Module Information

Module Identifier
LAM5110
Module Title
Introduction to Environmental Science
Academic Year
2014/2015
Co-ordinator
Lynda Warren
Semester
Distance Learning

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Other Private study on DL units; Preparation and submission of written assignment; Additional research and private study
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Semester Assessment  Written Assignment of 5,000 words  100%

Brief description

The aim of this module is to provide a foundation in environmental science for those students who have not studied this subject before. It assumes a basic understanding of English Law. It is designed to take the mystery out of scientific jargon and to provide the student with sufficient insight to be able to question whether a given legal measure is likely to be able to achieve its environmental objective. The module examines the nature of science ? its philosophy, the meaning of scientific proof and the use of statistics. It also attempts to put environmental science in a social science setting and questions the importance of science in the formulation of environmental policy. It invites the student to consider the role of science in environmental management and to examine different approaches to scientific problems such as ecocentrism and technocentrism.

Reading List

Recommended Text
Arms, Karen Environmental Science Document 12. Read - "Ecosystems and How They Change" edition 2r.e. Saunders Coll.Pub.,U.S. Primo search Arms, Karen Environmental Science Document 9. Read - "Species and Extinction" Chapter edition 2r.e. Saunders Coll.Pub.,U.S. Primo search Chalmers, A.F. What is This Thing Called Science? Document 7. Read - Inductivism: Science as Knowledge Derived from the Facts of Experience pp 1-12 edition 3r.e. Open U.P. Primo search Chalmers, A.F. What is This Thing Called Science? Document 8. Read - Deriving theories from the Facts: induction, pp 41-58 edition 3r.e. Open U.P. Primo search Freeman Science in Court Document 20: Read pp.177-189 - Warren, L (1998) "Using Law to Define Uncertain Science in Environimental Policy" Ashgate Primo search Freeman Science in Court Document 3. Read - Nelkin,D. 1998 A Just Measure of Science. Ashgate Primo search Jones, Carol A. G. Expert witnesses Document 21. Read: pp. 1-16 Clarendon Press Primo search Lunney Zoology in court Document 4. Read - Hutchings, P. 1992 The Dilemma Facing Biologists Today Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales Primo search Milton Environmentalism Document 2. Read - Warren, Lynda; 1993 The Precautionary Principle: Use with Caution. Routledge Primo search O'Riordan, Timothy Interpreting the Precautionary Principle Document 14. Read - The History and Contemporary Significance of the Precautionary Principle. Cameron May Primo search O'Riordan, Timothy Interpreting the Precautionary Principle Document 17. Read - Precaution, Science and the Sin of Hubris. Cameron May Primo search Thomas, B.A. Evolution and palaeobiology of land plants Document 10. Read: pp. 48-72 (1987) Croom Helm Primo search Thomas, B.A. Evolution and palaeobiology of land plants Document 11. Read: pp. 98-101 (1987) Croom Helm Primo search Acid Rain in Europe Document 18. Read chapters 1-3 Earthscan Publications Primo search Global Marine Biological Diversity DocumentsDoucment 13. Read - Marine Biological Diversity: Definition and Importance. Island P.,U.S. Primo search Journal of Environmental Law http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=Journal+of+Environmental+Law&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20 Document 19. Read - Churchill, R.R., Kutting, G and Warren, L.M., 1995, The UN ECE Sulphur Protocol, 7(2), 169-197. Article not available online. Marine Pollution Bulletin http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=Marine+Pollution+Bulletin&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20 Document 15. Read - Gray, J.S. 1990, Statistics and the Precautionary Principle, 21(4), 174-6. Article not available online. Marine Pollution Bulletin http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=Marine+Pollution+Bulletin&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20 Document 16. Read - Earll, R.C. 1992, Commonsense and the Precautionary Principle an environmentalists perspective, 24(4), 182-6. Article not available online. Medicine, science and the law http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=medicine+science+and+the+law&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20 Document 22. Read: Jowett, Christian "Lies, Damned Lies and DNA Statistics: DNA Match Testing, Bayes' Theorem and the Criminal Courts" in Medicine, Science and the Law (2001) Vol 41, No3 . pp. 194-205. Article not available online. Appendix G of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollutions 21st Report, setting Environmental S http://www.rcep.org.uk/studies/standards/s-chap9.html Document 5 e) - Appendix G of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollutions 21st Report, setting Environmental Standards, 1998, Cm 4053. Environmental law review http://voyager.aber.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=environmental+law+review&SL=None&Search_Code=JALL&CNT=20 Document 1. Read: Osborn, Derek; 1999 From Pollution control to sustainable Development. Lucid Law for Fuzzy Objectives, in Environmental Law Review Vol. 1, pp79-81 New Agriculturist On-Line http://www.new-agri.co.uk/99-1/debate.html Document 6. New Agriculturist On-Line: Debate GMOs. Taken from WREN media. Press Release from the Home Office http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/pressreleases.asp Document 5 d) - Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs Press Releases from DETR http://www.gnn.gov.uk Document 5 a) Advisory Committee on consumer Products and the Environment. Document 5 b) Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. Document 5 c) Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards. RWMAC 1999 Advice to Ministers http://www.defra.gov.uk/rwmac/press/p990513.htm Document 23. Read: RWMAC 1999 Advice to Ministers on the Establishment of Scientific Consensus on the Interpretation and Significance of the Results of Science Programmes into Radioactive Waste Disposal, London DETR. pp.1-38. Supplementary Text
Chalmers, A.F. What is This Thing Called Science? Recommended purchase edition 3r.e. Open U.P. Primo search About EUR-Lex - the portal to European Union law http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/academicliaison/guides/eurlexhelp.asp Support Resources Help Guide to Lexis/Nexis http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/academicliaison/guides/lexishelp.asp Support Resources Help Guide to Westlaw http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/academicliaison/guides/westlawhelp.asp Support Resources Introduction to Information Resources for Law Distance Learners http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/academicliaison/lawdls.asp Support Resources Locating full-text European Union case law via Lexis, Westlaw & EUR-Lex http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/academicliaison/guides/eurocase.asp Support Resources Subject Information & Links for Law http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/subject/law/ Support Resources UWA Electronic Journals http://www.aber.ac.uk/is/ejournals/ Support Resources UWA Electronic Resources http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/academicliaison/elecinfo.asp Support Resources

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7