INTRODUCTION

The Biosphere is the part of the Earth System where life exists, evolves, becomes extinct, and interacts. Interactions occur between and within living and non-living components of the Earth. We humans are part of this web of life. Thus we have evolved, we interact with other living organisms, and we may become extinct. Humans as large-scale organizations (e.g., societies), however, have the potential to alter the natural processes that occur in the Biosphere. The Biosphere is experiencing a myriad of perturbations including climate change, deforestation, destruction of habitats resulting in the loss of biodiversity, and water and air pollution. As a consequence, we are seeing the resurgence of infectious diseases, droughts, hunger, energy crises, etc. Some people believe that science and technology will provide the solution to the problems facing the Biosphere. Others advocate for changing our attitudes, modifying our lifestyles, and reforming our social structures. The members of the faculty involved in this course believe that to make a decisionabout what needs to be done, a first step is to understand the workings of the Biosphere, and to realize that we humans are enmeshed in a web ofinteractions between living and non-living components. In an effort to expose students to these issues we developed this course that brings together students from different physical, biological, and social disciplines. The decisions to make this planet a better place to live require interdisciplinary interactions (people involved in government, industry, science, communications, and other sectors). The general goal of the course is to appreciate the Biosphere as a dynamic system and appreciate the role that we, as humans, play in it. By examining the Biosphere within a human context we want students to realize that in order to have a place to live, eat and reproduce it is necessary to live in harmony with the Earth's resources and organisms.