CONTACT INFORMATION AND WEBSITES:   Mark Bishop

E-mail:  bishopmark@comcast.net and mbishop@miis.edu

Web Sites:  http://preparatorychemistry.com/  and http://institutebishop.org

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

IPOL 8559 Science and Technology for NPTS

This course provides students with a solid foundation in scientific and technical fundamentals critical to nonproliferation and terrorism policy analysis. Such policy analyses often require strong foundational knowledge of basic scientific and technical concepts in order to understand, create, and inform policy decisions. The course begins with an introduction to science and the scientific method and then evolves into the three main areas: biological weapons, chemical weapons, nuclear weapons and relevant technologies. Topics covered in the biological component include fundamental concepts related to microorganisms, DNA, RNA, proteins, and processes of infection and disease. Topics covered in the chemistry component include fundamental concepts related to atomic structure and the periodic table, chemical structural representations, functional groups, reactivity, toxicity, as well as modern separation, purification and analytic techniques commonly used for chemical species. Applications of the fundamental concepts in the first two topics are further developed in relation to features of chemical and biological weapons and warfare, including agents, delivery methods and effects. Topics covered in the nuclear component part of the course includes radioactivity, uranium, nuclear weapons, radiation detection instrumentation and applications, environmental plumes, and various instrumentation and analysis techniques. Upon completion of this course students will have a deeper appreciation for the debate on various verification solutions that have been proposed for compliance under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and nuclear treaties.

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If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to send me an email.

Mark Bishop     mbishop@chiralpublishingcompany.com

ECPR 8510 A Tools of the Trade

Tools of the Trade is a two-week summer intensive course in science and math skills for incoming and continuing students. It is designed to provide the essential foundation that will allow students to optimally benefit from International Environmental Policy core course IPOL 8512 Quantitative Analysis for Environmental Science and the Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies gateway course IPOL 8559 WMD Science and Technology, as well as other courses in both programs requiring math and science skills.

Tools of the Trade is strongly recommended for students with limited background in chemistry, physics and math enrolled in the following degree programs:

Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies (MANPTS)

International Environmental Policy (MAIEP)

IPOL 8512 Quantitative Methods for Environmental Science and Policy

This course introduces the use of quantitative methods in environmental analysis.  Students will learn how to apply basic principles of natural science to a variety of globally important environmental problems. Topics covered include estimation techniques and stock-flow modeling; population and resource use; biogeochemical cycles; acid deposition; climate change; stratospheric ozone depletion; toxic pollution and public health; and radiation and radioactivity. The methods taught in this course have proven useful not only for aspiring environmental scientists and engineers, but also for those working in public policy, environmental law, ecological economics, international development, business, and journalism.