Cairo University
Faculty of Agriculture
Biotechnology Program (English)
Contemporary International Issues (AGR 202)
Summer Term 2022/2023
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
Mid Term Exam (Aug. 9, 2023) ….…..…..….. 20%
Oral Exam (Aug. 16, 2023) ….......................... 10%
Final Exam ………………............................... 70%
Course Notes (Lecture Notes in pdf)
1. Introduction
2. Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes (presentation in pdf)
3. Climate Change (variation): (presentation in pdf) (Video)
3.1 Causes, evidence
3.2 Greenhouse effect
3.3 Global warming
3.4 Sea-level rise
4. Water Issues:
4.1 Global water balance, Water scarcity, Law (presentation in pdf) (Video) Wednesday Nov. 12, 2023
4.2 Nile hydrology - Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) (presentation in pdf)
5. Desertification and Energy issues: (presentation in pdf) (Video)
5.1 Drought, Potential Evapotranspiration
5.2 Deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization.
5.3 Sand dune encroachment.
5.4 Non-renewable energy resources (fossil oil, natural gas, coal, uranium).
5.5 Renewable energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity, biomass, biofuels, nuclear
power).
6. Review (presentation in pdf) (video)
Last updated Nov. 12, 2023