Cairo University
Faculty of Agriculture
Biotechnology Program (English)
Contemporary International Issues (AGR 202)
Second Term 2021/2022
Course Description:
This course examines the global challenges affecting food production, focusing on current issues (Food Security) that illustrate these challenges. Students will investigate a range of topics including water, energy, and environmental aspects, regional disparities in the ability to meet basic human needs, and protection of the natural environment in an attempt to help students to appreciate the natural resources, to provide them with some historical perspective on the present status of the planetary environment; to give students opportunities to analyze specific environmental quality issues and to familiarize them with the ideas and practices of managing resources and environments according to the principles of sustainable development.
Grading
Oral Exam ............................................ ................................ 10%
Term paper ….....................................................…............…. 10% (How to write a term paper? in pdf) (video)
Mid Term Exam (Wednesday Aug. 10, 2022 ......................... 10%
Final Exam …………....................................................…….. 70%
Course Content (Lecture Notes in pdf)
Term paper:
Write a term paper on one of the most important environmental issues.
Please follow the guidelines shown in the file "How to write term paper".
Submit your paper. Due date is Wednesday May 11, 2022 at 11:59 pm.
1. Water Issues:
1.1 Introduction and global water balance (Presentation in pdf) (video)
1.2 Water scarcity (Presentation in pdf) (video)
1.3 Water resources in Africa (Presentation in pdf)
1.4 Water resources in the Arab World (Presentation in pdf)
1.5 Water resources in Egypt and Nile water balance, projects, and Aswan High Dam (Presentation in pdf)
2. Transboundary issue in the Nile Basin:
2.1 Water challenges in Ethiopia (Presentation in pdf)
2.2 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and water treaties (Presentation in pdf)
3. Desertification issues: (Presentation in pdf) (Video)
3.1 Drought, Potential Evapotranspiration, deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization.
3.2 Sand dune encroachment.
4. Energy Resources issues: (Presentation in pdf)
4.1 Non-renewable energy resources (fossil oil, natural gas, coal, uranium).
4.2 Renewable energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity, biomass, biofuels, nuclear
5. Climate Change (variation): (Presentation in pdf)
Causes, evidence, greenhouse gases, sea-level rise
Last updated July 20, 2022