PREFACE


This monograph, is a compendium of the individual works of eleven
students enrolled in a cross-listed course NR 545 (EIH 575). The focus of
this course, like prior years, is captured in its title 
Population-Environment Dynamics: Ten Case Studies.  The course
began with an examination of alternative theoretical constructs useful in
studying the interaction between human populations and the environment.
Also, at the beginning of the course, each participant was asked to select
a topic of inquiry and a geographical setting for their study. This
selection then became their major focus for the entire semester.

Students participating in the course this fall had a delightful mixture of
backgrounds and interests. Schools and colleges represented included the
School of Natural Resources and Environment, School of 
Public Health, School of Business Administration, College of  Engineering,
College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and College of Literature
Sciences and Arts. Participants included colleagues from the Continents of
North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

A very important element in the seminar was the use of data sources which
recently have become available in machine-readable form. These data
sources permitted the students to quickly gain exposure in handling
longitudinal datasets, especially those which were not amenable to
modeling with linear functions.   The most useful and user friendly
dataset provided participants was The World Resources Institute Data
System.  Another tool used in the course was state-of-the-art PC-based
Geographic Information Systems. The GIS package selected as most helpful,
was ATLAS GIS version 3.03.  The digital maps, used as separators of
monograph chapters, help to unify monograph content as they depict, taken
together, a spatial view of population-environment dynamics. Students also
found maps of the Digital Chart of the World to be helpful, and a number
found maps on the World Wide Web to be of considerable use.  Dr. Sandra
Lach Arlinghaus, adjunct professor in The School of Natural Resources and
Environment co-taught the course, as she has in the five previous years in
which it was offered.

The success of the course resulted largely from the enthusiasm of the
participants. As in previous years, extra sessions were held near the end
of the semester, which often extended beyond scheduled meeting times.
Feedback from fellow participants was provided in these sessions. In
addition, each student was asked to develop a brief synopsis of how their
study related to the other participants in the class. These thoughtful
remarks are presented as the last chapter of this monograph.  This
monograph was published during the winter term in the academic year
1996-97, although the work was completed in December, 1996.



                                                                             
William D. Drake
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
February, 1997