GV1ESNU: Environmental Science: Issues and Techniques

Module code: GV1ESNU

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 1

Module convenor: Dr Hazel McGoff, email: h.j.mcgoff@reading.ac.uk

NUIST module lead: Hao Fang, email: fh@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 first part of this module provides the students with an understanding of ecological and physical processes, of the impact of human activity on these processes and with an appreciation of the key concepts of environmental sustainability. The focus of this scientific foundation will be on the global environmental challenges that society faces today and considers possible solutions.   

Following the first part of the module, having inspired the students to make a difference in how we treat our planet, the remainder will introduce different approaches that can be used in proposing, designing and conducting research towards addressing environmental problems. This will provide technical writing and basic data- and computer-based skills used in proposing, executing, analysing and manipulating environmental and geographical information.    

Adharsh Rajasekar (adharsh.r@nuist.edu.cn) will also be teaching on this module.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Explain ecological principles including energy flow, biogeochemical cycling, and population dynamics and outline the Earth's history
2. Discuss factors influencing human population size, economies and livelihoods, recognize the impact of human activity on the natural environment and understand the significance of sustainability
3. Understand the different approaches to environmental research and how to design an experimental research plan
4. Apply basic data management and information mining techniques to acquire and interpret geographical and environmental information, use academic literature to support critical discussions and present personal and group knowledge and understanding to an audience

Module content

Principles, processes and challenges: 

• Overview of Environmental Science: Matter, Energy, and Systems 
• Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work? 
• Biodiversity and Evolution 
• Species Interactions, Ecological Succession, and Population Control 
• The Human Population and Urbanization 
• Climate Change and Biodiversity: Saving Species and Ecosystem Services 
• Food Production, Water Resources and Air Quality  
• Geology, Mineral and Energy Resources 

Developing the skills to meet the challenges: 

• Reviewing the knowledge: how to conduct a literature search for qualitative and quantitative research. 
• Designing a research proposal and plan for different types of environmental research 
• Conducting a basic analysis of environmental data 
• Applying selected techniques in experimental environmental science to the skills learned 
• Presenting your findings to an audience 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Classroom lectures will describe and explain the concepts and key processes, and a series of strategically timed seminars and tutorials will discuss case studies, 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