Module Identifier BSM8910  
Module Title ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY  
Academic Year 2004/2005  
Co-ordinator Dr Dylan G Jones  
Semester Semester 1  
Course delivery Lecture   14 Hours Web based lectures  
  Seminars / Tutorials   6 Hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Oral Presentation Oral presentation and conference abstract (15 mins)20%
Semester Assessment Web Exercise Web exercise (electronically marked)20%
Semester Assessment Environmental Statements  20%
Semester Exam1.5 Hours End of Semester Exam Essay question40%
Supplementary Exam1.5 Hours Supplementary exam  40%
Supplementary Assessment Continuous Assessment Resubmission of failed course work60%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
have a broad knowledge of issues relating man's impact on the planet (both locally and at a global scale)

be aware of environmental responsibility (legislation)

be able to provide solutions to improve environmental efficiency at a local level (particularly in the business environment).

be able to deal with carbon budgets, realise environmental responsibility and provide ways to reduce and offset carbon emissions.

be confident in the communication of scientific issues with accuracy and clarity, both orally and in writing.

Aims

This module provides excellent generic grounding in environmental efficiency, relevant to several Masters degree schemes within the Faculties of Art and Science. IT also, importantly, addresses the Government commitment to green the University curriculum.

Brief description

This is a new module, which addresses environmental responsibilty, man's impact on the planet and the growing need to live more sustainably. Through lecture materials explaining the underlying scientific principles and through interactive workshops, students will learn how to evaluate and integrate evidence derived from various experimental and anylytical approaches. In addition to introducing students to a range of scientific issues, this modules will provide students with enhances confidence in the balanced and accurate communication of scientific issues

Content

The module covers climate change, pollution, health and natural resource exploitation. Scenarios and solutions are presented at the individual, societal and global levels, ranging from changes in behaviour to alternative energy use. 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.
The module ethos demands that it is taught in an environmentally efficient way. Lectures are provided on the web (via Blackboard) and the materials include lecture self-learning scripts, a web based information pack, and an environmental code of learning. The students use this structure to go through the lecture material at their own pace. Ratified web resources and pdf files of relevant papers will also be placed in Blackboard. Lecture-linked workshops and tutorials allow students to discuss and synthesise the material conveyed in the lectures. The module also includes writing environmental statements and oral presentation based on a range of case studies. A carbon budget web exercise provides students with a task to improve environmentally efficiency in a common business senario. Through lecture materials explaining the underlying scientific principles and through interactive workshops, students will learn how to evaluate and integrate evidence derived from various experimental and analytical approaches. In addition to introducing students to a range of scientific issues, this module will provide students with enhanced confidence in the balanced and accurate communication of scientific issues.

Reading Lists

Articles
The Green Office Manual, p306 (2000) Wastebusters Ltd 2nd Edition. Earthscan publications
R. Murray (2002) Zero Waste Green, p211 Environmental Trust publications
E. Harland (2002) Eco-renovation, p242 Green Books publications

Web Page/Sites
http://cat.org.uk/
http://www.isda.org.uk/Sustainable/Toolkit/

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7