EEGS 135: OCEANOGRAPHY
Shell Stories: Understanding Our Oceans Through Marine Life

Instructor: Krysia Kornecki (she/her) | Email: kkornecki@colgate.edu | Office Hours: TBD
Meeting Times: Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:20-2:45 PM | Location: TBD

 

Land & Ocean Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that the oceans we study are the traditional waters and territories of Indigenous peoples who have sustainably stewarded these ecosystems for millennia. Our understanding of oceanography is enriched by multiple knowledge systems, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Indigenous science, and Western scientific approaches.

 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will:

• Explain fundamental oceanographic processes and their interactions

• Conduct scientific research using marine specimens as evidence

• Analyze ocean data and create compelling visualizations

• Integrate multiple knowledge systems (Western science, TEK, community perspectives)

• Critically examine how oceanography has been shaped by funding and power

• Evaluate human impacts and assess potential solutions

• Design evidence-based interventions for ocean regeneration

• Center justice and equity in ocean science thinking

 

Required Materials

Textbook (Free!): Webb, Paul. Introduction to Oceanography (https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/732)

Additional Readings: Excerpts and articles (provided as PDFs on course site)

Supplies: Notebook/journal, calculator, laptop/tablet, measuring tools (provided in class)

 

Semester Overview

PHASE 1: Foundation & Baseline (Weeks 1-5) Week 1: Scientific Method | Week 2: Ocean Basins | Week 3: Seawater Chemistry | Week 4: Ocean Circulation | Week 5: Physical Oceanography + Data Viz #1 DUE

PHASE 2: Dynamics & Understanding (Weeks 6-10) Week 6: Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Week 7: Human Impacts + Mystery Sample Lab | Week 8: Ocean Acidification | Week 9: Climate Change + Data Viz #2 DUE | Week 10: Sea Level Rise

PHASE 3: Solutions & Synthesis (Weeks 11-14) Week 11: Ocean Regeneration + Design Pitch Session | Week 12: Design Studio + Guest/Documentary | Week 13: Making the Case + Data Viz #3 DUE | Week 14: Final Pitches

FINALS WEEK: Individual Portfolio Defense (15 min appointments)

 

Weekly Class Pattern

Mondays: Mini-lecture (15-20 min) + Activity (40-50 min) + Discussion (10-15 min)

Wednesdays: Debrief (10 min) + Worksheet work time (50-60 min) + Wrap-up (5-15 min)

 

Assessment

Grading Scale: A (93-100%), A- (90-92%), B+ (87-89%), B (83-86%), B- (80-82%), C+ (77-79%), C (73-76%), C- (70-72%), D (60-69%), F (<60%)

 

Assignment Details

Weekly Worksheets (20%)

7 worksheets (Weeks 1-10) + 3 design progress logs (Weeks 11-14); due Sundays 11:59 PM but mostly completed in Wednesday class; 10 points each focusing on completion, oceanographic understanding, critical thinking, justice/TEK integration, and AI documentation

Data Visualizations (30% total)

Three visualizations with 1-page narratives due Weeks 5, 9, and 13; can be digital or hand-drawn; graded on scientific accuracy (30%), visual clarity (25%), narrative (25%), justice considerations (10%), technical execution (10%); one revision allowed for up to 90% of lost points

Regeneration Design Pitch (20%)

Written proposal (5-8 pages) + 7-minute oral pitch in Week 14; must integrate Data Viz #3; graded equally on written (50 pts) and oral (50 pts) components

Final Portfolio & Defense (20%)

Compilation of semester work with synthesis essay; individual 15-minute defense in Finals Week includes: shell research journey, three data visualizations, regeneration design, synthesis essay, and learning artifacts
 

Participation & Engagement (10%)

Token count (5%): Self-reported at semester end; 20+ tokens = full credit, scaling down to minimum 10 points

• Tokens awarded for: insightful questions, creative connections, helping peers, growth mindset, bringing examples, etc.

Engagement quality (5%): Regular attendance, preparation, active group participation, constructive discussion contributions, support for classmates

 

Course Policies

Attendance: Essential for hands-on course; more than 4 unexcused absences may lower participation grade

Late Work: Worksheets: 10% off within 48hrs, 25% off within 1 week; Data Viz: must submit on time for presentations; Design pitch: 10% per day; Portfolio: no late submissions without prior arrangement

AI Use Policy: AI tools PERMITTED as research assistants (species ID, explaining concepts, finding data, brainstorming, writing feedback) BUT you must: document ALL use in AI logs, verify information, cite assistance, critically reflect on limitations. Not allowed: having AI write assignments, presenting AI content as your own without verification.

Academic Integrity: First violation = meeting + possible penalty; repeat = course failure. When in doubt, ask!

Accessibility: Register with Campus Accessibility Office and provide letter to instructor. Accommodations provided confidentially. Even without formal accommodations, discuss any barriers with instructor.

Wellbeing: Your wellbeing matters more than this course. Resources available: Campus Counseling, Food Pantry, Title IX Office, Dean of Students. Flexible deadlines available when needed.

 

Why Justice & Indigenous Knowledge Matter

Throughout this course, you'll encounter consistent prompts about environmental justice and Indigenous knowledge. This isn't "extra"—it's central to good ocean science.

Why explicit framing matters:

• Ocean health and human wellbeing are inseparable

• Indigenous communities have stewarded oceans for millennia—their knowledge is essential

• Ocean problems disproportionately harm those who contributed least to causing them

• Solutions that don't center affected communities often fail or cause harm

• As scientists, we have responsibilities to use knowledge justly