BIOL 665L Ecological Risk Assessment

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) is formal practice used by regulatory agencies worldwide to define the scope of environmental problems. The ERA framework was developed over several decades in response to inconsistencies in how risk assessments were conducted. This framework now provides a systematic method for approaching environmental problems associated with chemical contamination, and other ecological stressors. This course will use the risk assessment documents and guidelines developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to train students in the basic methods of ERA. Students will be tasked with performing a Stressor Identification and ERA at impaired sites to demonstrate competency in these methods. In addition, this course will explore emerging topics in ERA including the broadening field of Ecological Exposure Assessment and incorporation of nonchemical stressors into ERAs.

3 Credit(s)