Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Coursework Group poster and individual reflective narrative 1000 Words | 50% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Seen Exam | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Poster Individual Poster Presentation and reflection 1000 Words | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Seen Exam | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Identify and assess the methods that can be used to investigate the record of environmental change and extreme events over a range of timescales.
Synthesise different types of evidence to examine how climate change and extreme events have affected society over a range of timescales.
Critically evaluate the contribution that Quaternary science makes to tackling contemporary environmental issues.
Brief description
Contemporary society is facing a climate and biodiversity crisis. We are increasingly exposed to environmental hazards. What insights can we gain from the record of past environmental change to help us navigate these major challenges? This module explores the complex interrelationships between humans and the natural environment over a range of timescales. We will use a range of case studies from the Quaternary record of environmental change to examine how a long term perspective can inform our understanding of major environmental issues and contribute to decision-making.
Aims
To enable students to interpret records of Quaternary environmental change and apply this long term understanding to current environmental concerns. More broadly, this module provides a pathway for students wishing to pursue themes in environmental change
Content
Ice sheet dynamics, sea level rise and coastal communities
Palaeoecology, conservation and rewilding
Volcanoes, climate and society
Droughts, floods and societal impacts
Dust, climate and people
Fire histories
Hurricanes and storminess
Peatlands
Living with change in mountain regions - glacial hazards and water resources
Lectures are supported by seminars based around debates on contested issues or in-depth case studies.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Critical and analytical thinking | Students will develop critical and analytical skills through seminar discussions and reading |
| Digital capability | Production of digital poster |
| Professional communication | Synthesis of complex concepts into simple messages through poster presentation, oral communication and dialogue in seminars and written communication through exam and poster. |
| Reflection | Reflective commentary on development of poster presentation |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6