Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
4/23/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Steffen W. Schmidt, University Professor of Political Science, (515) 294-3825,
sws@iastate.edu
Catherine Hunt, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-1039, cathi@iastate.edu
Iowa State University Professor Develops Online Course on Coastal Zone Policy Issues
AMES, Iowa - Why does a well-known Iowa State University Political Science professor study the fragile coastal environment? Steffen Schmidt, known to WOI radio listeners as Dr. Politics, believes the world's fragile coastal environment has become a political nightmare.
One half of the world's population lives on a coast and two-thirds of the world's largest cities are located on a coast. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that by 2010 the population density along the American ocean coasts will be 400 people per square mile. This compares to less than 100 per square mile in the rest of the country.
This significant growth creates a host of issues affecting coastal life. Schmidt says, "Management of coastal policy in the United States has been disjointed at best."
Schmidt used his research to develop a new college course, "The Policy and Politics of Coastal Areas." Schmidt hopes the course, offered over the World Wide Web, will inform and encourage people to protect coastal zones.
Schmidt developed the course using digital video footage and research he gathered in locations in the United States and abroad. "New U.S. and international coastal policy efforts require a series of smart, creative, bold and integrated policy-making initiatives, coupled with public participation, volunteer work, and cooperation with private business," Schmidt said. "This course will address all these issues in an interactive, convenient, online environment."
Schmidt, wanting to make it easy for people to find out if the course is right for them, developed several, free, online course samples. Each sample takes less than 10 minutes to complete, and gives people an idea of what they will learn in the credit-level course.
The samples and additional information are on the World Wide Web at www.extension.iastate.edu/coastalzone/.
Register directly for the course at www.lifelearner.iastate.edu/courses/summer02/pols.htm.
Or call: 1-800-262-0015 or 515-294-6222.
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