Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will introduce students to a range of environmental issues within geography through both a human and physical geography lens. The main aim of the new module is to emphasize that an interdisciplinary approach is required to address the grand environmental challenges facing contemporary societies.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module content will be developed through detailed case studies embedded within the overarching conceptual framework of "The Anthropocene". Lecture content will be frammed around two main themes that will provide the broad content:

1) Pollution
2) Sustainability

The syllabus is developed in such a way that these two themes are broad enough to involve a large pool of colleagues, to make the long-term delivery of the module sustainable. Each of the two themes will be co-taught by human and physical geography colleagues, exposing students to varying perspectives and lenses on the issues taught.

The content would then be broken into the two overlapping themes, each corresponding to a contemporary ‘crisis’ in the environment. Each theme will consist of a block of lectures split evenly between a Human and Physical Geography lens. Examples of what may be included within each block include (but are not limited to):

1) Pollution - Racialisation of pollution, UK rivers (sewage discharge), microplastics, mine waste and exotic pollutants, 'acid rain', etc.
2) Sustainability - Food and soils, aggregates (sand, gravel), renewable energy, production, the build environment, etc.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able to:
a) demonstrate how scientific knowledge informs policy and the management of environmental issues;
b) understand how environmental issues in the past inform contemporary debates and how current knowledge underpins the prediction of future change.
c) Comprehend how many of the major environmental challenges facing societies around the world, and responses to them, are informed by both human and physical geography factors

Intended Skill Outcomes

The module will enable students to:
a) critically evaluate coverage of contemporary environmental issues;
b) assess competing arguments and approaches to environmental problems, integrating both natural (Earth science, environmental science) and social (economic, political, ethical) considerations;

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will provide an overview and introduction to the environmental issues being discussed from a human and physical geography perspective.

Guided independent activities will allow students to enhance their learning by engaging through critically assessing academic and grey literature, media reports and popular science material around key themes discussed in the lectures.

Timetabled Q & A sessions will allow the students to discuss the content of each theme of teaching thereby consolidating their learning and strengthening interdisciplinary knowledge.

Drop in sessions will be arranged around the assessments

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The open book exam will ask students to select from a range of questions focus with each question based on an issue discussed in the lectures.

General Notes

N/A