Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Tutorial | 3 x 1 Hour Tutorials |
| Workshop | 5 x 2 Hour Workshops |
| Workshop | 3 x 8 Hour Workshops |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Individual scoping report (up to 3000 words) | 60% |
| Semester Assessment | Oral presentation (25 minutes) | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment that are 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. Employ the broad knowledge acquired on issues relating human impacts on the planet (both locally and at a global scale) to effectively synthesise and discuss specific issues.
2. Demonstrate and apply a thorough and scientific understanding of sustainability.
3. Deliver practical solutions to improve environmental efficiency at a local level.
4. Discuss, 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. The module therefore provides excellent vocational skills which bridge the important gap between theory and practice in the environmental sciences. Exercises aim to develop practical and research skills simultaneously.
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
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.
Outline
The module starts via four days of intensive workshops (before the start of Semester 2) which:
- Introduce the module, assessments, approaches and topics considered
- Provides training on research skills and critical analysis of sustainability
- Detail expectations for an assessed Scoping report and oral presentation. The above will be conducted during the week prior to the start of Semester 2. This is followed by five weekly workshops that target key topics and provide the students with the opportunity for formative assessment of presentation skills: Week 1: Renewable Energy Week 2: Food production and agriculture Week 3: Water Week 4: Waste Week 5: Assessed presentations
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Incorporated into scoping report but not directly assessed |
| Communication | Via oral presentation and scoping report |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Formative learning workshops |
| Information Technology | Only via delivery of scoping report |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Oral examination will help students identify their strengths and will inform future career choice |
| Problem solving | Via scoping report |
| Research skills | Via scoping report |
| Team work | Students will conduct workshop exercises in groups |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7