Global Environmental Issues
COURSE SPECIFICATION
| Course Title: | Global Environmental Issues | Code: | ENVI 1134 |
| Co-ordinator: | Dr Tim Acott | Level: | 3 |
| School: | School of Science | Credits: | 15 |
| Department: | Pharmaceutical, Chemistry & Environmental Sciences | ||
Aims
Recognition of the importance of environmental issues is increasingly shaping key structures in society, for instance through legislation, regulation, societal values, activities of industry etc. As a final year core course for Environmental Science and Geography students this course is designed to allow students to explore and reflect on the magnitude and interconnected nature of global environmental issues. It is intended that this course will provide a theoretical foundation that explicitly addresses the physical nature of environmental issues and their associated impacts in society.
The course aims to:
- explore a range of environmental issues facing the planet;
- investigate the physical nature of those issues;
- reflect on the implications of environmental issues in a broader societal context.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course the students should be able to:
- Critically discuss the idea of 'global environmental issues'.
- Reflect on specific environmental issues in different national and international contexts.
- Effectively communicate about the impact and response of environmental issues.
- Demonstrate an ability to engage with journal level publications in this field.
Indicative Content
Energy: energy crises, climate change, types of energy production, energy shifts, international response. Food: How food is produced, the green revolution, hunger, policy response, future food supplies. Pollution, air, water, land, workplace. Natural Resources, use, efficiency, politics. Technology: benefits and problems, case studies e.g. solar farms, nanotechnology, genetic engineering. Urbanisation: cities and their resources, implications of urban living, link to nature and health issues. Oceans: review of regions, productivity, resources use, management issues. Forests: review of regions, productivity, resources use, management issues. Deserts: review of major regions, environmental issues, management issues.
Teaching & Learning Activity
The approach taken to teaching and learning is designed to encourage the development of deep and reflective learning. The emphasis on deep and reflective learning is fundamental to this course as the students will be encouraged to critically evaluate the nature of environmental issues. Teaching is by means of formal lectures combined with reflective lecturer and student led discussion sessions. The discussion sessions will not be formally assessed but will allow students the freedom to explore a wide range of issues in a free flowing manner. Formal teaching will include the use of video and internet material. A role play exercise will be used to explore the contested nature of energy provision.
Assessment
The learning outcomes will be assessed via an essay and a role play event. The essay will evaluate the students understand of a particular environmental issue. The role play will ask the students to take part in an energy debate and take on the role of different interest groups. Being put in a position to debate an environmental issues from a particular perspective will help to engender a deep and reflective approach to learning in this course. Essay - 80% 2500 words. Role Play - 20% Minimum pass mark - 40%