PIWould you like your students to be able to critically analyze the environmental issues they hear about in the news?/I/PPThis unique case study book provides the basic tools they will need to probe and examine relevant issues./PULLIFeatures topical and timely cases rather than hypothetical situations. These include population growth, energy and natural resources, transportation, and air and water pollution./LILIPresents the tools of critical thinking and applies them throughout the book. This allows students to understand the nature of critical thinking before they are asked to think critically about an issue./LILIIncludes simple math to understand environmental issues. Mathematical formulas are explained in a non-threatening, step-by-step manner that demystifies math and helps students gain confidence./LILISuggests examples for further research while encouraging students to explore the implications, significance, and validity of their work./LILIWritten in a clear and straightforward style./LI/ULH2TO THE INSTRUCTOR/H2PThe idea for this book arose when we were colleagues at Mary Washington College. We grew impatient with a teaching style centered on the faculty member as lecturer and expert and the student as scribe and novice. We feel that such an approach encourages students to be passive rather than active learners and leads to an unhealthy dependency on the faculty person as expert./PPAlthough students generally are both capable and dedicated, many are also afraid of math, rusty in its use, or were superficially trained in arcane fields of calculus. This lack of math skills often leaves students unprepared to deal with the complexity of today’s environmental issues./PPMoreover, we are continually surprised to discover how many bright students can’t do three things: understand and confidently manipulate the units of the metric system, use scientific notation, or critically evaluate complex environmental issu?ö=p£× ¾Û€