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GEOP8085 – Environmental Decision Making

2020 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor, lecturer
Fiona Miller
Contact via Email
By appointment only
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MEnv or MEnvEd or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MEnvPlan or MPlan or GradCertEnvPlan or MSusDev or MWldMgt or MPPP or GradDipEnv or GradCertEnv or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or MDevStud or MMarScMgt or MSc in (Biodiversity Conservation or Remote Sensing and GIS)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit engages with sustainable, ethical and justice dimensions of environmental decision making. Through a series of case studies of environmental decision making and planning contexts at local, city-wide, regional and wider scales students gain an understanding of how diverse values, power and knowledge influence environmental decision making and planning. The unit provides students with appropriate knowledge and professional skills to work towards more sustainable, ethical and just environmental decision making through its focus on critical thinking, communication, research and negotiation skills, and appreciation of cultural differences and ethics.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply an advanced understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to environmental decision making.
  • ULO2: Identify and critically evaluate how diverse values, power and knowledge influence environmental decision making.
  • ULO3: Critically analyse how environmental decision making can contribute to more sustainable, ethical and just environmental contexts.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate advanced research skills by identifying and evaluating information on factors that influence environmental decision making.
  • ULO5: Communicate clearly and negotiate effectively on environmental decision making.

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Assignment Submission All students must keep an electronic copy of all assignments (preferably as a PDF) submitted for assessment. All assignments must be submitted via Turnitin. You will be able to access the result of the Turnitin scan and be able to review your assignments in light of this result. Not everything that Turnitin picks up as comparable to other work is plagiarised. Use this process constructively to ensure you are referencing correctly and effectively. Instructions for submitting assignment to Turnitin can be found at: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm

Late Penalties and Grading Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Each assignment will be marked and commented upon before it is returned to you. Feedback will include a mark, a grade, extensive in-text comments, overall comments and a detailed rubric. 

Further Guidance on Assessments More detailed instructions, rubrics and marking criteria for all assessments, as well as some samples of assessments, will be available on iLearn.

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Study Modes This unit is available in internal and external study modes. Internal students attend a three hour weekly class on Wednesdays 9:00am - 12:00pm in 25aWW (Wallys Walk) 208 Tutorial Room. Classes will run as a combination of both lectures and student-led workshop sessions. External students will be expected to access recordings of the sessions online via iLearn and participate in weekly discussions through the contribution of brief postings and responses to others' postings.

Workload Expectation GEOP8085 uses a combination of lectures and tutorial classes with a number of role-play and web-based learning opportunities. It is expected that all students in the unit will both participate and contribute to classes, including completing the required readings and participating in classroom and online discussions. Internal students are expected to attend all classes and external students are expected to routinely access material online and participate in discussions.

Technology Used and Required GEOP8085 provides all students with significant web-based support using iLearn, Macquarie University’s learning management system. If you need help with iLearn please refer to http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/index.htm or contact the unit convenor as soon as possible. The unit website will be maintained regularly, providing you with copies of lecture PowerPoint slides immediately before each lecture. Digital audio recordings of the lectures will be available via Echo360 linked to the unit’s iLearn site. External students are also encouraged to use Zoom for tutorial presentations.

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Week

 

Date

Lectures

Workshops

Module I – Introduction to environmental decision making for sustainable, just and ethical outcomes

1

26/2

Introduction to the unit –approach, guiding principles and content.

 

Self introductions, expectations and study skills.

 

Reflective journal of change project

2

4/3

Theories and approaches to environmental decision making

Justice, values and knowledge in environmental decision making.

 

Module II - Decision making for sustainable and just resource use

3

11/3

Extractive industries

 

 

Role of assessment

4

18/3

Water justice - Guest Lecture by Uncle Phil Duncan

 

Indigenous-led approaches to water and decolonisation

 

5

25/3

Environmental justice – Pollution, waste and recycling

 

Exposure and consumption

 

Module III - Decision making to anticipate and respond to environmental extremes

6

1/4

Heat

 

 

Heatwave planning – risk and vulnerability assessment

7

8/4

Fire

 

 

Recovery and reconstruction

 

~ Recess ~

8

29/4

Drought

 

 

Water cultures

Module IV - Decision making to adapt to uncertain futures

9

6/5

Planning for sea level rise

 

 

Planned retreat

 

10

13/5

Loss and damage

 

 

Contested values

 

Module V Decision making for just transitions

11

20/5

Emissions and energy

 

 

Calculating emissions

 

12

27/5

Mobility and transport

 

 

Student presentations

Module VI – Review and Conclusions

13

3/6

Conclusion – Environmental decision making for justice

 

Student presentations

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

This unit has been entirely redesigned since the previous offering, incorporating a new theoretical framing, new teaching and case study material as well as new assessments.