Cairo University
Faculty of Agriculture
Biotechnology Program (English)
Contemporary International Issues (AGR 202)
First Term 2024/2025
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: Nov. 13, 2024 …..…..…..….. 20%
Oral Exam: Dec. 4, 2024 ….............................. 10%
Final Exam ........................................................ 70%
Course Notes in pdf (Download)
INTRODUCTION
1. Climate Change (variation): (presentation in pdf) (Video)
1.1 Causes, evidence
1.2 Greenhouse effect
1.3 Global warming
1.4 Sea-level rise
2. Plate tectonics, Earthquakes, Tsunami (presentation in pdf)
2.1 Plate tectonics
Origin of Earth, Earth cross section, Types of plate boundaries
2.2 Earthquakes
Forces, Seismic waves, Magnitude, Seismograph, Distribution
2.3 Tsunami
3. Water Issues:
3.1 Global water balance (presentation in pdf) (Video)
3.2 Water scarcity (Video)
3.3 Water resources in Africa (presentation in pdf) (Video)
3.4 Water resources in the Arab World
3.5 Water resources in Egypt (presentation in pdf) (Video)
3.6 Nile water balance, projects, and Aswan High Dam (Video)
4. Transboundary issue in the Nile Basin:
2.1 Water challenges in Ethiopia (presentation in pdf) (Video)
2.2 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and water treaties
5. Desertification and Energy issues: (presentation in pdf) (Video)
3.1 Drought, Potential Evapotranspiration, deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization.
3.2 Sand dune encroachment.
6. Energy Resources issues:
4.1 Non-renewable energy resources (fossil oil, natural gas, coal, uranium).
4.2 Renewable energy resources (solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectricity, biomass, biofuels, nuclear
power).
Last updated Oct. 9, 2024