GV1EMNU: Environmental Monitoring

Module code: GV1EMNU

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Hong Yang, email: h.yang4@reading.ac.uk

NUIST module lead: Raphinos Murava, email: bapaul@nuist.edu.cn

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to provide an introduction to the interactions in our environment, including causes of environmental change, and to develop an understanding of the methods and activities employed in monitoring environmental quality. 

This module provides the knowledge and skills necessary to monitor air, water and soil quality.  The student gains experience through lectures, supporting documents, directed reading and practical classes. A series of field surveys provides the students with the necessary skills to apply their understanding of the basic concepts and methodological principles. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand compositions, functions and interactions of our environment 
2. Understand the standards for water, air and soil quality, as well as solid waste control 
3. Describe and explain different methods of environmental monitoring according to the specific purpose of the analysis and the environmental standard 
4. Analyze both results of onsite measurement data and laboratory analytical outcomes for the purpose of better environmental management 

Module content

Lectures include: 

• Introduction to environmental monitoring 
• Environmental change: definition and causes 
• Environmental standards and case studies 
• Environmental sampling, quality assurance and data analysis 
• Contaminant-control process monitoring 
• Water and wastewater monitoring 
• Air pollution monitoring 
• Soil and solid waste quality monitoring 
• Biological pollution monitoring 
• Noise monitoring 
• Monitoring of environmental radioactivity 
• Long-term monitoring in ecosystems 

Laboratory training and experiments include: 

• Lab safety 
• Sampling procedures, 
• Chemical and biological analysis; e.g. COD, BOD, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved solids, Winkler method. 
• Physical analysis: Particulate matter (PM10), total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen. 
• Analyzing, recording and reporting environmental data 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Classroom lectures will describe and explain the concepts and key processes, whilst the laboratory classes and fieldwork will provide the practical training and demonstration-led supervision. A series of strategically timed seminars will consolidate knowledge and allow interactions and group presentations. 

Study hours

At least 96 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In-class quizzes, seminars and tutorials provide the opportunity for feedback and feed-forward. 

Students also have the opportunity to anonymously peer-review draft coursework in order to improve their scientific writing skills. 

Reassessment

Additional costs