GVMPFU: Preparing for Floods in an Uncertain Future

Module code: GVMPFU

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

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Hannah Cloke, email: h.l.cloke@reading.ac.uk

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: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module will provide a basis for understanding key issues in flood preparedness, from the local to the global scale, including flood forecasting and warning, response and incident management and building community resilience. The module uses interactive seminars, computer practicals, guest speakers and includes a visit to the Global Flood Awareness System operational centre. Students will also undertake directed readings on key flood preparedness concepts. Written coursework assignment questions will be drawn from scientific modelling and social science and policy based topics.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Have a deep understanding of the components of flood preparedness strategies in different contexts and their relationship to science and policy
2. Critically discuss the scientific and policy concepts used in flood risk management
3. Critically evaluate flood preparedness policy and practice in a national and international context

Module content

This module will introduce students to the each of the key issues in flood preparedness. Seminars, fieldtrips and practical sessions will cover: 

• Flood preparedness: a multi-faceted problem 
• Flood forecasting and warning, UK & international 
• Flood response and incident management: policy and practice 
• Flood risk management for river catchments under a changing climate and a changing landscape 
• Building community resilience to flooding  

The students will be encouraged, through guided reading and discussion, to critique current flood preparedness science, policy and practice. 

The module will draw on national and international examples, including the European Flood Awareness System and the Global Flood Awareness System. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will involve interactive seminars on key concepts in flood preparedness discussing key concepts and directed readings, guest seminars given by experts in flood preparedness, computer practical classes on flood forecasting and field visits.  

Study hours

At least 40 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 50% 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.

Reassessment

Additional costs