GV1B1-Introduction to Environmental Science

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Hazel McGoff
Email: h.j.mcgoff@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
The module provides an overview of the scope of Environmental Science, and introduces the scientific processes that control and affect our environment.

Aims:
This module will introduce and define the scope of Environmental Science. The module includes an 'Earth systems' approach looking at aspects of solid Earth, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere including their interactions and changes through time. The impact of human activty on the Earth system is also considered.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Students will be able to define the concept of Earth System Science as applied to the environment. They will be able to discuss dominant processes within the environmental system relating to each of the major -spheres. Their understanding of human management choices, and human interactions with environmental systems will be testable through selected case studies.

Additional outcomes:
These include development of basic scientific skills such as ability to develop balanced scientific argument, ability to identify knowledge and opinion from literature review, ability to analyse a scientific system.

Outline content:

Lectures will introduce the scope of Environmental Science, and discuss dominant processes, and their characteristic time-scales, operating in the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere. Examples of both passive and active human interaction with the environment will be explored. Specific lecture sessions will cover:

1. the scope of environmental science


2. Earth systems interactions - biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere


3. Climate change – natural and anthropogenic


4. Water resources and pollution


5. The oceans


6. The biosphere and ecosystem services


7. Environmental legislation and regulation

Seminars and practical sessions will cover:

1. Ecological and carbon footprints


2. Milankovitch cycles and climate


3. Environmental modelling


4. Water qu ality


5. Biodiversity indices

Global context:
This module is concerned with global cycles which form major components of the Earth system. Examples are drawn from a wide range of countries including the UK, USA, China, Bangladesh, and regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
There will be one or two weekly lectures of about fifty minutes each. Additional learning will involve a range of practical sessions / seminars.This is a 10 credit module, which means that it is intended to occupy you for 100 hours of work: background reading, essay preparation and writing, team meetings revision and sitting the examination. With that in mind the kind of workload you should expect might be as follows:

30 hours: Contact hours in formal teaching sessions
20 hour s: Engaged in reading and note taking from 􀀑key texts􀀒 for each week
15 hours: Engaged in reading, preparation and writing your essay
15 hours: Preparation for group poster presentations
2 hour: Revision class (Summer Term)
15 hours: Revision
1 hours: Examination (Summer Term)ô€€”