Shift in life expectancy part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Holly Partridge
Determining the shift in expected life span over a century and the social and environmental impact

Population Growth, Ecological Footprints, and Overshoot part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Rikki Wagstrom
In this activity, students develop and apply linear, exponential, and rational functions to explore past and projected U.S. population growth, carbon footprint trend, ecological overshoot, and effectiveness of hypothetical carbon dioxide reduction initiatives.

Choosing Between Home Appliances: Benefits to the Planet and Your Wallet part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Corri Taylor, Wellesley College
Students research various options for new appliances and make purchasing decisions based not merely on purchase price, but also on energy efficiency, which has implications for the planet AND for longer-term personal finances. Students calculate the "payback period" for the more energy efficient appliance and calculate long-term savings.

A Monarchy Deposed: The Demise of the Monarch Butterfly part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Daniel Abel
Monarch butterflies (scientific name: Danaus plexippus) migrate annually to forests in central Mexico from Canada and California. Those surviving the 1200 - 2800 mile migration overwinter in Mexico. In this activity, students will learn about the conservation biology of monarch butterflies, threats to their survival, the implications of their potential extinction, and ways to protect the species.

Plastic Waste Production part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Karen Bliss
In this exercise, students will use data to predict the amount of plastic waste in the next ten years.

Control Chart Project part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Owen Byer
This is a short assignment that asks students to find some data related to sustainability and determine whether the mean of that data set is statistically stable, and whether the process being measured is in control or out of control. It is often used for quality control in a production process, but in this activity, it is used to see if an ecosystem process is stable and healthy or disrupted (out of control.)

Economics of installing Solar PV panels: is it worth it to the individual? part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Martin Walter
We show that it is economical for an individual to install solar photovoltaic panels in Denver, Colorado; and this is a sustainable strategy for society at large.

Replacing Household Appliances: Refrigerator part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Krys Stave, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)
In this problem, students compare the energy use of their existing refrigerator with a new refrigerator.

Teaching Mathematics as Though Our Survival Mattered part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Martin Walker
Mathematics plays a pivotal role in helping us understand "the current human condition." This attached article provides multiple examples and is useful as a supplemental reading. A variety of math problems could also be extracted for course use.

Energy Cost of Engine Idling part of 2012 Sustainability in Math Workshop:Activities
Ben Fusaro
This is an open-ended but elementary modeling exercise about idling energy behaviors and impacts.