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XX30191: Sustainability

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Programmes in Natural Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 20%, EX 80%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment detail data for this unit is currently being updated as a change has been approved. Updated assessment information will be published here shortly.
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Before taking this module you must take XX20001 OR take XX10085
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To explore a wide range of examples of global physical sustainability, with special emphasis on climate change, and to examine implications for national and international policy, and personal lifestyles.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this Unit students should be able to demonstrate that they:
* Are aware of all principal classes of apparently unsustainable trends;
* Understand the basic dynamics of the biophysical forces underlying such trends;
* Can calculate expected requirements for carbon intensity, given assumptions on population and economic growth;
* Can quantitatively evaluate a variety of energy supply systems in terms of security, reliability and carbon emissions;
* Appreciate the contribution of food and land-use systems to both emissions and abatement of greenhouse gases;
* Can critically assess a range of scenarios for human development over the next 100 years;
* Understand the reciprocal nature of mass decarbonisation measures and choices at the consumer level;
* Are acquainted with the literature of physical sustainability, and can offer reasoned critiques of various schools of thought.

Skills:
Written communication (T/F/A), Numeracy and computation (T/F/A), Data acquisition, handling and analysis (T/F/A), Information technology (T/F/A), Information handling and retrieval (T/F/A), Group working (T/F), Working independently (T/F).

Content:
Students will be given one non-assessed essay to encourage familiarity with the field, and one major assessed essay on a key topic. Two practical sessions will entail the use of spreadsheets and simple calculator systems to explore constraints on international policy options and to model theoretical households at different income levels. Students will be asked to submit annotated spreadsheets with their results, reflecting both group and individual work.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

XX30191 is Optional on the following programmes:

Programmes in Natural Sciences
  • UXXX-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Year 2)
  • UXXX-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Year 3)
  • UXXX-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • UXXX-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UXXX-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UXXX-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UXXX-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Year 2)
  • UXXX-AKM02 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences with Professional Placement (Year 2)
  • UXXX-AAM02 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 2)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* 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.