the first mandatory course for the Minor in Sustainability and Conservation Leadership. The 566 course is the first mandatory course for the graduate Certificate in Conservation Leadership.

Course Disclaimer

Every attempt is made to provide a syllabus that is complete and that provides an accurate overview of the course. However, circumstances and events may make it necessary for the instructor to modify the syllabus during the semester. This may depend, in part, on the progress, needs, and experiences of the students.

Teaching Philosophy

The material covered in this course is exciting and can also be challenging. I encourage you to ask questions in class if you are uncertain about concepts, ideas or formulas. I recommend that you read the reading material weekly, prior to the lecture and study your own lecture notes frequently. The material that I cover in this class will build upon itself, and reading through course notes regularly will allow you to catch problems early, if you find that you are having them.

Honor Code

By taking this course, you agree to adhere to Old Dominion University’s honor code. Cheating on exams and plagiarism in written work, and failing to participate fully in group work will not be tolerated; infractions will be dealt with according to University policy. The use of generative artificial intelligence tools has to follow the policy published in the Web workspace. All students are responsible for reading, understanding, and following the policy.

Honor Code: We, the students of Old Dominion University, aspire to be honest and forthright in our academic endeavors. Therefore, we will practice honesty and integrity and be guided by the tenets of the Monarch Creed. We will meet the challenges to be beyond reproach in our actions and our words. We will conduct ourselves in a manner that commands the dignity and respect that we also give to others. 

Academic Integrity

Old Dominion University is committed to students' personal and academic success. In order to achieve this vision, students, faculty, and staff work together to create an environment that provides the best opportunity for academic inquiry and learning. All students must be honest and forthright in their academic studies. Your work in this course and classroom behavior must align with the expectations outlined in the Code of Student Conduct, which can be found at http://www.odu.edu/oscai. The following behaviors along with classroom disruptions violate this policy, corrupt the educational process, and will not be tolerated:

• Cheating: Using unauthorized assistance, materials, study aids, or other information in any academic exercise. Using generative artificial intelligence tools without following the policy for this use is considered cheating.
• Plagiarism: Using someone else's language, ideas, or other original material without acknowledging its source in any academic exercise.
• Fabrication: Inventing, altering or falsifying any data, citation or information in any academic exercise.
• Facilitation: Helping another student commit, or attempt to commit, any Academic Integrity violation, or failure to report suspected Academic Integrity violations to a faculty member.

Requirements of the COS Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences

By taking this course, you agree to adhere to the requirements and policies of the ODU Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences.

If you are Experiencing Difficulty

If you are having any difficulty – with specific course content or anything else we can help with – please do not hesitate to ask for help. Please come and talk to me in person as soon as the problem arises. Remember also that you have access to a variety of student services on campus.

If you have any Special Needs

Please inform me as soon as possible of any special needs you might have, including medical conditions that may require special accommodation.

Accommodation Statement

Students are encouraged to self-disclose disabilities that have been verified by the Office of Educational Accessibility by providing Accommodation Letters to their instructors early in the semester in order to start receiving accommodations. Accommodations will not be made until the Accommodation Letters are provided to instructors each semester.

Withdrawl

A syllabus constitutes a contract between the student and the course instructor. Participation in this course indicates your acceptance of its schedule, requirements, and policies. Please review the syllabus and the course requirements as soon as possible. If you believe that the nature of this course does not meet your interests, needs or expectations, if you are not prepared for the amount of work involved or if you anticipate that the class meetings, assignment deadlines or abiding by the course policies will constitute an unacceptable hardship for you, you should drop the class by the drop/add deadline, which is located in the ODU Schedule of Classes.

Managing Conflicts

If you are having a conflict with another student in your class, please let me know right away. Any issues we cannot resolve among ourselves will be taken to the OES Department Chair, Dr. Kevin Yeager, for mediation.