RS21720 - HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Module Identifier

RS21720

Module Title

HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Academic Year

2003/2004

Co-ordinator

Mr David R Powell

Semester

Semester 2

Other staff

Dr Graham P Harris

Course delivery

Lecture

32 Hours

Practical

15 Hours 5 x 3 hours

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Exam	3 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3	70%
Semester Assessment	Assignment Outcomes assessed: 4, and other outcomes as relevant	30%
Supplementary Exam	3 Hours	100%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. discuss the factors influencing population growth and control and the implications for food production, agricultural systems, energy consumption and production
2. evaluate the global impact of human activity on other species, on ecosystems and on global biodiversity
3. assess the impact of human activity on major natural systems; on soils, fresh-water and marine systems, atmosphere and climate.
4. use the internet to gather up to date information on environmental issues and produce a web site through which information on environmental issues can be disseminated in an appropriate manner.

Brief description

This module identifies and examines the major impacts of the human population on the environment. Emphasis will be placed on the impact that population growth has had, and in particular will potentially exert, on the biota, water, soils and atmosphere and the interrelationships between these systems. The development of our understanding of the complex nature of environmental systems is examined with appraisal of how our increasing knowledge may influence human attitudes to, and future use of, environmental resources.

Aims

The module aims to provide students with:

An understanding of key environmental issues.
An appreciation of the relationship between population pressure, level of economic development and human impact on the environment.
An opportunity to experience the range of information on environmental issues that is available via the internet.
The opportunity to develop the skill of designing a website and publishing information on the world wide web.

Reading Lists

Books
PARK, C (2001) The Environment: princples and applications 2nd. Routledge
PICKERING, K T and OWEN, L A (1997) An introduction to global environmental issues 2nd. Routledge

Web Page/Sites
Extensive resources will be made available for this module via the web

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5