Environmental Pollution and Health (I)   

Prerequisite: None, open to Science and non-Science majors

Wintersession 2008 :   Trip to Bangladesh    January 2 – 14, 2008

Would you like to travel and study global environmental issues at the same time? Would you like to immerse in Indian, Bengali and far eastern culture, see picturesque countryside, take an enchanting boat ride in a calm river, see the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger or see the relics from ancient India, inscriptions in Sankskrit? Then you may consider taking this winter session course in Spring 2008. 

Do you know that although 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, only 2% of that is drinking water. Shortage of potable water, pollutions in the air and its effect on public health are shaping up as major global environmental issues in the 21^st century. This course will address water and air pollution in third world countries with special focus to Bangladesh, where the worst mass poisoning the world has ever witnessed due to natural contamination of ground water by arsenic is unfolding. Students will make field visits to affected areas to see the arsenic contaminated wells, water purification systems, life in rural Bangladesh. In addition, the course will cover household energy, indoor air pollution in rural households and its impact on child and mother health in developing nations.

The total cost of the travel will be approximately $2,300; this includes program fee, airfare, first class tourist hotels, daily meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner), local guides, transportation, along with travel insurance. All students should have a serious interest in the subject matter.

For more information contact:  Dr. Mohammad Alauddin, Department of Chemistry and Physics,  malauddi@wagner.edu,   Tel: (718) 390-3127