Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Kerrie Tomkins
Lecturer
Kathryn Lee
Lecturer
Vladimir Strezov
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MEnv or MEnvEd or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MEnvPlan or MPlan or MSusDev or MSc or MWldMgt or MMarScMgt or GradCertEnv or GradDipEnv or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or MConsBiol or PGDipSc in Biodiversity Conservation
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
The aim of this unit is to provide understanding of how environmental science influences management and decision making. The unit introduces students to the major chemical, physical and ecological processes that effect and control natural and anthropogenic environmental impacts. In this unit the disciplinary concerns and environmental principles within geoscience, ecology, chemistry and physics of pollution are explored and linkages among these disciplines emphasised from the viewpoint of science.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Literature review | 30% | No | 11 April 2017 |
Learning Exercises | 30% | No | Variable |
Research Project | 40% | No | 30 May 2017 |
Due: 11 April 2017
Weighting: 30%
You must choose a topic within one of the disciplines of environmental science (geoscience, environmental chemistry or ecology). You must restrict your review to the role of science in environmental management for that discipline. You may decide to review one specific topic or a range of topics within that discipline.
Scientific papers can be pretty daunting at first but this is the form in which original research first appears. Primary scientific references describe the rationale for the investigation, the approaches, methods and the findings. Secondary references are a step removed from the original work and include review articles. You will be writing a review article, and you must include at least 12 peer reviewed scientific papers that report the results of research in your chosen discipline. Each student should independently decide which specific topic to review.
The topic must be in the category of one of the environmental disciplines covered in this course (i.e. geoscience, environmental chemistry or ecology). You are also encouraged to look critically at scientific data. In the first lecture you will learn about the nature of science and why scientific experiments can be so difficult to carry out. The experimental design and execution inevitably has many shortcomings and if you come to appreciate the inherent difficulties you will be better equipped to spot weaknesses in published research and to undertake critical review. In the first Scientific Writing Workshop (Literature reviews) you will learn how to set out your topic and how to present your critical analysis of the literature.
Your review should be no longer than 2000 words, excluding tables, graphs and reference list. Use sub-headings to structure your review.
Assessment will be according to the guidelines provided at the first lecture.
Extensions will only be granted for exceptional circumstance (which does not include workload or computer problems!) and with prior written permission by the unit convenor. Unapproved late submission will attract a 10% per calendar day penalty.
The final assignment mark will be out of 30, or 30 % of the total unit mark. The marks allocated for the various assessment criteria are as in the table below.
Criterion Weighting Description 5 · Clearly articulates aims and scope of review· Accurately and succinctly describes objectives and outcomes of review literature
Analysis of the literature 15· Contribution of reviewed literature
· Evidence evaluated critically
· Strengths and weaknesses clearly identified
Presentation and structure 10· Well-planned review with clear structure, sub-headings and logical argument firmly based on the literature cited
· Well written paper formatted for effective communication with correct grammar and spelling and correct use of professional terminology as appropriate
· Literature correctly cited and full bibliographic details provided
Total 30
Due: Variable
Weighting: 30%
Exercises will be distributed during the geoscience, environmental chemistry and ecology components of the unit. Participants must complete all three exercises. It is important that exercises are completed promptly following the lectures to reinforce the learning process.
Marks: 10 marks for each exercise; 30 marks total. ie. 30% of the total unit mark.
Due: The due dates for each take home exercise are:
Geoscience: 28 March 2017
Environmental Chemistry: 9 May 2017
Ecology: 23 May 2017
Late exercises: Late penalties - 0.5 marks off for each day of late submission. No exercise will be accepted one week after its due date.
Due: 30 May 2017
Weighting: 40%
Students will be assigned to groups of about 4 participants to undertake research on a topic related to the science of climate change, its impacts and management strategies. Suggested topics will be provided prior to the commencement of classes following the mid-semester break.
Groups will need to meet outside of class time to decide on their topic, allocate research tasks, collate material and develop the final presentation.
Marks: This assignment is composed of three parts:
1. Research Abstract, which must be completed by each student individually, worth 10 marks, or 10 % of the total unit mark
2. Oral presentation of research findings. The presentation will be undertaken in groups; worth 20 marks, or 20 % of the total unit mark.
