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Monitoring & Control of Pollution - ENV00091M

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. John Wilkinson
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

This module brings together existing knowledge covering key environmental challenges and techniques to both monitor and control environmental pollution. We will focus on major types of environmental pollutants with a particular emphasis on the aquatic environment. Learning both practical skills and applied knowledge you will gain an understanding of how we measure and mitigate environmental pollution.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

Understanding how to monitor environmental pollutants is important for determining anthropogenic impacts on the environment and providing regulatory bodies with the information they require to develop and implement controls to minimise the impacts of pollutants. This module aims to provide students with an understanding of:

  1. The different approaches used in environmental monitoring and an introduction into the key concepts involved in the design, implementation and use of environmental monitoring programmes, and

  2. The strategies available to minimise or eliminate pollution and the production of wastes.

A series of lectures and practical sessions will be used to provide hands-on experience in relevant methodologies and to provide experience of collating and interpreting relevant datasets. Additionally, field trips and seminars will introduce students to the science and engineering underlying pollution and waste management. Together, this course will equip students with the skills to evaluate and select feasible treatment technologies and management techniques for different classes of pollutants and wastes. This will enable students to gain theoretical and practical skills which are highly relevant for employment (e.g., in government agencies, environmental consultancies and other similar bodies).

Module learning outcomes

Module learning outcomes include:

-Identify and apply the important elements involved in conducting successful environmental monitoring and assessment programmes and understand how to design and carry out monitoring exercises using a range of appropriate techniques.

-Critically evaluate environmental data quality from monitoring exercises to support (e.g., policy development, reviewing its reliability, validity and significance).

-Demonstrate an understanding of the science and engineering underlying different treatment technologies and be equipped to select appropriate technologies and management techniques for different classes of pollutants.

-Identify and apply strategies to minimise the discharge of pollutants to the environment.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Environmental Monitoring Report 2500 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay 2500 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Written feedback on summative assessment. Ongoing verbal feedback. Optional formative feedback on formative presentation.

Indicative reading

Harrison, R. (2007) Pollution: Causes, effects and control. Fourth edition. Royal Society of Chemistry


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.