GVMPOL: Environmental Pollution

Module code: GVMPOL

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

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Tom Sizmur, email: t.sizmur@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

Human activities have elevated the concentration of contaminants in the environment. This module will provide you with an understanding of the sources, transport pathways, and toxicity of key environmental contaminants. The practical content will allow you to apply contemporary methods to assess the effects of contaminants in the environment and interpret environmental data.

This module aims to develop an understanding of the mechanisms by which contaminants behave in the environment and cause toxicity to biological organisms.

This module will be of value to students wishing start a career as a graduate environmental consultant.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Identify the sources, transport pathways and receptors of contaminants in the environment and critically evaluate options for remediation 
2. Critically evaluate contemporary techniques for measuring the bioavailability of contaminants in soil, sediment and water and apply bioassays to assess the toxicity and risk of a contaminant in the environment. 
3. Compare and contrast key contaminants based on their chemical properties, their fate in the environment, and the mechanisms by which they are taken up by organisms and cause toxicity. 
4. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of complex scientific concepts by summarising contemporary environmental issues for policy makers and appraise scientific data and use it to justify the development of international legislation 

Module content

• Introduction to Environmental Pollution
• Contaminants
• Bioavailability
• Ecotoxicology
• Environmental Risk Assessment
• Remediation
• Policy and Legislation

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be delivered through a mixture of interactive lectures, computer classes, laboratory practicals, and role-playing exercises.

The module will use case studies from all over the world to demonstrate the effect of contaminants on organisms and processes in the environment.

Study hours

At least 27 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.

Interactive lectures and homework assignments will provide the opportunity for you to practice exam-style questions and receive instant feedback on performance.

A peer feedback session will be used to provide an opportunity for every student to receive formative feedback on their Environmental Brief ahead of the summative assessment deadline.

Reassessment

Additional costs