3. Participation in research, which will be assessed individually during the presentations; worth 10 marks, or 10 % of the total unit mark.
The abstract, which needs to be completed individually, should include a brief yet informative title describing the research, the authors name, affiliation and be a maximum of 500 words. Hints on how to write a good abstract will be provided in the Scientific Writing Skills Workshop: Abstracts
For the presentation, groups will be allocated 5 minutes per participant in the group + 10 minutes for questions (groups containing 3 participants will have 15 minutes for the presentation, while those with 4 participants will have 20 minutes time for presentations). Groups will give their presentations to the rest of the class. You may use any presentation format you like: lecture, seminar, poster, role-play, video etc. Groups will be allocated a single mark of up to 20% of the total mark for the teamwork presentation, which will be assessed according to criteria below. All members of the group must play an active part in either preparation of the material or its presentation.
Criterion
WeightingContent
8· Quality of research
· Relevance to assignment objectives
Design 4· Structure
· Logic
· Effectiveness
· Originality
Visual aids
4· Text (clear, brief, focused)
· Illustrations (clarity, relevance)
· Originality
Questions
4· answered the question that was asked
· brief and comprehensive answers
· reveal good depth of knowledge
Total 20
Each group member will receive additional mark of up to 10% of the total mark for individual participation in the preparation, delivery and question-answer parts of the presentation, in accordance with the follow criteria.
Criterion Weighting Delivery 5 · Timing (balanced, total time effectively used); · Manner (natural, purposeful, eye contact); · Vocal quality & language (varied, pleasant, appropriate) Participation 5 · Participation to the presentation · Participation to answering questions · Participation to presentation discussion · Attendance Total 10Learning activities
The unit is comprised of 13 weeks of formal classes which will be held on Tuesday evenings in E3B217 from 6-9 pm. The format of the classes varies, and includes lectures from academic staff on geoscience, environmental chemistry and ecology; three writing skills workshops; and 1-2 weeks of student presentations. Each class also features interactive activities as well as class discussion, particularly during the presentations. As a result, it is essential that students attend all classes. This unit is not able to be offered externally.
In addition to the formal classes, students are also required to spend time doing their own independent reading and research, with most of this time going towards completing the Assessments. As a guide, students should aim to spend approximately 100-120 hours of their own time on the unit over the semester, in addition to the weekly classes.
Requirements to Complete this Unit Satisfactorily
Students must submit all assignments, attend the group presentations and gain a final mark of at least 50% to complete this unit satisfactorily.
Students are required to attend at least 80% of the formal classes, and will be asked to sign an attendance sheet. Attendance may be taken into account when assigning final grades for the unit where marks are on the border between one grade and the next.
Technologies Used and Required
Students will need to bring a computer to class for the weeks that are identified as Scientific Writing Skills Workshops. In these weeks, we will use basic programs such as Word and Excel. Students will also need to have access to computer to review the literature and complete the assessment tasks. Submissions of the assessment tasks will be arranged through iLearn using Turnitin. Academic search engines (ISI Web of Knowledge and Scopus) and submission of the assessment tasks will be discussed during the first night of the class.
Recommended Texts/Materials
There is no single text for this course. References will be provided with the lecture material.
Background reading can be found in the following:
Aplin, G (2002), Australians and their Environment: An Introduction to Environmental Studies, Oxford University Press
Arms K (1994). Environmental Science, Saunders College Publishing, Fort Worth, 2nd edition.
Australian State of the Environment Committee (2006). Australia: State of the Environment 2006.
Independent report to the Commonwealth Minister for Environment and Heritage. CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Beckmann R (1994). Environmental Science, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra.
Enger ED and Smith BF (2006). Environmental Science: a study of interrelationships, McGraw Hill Publish.
Huxham M and Sumner D (2000). Science and Environmental Decision Making, Pearson Education.
Munasinghe M and Swart R (2005). Primer on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Cambridge University Press.
O'Riordan T (ed) (1995). Environmental science for environmental management, Longman House, Harlow.
