Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Other | 3 x 9 hour workshops prior to formal semester begins (27 hours) |
| Other | 1 x 9 hour visit (9 hours) |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 1 x 3 hour seminars per week (33 hours) |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Research review (Group report, up to 3500 words). | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | BioEnergy assessment (Individual presentation, 15 minutes). | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Environmental auditing / sustainability assessment (Individual report, 2500 words). | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Use the broad knowledge acquired on issues relating human impact on the planet (both locally and at a global scale) to effectively synthesise and discuss specific issues.
2. Demonstrate a thorough and scientific understanding of sustainability.
3. Deliver practical solutions to improve environmental efficiency at a local level (particularly in the business and scientific environments).
4. Confidently explain and communicate sustainable issues to the public / stakeholders with accuracy and clarity, both orally and in writing.
Brief description
The module covers the environmental impact of human activities on land, air and water. The pressures that lead to these impacts are explored and the role of social and economic aspects is included to give students a holistic understanding of sustainable development. Societal and global solutions are considered and practical advice is provided to encourage environmental efficiency in the home and work-place. The module therefore provides excellent vocational skills which bridge the important gap between theory and practice in the environmental sciences. Practical exercises and research skills are provided.
Aims
This module aims to provide students with a thorough and practical insight into sustainability. Via the workshops and exercises provided they will develop skills to critically assess sustainability measures and assessment. They will use evidence and data available to identify problems and respond with solutions. The role of stakeholders, practicality and ease of implementation will be central to the processes and approaches developed.
Content
The module starts via three days of workshops which:
- Introduces the module, assessments, approaches and topics considered
- Provides training on research skills and critical analysis of sustainability
- Introduces the research skills assessment
- Detail expectations for an assessed Ssccoping review workshop.
Week 1-2: Research review
Week 3-7: Scoping report
Week 8: BioEnergy and Sustainability presentations
Week 9-11: Environmental auditing / sustainability
The date for the 1day (8h) field excursion will be organised in agreement with the students between week 3 and 7.
Content
This module looks at the complexity of sustainable development. It starts by considering the problems of sustainability and then explores energy and resource use from the level of the individual up to global energy issues. Policy and trends in energy and resource use are considered and a rational approach to the use of resources is encouraged. The shift from pure environmentalism towards sustainable development and the importance of social justice and environmental economics is discussed. Specific solutions to resource use issues are then explored in more detail in the fields of energy, material use and water resources. Students will learn the potential and constraints of new and old technologies, and will consider the value of sustainable energy / natural resource use and the important related scientific issues. This module provides students with enhanced confidence in accurate communication of sustainability. At the same time it develops critical skills with assessment of problems and solutions based on data available and the employment of scientific method. The final part of the module focuses on environmental auditing / sustainability in a commercial / professional context.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Collection of data, analysis and interpretation of survey data for field assessments. |
| Communication | One group assessed group report. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The module demands self-learning. Students will have to research and prepare materials for workshops as part of the learning process. This will involve a high level of project management on the students behalf. |
| Information Technology | Use of on-line resources. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The module provides the students with excellent vocational skills and expertise that is directly relevant to the workplace. This includes practical and research skills experience. The students will also develop invaluable communication skills applicable to several possible careers within the UK. |
| Problem solving | Analysis of data. Synthesis and assessments. |
| Research skills | Additional reading to support reports / presentation. |
| Subject Specific Skills | |
| Team work | The students will be involved in discussion groups, group practicals and exercises. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7