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ESC-20150 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

ESC-20150 - Human Impact on the Environment
Coordinator: Adam Moolna Tel: +44 1782 7 34115
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

Humans impact processes, conditions and components of our planet and biosphere on global, regional and local scales. Scientific understanding is key to manage these for better environmental and human well-being. We cover issues from climate change and circular economy futures to concerns including pollution, biodiversity loss, and ocean health.

Aims
Students will learn about human impacts on the environment and the implications for functioning and balance of key systems, including the interactions between different processes and components. A major part of learning is about strategies to mitigate and adapt to environmental problems caused by human impacts, such as addressing climate change, and the role of science in informing action.

Intended Learning Outcomes

discuss a broad range of human impacts on the environment and their wider significance and possible solutions: 1
analyse and assimilate information from the literature on a key environmental issue: 1,2
critique, in scientific terms, the key causes of negative environmental impacts on air, water and soil quality and on biological resources: 1,2
communicate effectively about an environmental issue, including possible solutions and barriers to their adoption, in an interesting, engaging and informative way: 2

Study hours

21 active learning hours =
6 hours: 6x 1 hour workshops / seminars
15 hours: 15x 1 hour lectures
129 independent study hours =
48 hours: 12x 4 hours per week of independent study aligned to lectures and seminars
81 hours: work on assessments splits between VLOG and essay assessment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 50%
2,000 word essay
Essay evaluating the context of human impacts and strategies for addressing this. The essay should review the status and context of human impacts on the environment, including addressing each of the topics covered in the module, and evaluating scientific debates and consensus for strategies to manage and mitigate human impacts

2: Video Blog weighted 50%
Video presentation (10 minutes)
Recorded video presentation of approximately 10 minutes on a focused aspect of human impacts on the environment. This may be a case study (such as river catchment management), an issue (such as sustainable ocean fisheries), a review of a framework (e.g. the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), or another aspect. This should be appropriately related to an effectively set out overview of key concepts and issues across the module. You must submit the presentation as a video file (.mp4 or .mpg format).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026