Geosciences source books
Brierley G.J. & Fryirs K.F. (2005) Geomorphology and River Management: Applications of the River Styles Framework, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK. GB1203.2.B755/2005
Cooke R.U. & Doornkamp J.C. (1990). Geomorphology and Environmental Management, 2nd edition, Clarendon Press, Oxford. GB406.C64/1990
Jacobson M.C. (2000). Earth System Science: From Biogeochemical Cycles to Global Change. Academic Press, London. QH344.E17/2000
Marchetti M. & Rivas V. (2001). Geomorphology and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Balkema, Lisse. GB406.G46 Press F. & Siever R. (1998) Understanding Earth. Freeman, New York. QE28.P9/1998
Slaymaker, O. (2000). Geomorphology, Human Activity, and Global Environmental Change. Wiley, Chichester. GE149.G46/2000
Summerfield, M.A. (1991) Global Geomorphology, Longman Publishers, Singapore. GB401.5.S84
Environmental Chemistry source books
Brasseur GP, Orlando JJ and Tyndall GS (1999) Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Change, Oxford University Press.
Bunce NJ (1990). Environmental Chemistry, Wuerz, Winnipeg.
Connell DW (1993). Water Pollution: Causes and Effects in Australia and New Zealand, University of Queensland Press, Brisbane, 3rd edition.
Harrison RM (1992). Understanding our Environment: An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry and Pollution, Royal Society of Chemistry, London.
Laws EA (1993). Aquatic Pollution: An Introductory Text, Wiley, New York, 2nd edition.
Manahan SE (1991). Environmental Chemistry, Lewis, Chelsea, 4th or 5th edition.
O'Neill P (1998). Environmental Chemistry, Chapman & Hall, London.
Van Loon G.W. and Duffy S.J. (2000) Environmental Chemistry: A Global Perspective, Oxford UP, Oxford.
Ecology source books
Begon M, Mortimer M and Thompson DJ (1996). Population Ecology: a Unified Study of Animals and Plants, Blackwell, Oxford, 3rd edition.
Burgman, M. and Lindenmayer, D. (1998): Conservation Biology for the Australian Environment. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney
Krebs CJ (2001). Ecology: the Experimental Analysis of Distribution and Abundance, Harper,
New York, 5th edition. Magurran, A. E. 2004. Measuring Biological Diversity. Blackwell Science, Massachusetts, 1st ed.
Townsend, C. R., Harper, J. and Begon, M. (2000) Essentials of Ecology, Blackwell Science, Massachusetts, 1st ed.
Journal Articles
Use of ISI Web of Knowledge or Scopus to search and access scientific literature published in peer-reviewed journals.
Week |
Date* |
Topics |
Lecturer |
Assignment due dates |
1 |
28/2 |
Introduction to Environmental Science What is science? Introduction to Scientific Method and Practice |
Tomkins |
|
2 |
7/3 |
Scientific Writing Skills Workshop: Literature Reviews |
Tomkins |
|
3 |
14/3 |
Geoscience basic concepts |
Tomkins |
|
4 |
21/3 |
Geoscience in Environmental Management: some examples |
Tomkins |
|
5 |
28/3 |
Scientific Writing Skills Workshop: Scientific Analysis |
Strezov |
Exercise 1 – Geoscience 28 March |
6 |
4/4 |
Environmental chemistry: basic concepts |
Strezov |
|
7 |
11/4 |
Environmental chemistry in Environmental Management: some examples |
Strezov |
Literature review – 11 April |
|
|
MID SEMESTER BREAK |
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|
8 |
2/5 |
Environmental technologies for climate change management |
Strezov |
|
9 |
9/5 |
Ecology: basic concepts |
Lee |
Exercise 2 – Env chem 9 May |
10 |
16/5 |
Ecology in Environmental Management: some examples |
Lee |
|
11 |
23/5 |
Scientific Writing Skills Workshop: Abstracts |
Lee |
Exercise 3 – Ecology 23 May |
12 |
30/5 |
Group Project Presentations |
Lee |
Abstract, presentations and participation – 30 May |
13 |
6/6 |
Group Project Presentations |
Lee |
Presentations and participation cont. |
*Tues 6-9pm, E3B217
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