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Frontiers in Sustainability Research - ENV00031C

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Marco Sakai
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2020-21
    • See module specification for other years: 2019-20

Module summary

Provide students with an understanding of a range of important contemporary environmental sustainability issues, so that students appreciate current sustainability problems in a holistic manner by locating issues in their wider environmental, social, economic and ecological context.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching cycle
A Autumn Term 2020-21

Module aims

·         To provide students with an understanding of a range of important contemporary environmental sustainability issues, so that students appreciate current sustainability problems in a holistic manner by locating issues in their wider environmental, social, economic and ecological context. These issues will be discussed through small-group seminars, with a member of staff who has expertise in that area, giving the students a chance to reflect on a series of sustainability problems in a wider context.

·         To allow students to develop skills in verbal presentation and essay writing by preparing and delivering an individual five minute presentation (not assessed), as well as writing a 1500-word essay (assessed), each on a topic related to one of the tutorials. The dedicated presentation sessions attended by all students will also broaden the understanding of the environmental challenges the world is facing. Walk-in help tutorials on essay writing and verbal presentation will also be run for further support.

To provide students with key skills training in verbal presentation, and structuring and writing essays, and further training in finding and using reliable scientific sources in several tutorials.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content

·         Be able to demonstrate an understanding of today’s sustainability problems and the complex interaction of the environmental, economic and ecological aspects, and to put them into a wider context.

Academic and graduate skills

  • Be competent in discussing scientific papers in a group, and recognise and respect the views and opinions of other students
  • Be competent in obtaining and summarising sustainability science information critically from reliable sources
  • Be able to present information verbally in a structured, informative and interesting manner
  • Be able to write a structured, informative and well-researched essay

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Contribution and Participation		 N/A 10
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 65
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Oral Presentation		 N/A 25

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
2000 word essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Feedback after assessment

Indicative reading

Scientific papers for tutorials


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.