Cairo University
Faculty of Agriculture
Biotechnology Program in English
Contemporary International Issues (AGR 202)
(1stTerm) 2020/2021
Mobile (WhatsApp): 0100-361-9699
https://www.facebook.com/abbas.sharaky
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
Exam (Dec. 2) ................................................................ 10%
Term Paper (Due Dec. 9)................................................. 20% (writing paper in pdf) - (video)
Final Exam ...................................................................... 70%
Course Content (Class Notes in pdf)
1. Water Issues:
1.1 Introduction and global water balance (presentation in pdf)
1.2 Freshwater, Water scarcity (presentation in pdf) - (Video)
1.3 Water resources in Africa (presentation in pdf) - (Video)
1.4 Water resources in the Arab World (presentation in pdf)
1.5 Rivers, Water resources in Egypt, Nile River (presentation in pdf)
1.6 Water projects, High Dam (presentation in pdf) - (Video)
2. Transboundary issues in the Nile Basin:
2.1 Water challenges in Ethiopia (presentation in pdf) - (Video)
2.2 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD I) and Law (presentation in pdf)
2.3 General principles of the International Law
3. Water pollution (presentation in pdf)
Desertification, causes, Egypt (presentation in pdf)
Types of energy, renewable, nonrenewable energy resources, and nuclear energy. (presentation in pdf)
6. Climate Change (variation - fluctuation - oscillation) (presentation in pdf) - (Video)
Causes, evidence, greenhouse gases, sea-level rise
Last updated on Dec. 23, 2020