ESC-10061 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

This module aims to introduce and foster the development of a range of skills and techniques that are relevant to the interdisciplinary study of the Environmental, Ecological and Sustainability challenges that people and planet face. It will allow students to develop an awareness of the nature, causes and scope of these challenges and an appreciation of the emerging technological, political and societal solutions to these issues. The module will give students hands-on opportunities to develop key skills that will be needed to successfully complete their programme of study, including significant exposure to different field methods. Most importantly the module will provide students with the foundations to develop into well-informed and responsible environmental citizens.

This module underpins the first year of the suite of Environment programmes. It explores case studies tackling a range of environmental, ecological and sustainability issues highlighting the need for an interdisciplinary approach to tackling environmental, ecological and sustainability problems.
This module aims:
1) To illustrate to students how an understanding of different disciplines is utilized in the study of environmental, ecological and sustainability problems;
2) To help students develop field and laboratory skills in environmental and ecological research;
3) To help students develop and gain useful experience of a range of transferable study skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Discuss a range of core environmental science, conservation and sustainability issues drawing on different disciplines: 1,2,3
Discuss and debate how interdisciplinary approaches work together and/or in tension: 1,2,3
Communicate ideas and arguments in a range of formats including the use of standard academic requirements such as referencing and demonstrate competency in a range of skills necessary for successful study of environmental science, conservation and sustainability in higher education (e.g. information literacy, communication skills, and data analysis): 1,2,3
Reflect on and evaluate their own learning experience and lived experience of sustainability in order to improve the learning experience in future stages of the programme and drive personal action: 2
Successfully employ a range of environmental, ecological and geochemical laboratory and field techniques to collect, synthesize, evaluate and present environmental (geochemical, ecological, geological) data: 3

Study hours

5 hours x 11 weeks of online asynchonous study of materials
1 hour x 11 weeks of scheduled in situ (or online) synchronous discussion
1 hour x 22 weeks of scheduled in situ practical sessions
6 x 3 hour of schedule in situ fieldwork sessions
44 hours assessment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment