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XX10212: Introduction to the state of the environment

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Programmes in Natural Sciences
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 2
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: EX100
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take XX10085
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:
To enable study of the impact of human populations on the global environment, focusing specially on human population growth, use of common resources and urbanisation.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this Unit students should be able to demonstrate that they:
* Have knowledge of a range of scientific and technical problems concerning the current state of the global environment, and the evidential basis for such knowledge;
* Understand historic and current impacts on the global environment of human population growth and technological advance;
* Can access and analyse web-based governmental and NGO public databases of global environmental information;
* Appreciate the importance of detailed accounting of environmental indices in appraising global situation;
* Can evaluate the worth of predictive models of future environmental change, and their implications for Homo sapiens and the biosphere;
* Are aware of historic and current proposals to limit human population and economic growth and their scientific, technological, philosophical and political implications.

Skills:
Learning and studying (T/F/A), Information handling and retrieval (T/F/A), Written communication (T/F/A), Working independently (T/F).

Content:
1. Drivers of environmental change: population growth; urbanisation (urbanisation prospects, city as a system, sustainable cities), economic growth (production, consumption, material use; frameworks for integrated environmental assessment).
2. Global issues: current states of the following global indices: Soils and food security; Biodiversity and the natural world; Fisheries and the oceans; Freshwater resources; Energy reserves; Air quality and pollution; Climate change) and their measure (ecological footprint)
3. Regional problems: environmental challenges in Africa, Asia & Pacific, Europe and Polar region
4. Pollution on a global scale: Persistent organic pollutants, Emerging contaminants (endocrine disruptors and other contaminants)
5. Measuring the State of the Planet: remote sensing, ground measurements, historical data and computer models
6. The revolution of satellite remote sensing: tools and applications
7. Monitoring the oceans: from space and underwater. From radar to acoustics.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

XX10212 is Optional on the following programmes:

Programmes in Natural Sciences
  • UXXX-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Natural Sciences (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Natural Sciences with Industrial Placement (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AAB02 : BSc (hons) Natural Sciences with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AFM01 : MSci (hons) Natural Sciences (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AKM02 : MSci (hons) Natural Sciences with Professional Placement (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AAM02 : MSci (hons) Natural Sciences with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 1

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.