Students
GEOP3000 – Environmental Justice in the Anthropocene
2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
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
Andrew McGregor
Contact via email
Lecturer
Jessica McLean
Contact via email
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 2000 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
The Anthropocene is a proposed new geological epoch in which humanity is driving planetary change. This unit explores how environmental decision making and planning processes can be made more just in the context of the Anthropocene. It draws on perspectives from environmental justice, a field of research and activism focused on addressing the social and geographic inequities associated with environmental change. Environmental justice highlights how responsibility for, and the burdens of, environmental degradation are unevenly distributed across space and scale, and divided between and within social categories such as race, class, gender, ethnicity and species. Environmental justice and decision-making are analysed through a series of case studies that are presented by academic staff and environmental professionals. An important component of the unit focuses on developing analytical and practical skills for pursuing environmental justice, which requires the ability to synthesise geographic information from the social and physical sciences and engage with multiple stakeholders, decision making tools, and forms of communication. The unit makes the relationships between justice and environment more visible in a world of rapid environmental change and provides pathways and tools for pursuing more just and resilient futures. |
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: Assess environmental decisions or plans using environmental justice concepts or frameworks
- ULO2: Synthesise geographic information from the social and physical sciences to identify environmental justice issues
- ULO3: Describe and explain common environmental injustices associated with contemporary forms of socioecological change
- ULO4: Investigate and appreciate diverse stakeholder perspectives using environmental justice tools and concepts to improve environmental decision-making
- ULO5: Argue for improved environmental justice outcomes in a variety of written and spoken forms
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
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. The criteria and standards for each assignment will be made available via 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
Each week you are expected to:
1. Complete assigned readings available on Leganto prior to the tutorials
2. Attend tutorials in which students explore the research literature and undertake some practical exercises to build knowledge and skills.
3. Attend interactive lectorials that combine lecture content, discussion and workshop exercises. It is very important you attend all sessions as you will learn by doing.
In addition you are required to complete all assessment exercises.
GEOP3000 uses a wide variety of online resources, including an iLearn page where slides and audio from lectures will be posted, the Macquarie University Library for access to peer reviewed journal articles accessed via Leganto, and the web generally for news about, and discussions of, environmental justice and decision making. You will be required to have access to word processing technology and access to iLearn to complete and submit assignments.
During weeks 4, 7 and 12 students will be required to bring a device which has an internet connection for the team based learning exercises which involve class quizzes. A laptop or tablet is preferred to make it easier to navigate. If you don't have an appropriate device please let Andrew know.
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
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Week |
Lecture |
Tutorial |
Assessment |
|
Introducing environmental justice |
|||
|
1 (AM) |
Environmental justice and decision making in the Anthropocene |
No tutorials |
|
|
2 (AM) |
Environmental Justice: theory, concepts and activism |
Justice in the Anthropocene |
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|
3 (JM) |
Differentiated landscapes: intersectional environments |
Experiencing intersectionality |
|
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4 (AM) |
Environmental justice case study |
TBL prep |
Team based learning assessment |
| Environmental justice and decision making tools and approaches | |||
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5 (AM) |
Environmental decision making tools and approaches |
Systems mapping |
|
|
6 (AM) |
Environmental justice tools and approaches |
Spatial analysis and storytelling |
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|
7 (AM) |
No lecture (public holiday) |
Making just decisions (TBL in tutorial) |
Team based learning assessment |
|
Mid semester break |
|||
| Environmental justice in Australia | |||
|
8 (JM) |
Environmental justice in Australia – planning and law |
Analysing plans and decisions |
Environmental justice essay due |
|
9 (JM) |
Indigenous peoples and environmental decision-making |
Indigenous resistance to environmental injustice |
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|
10 (JM) |
Digital technologies: Environmental solution or source of injustice? |
Virtual injustice |
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| Environmental justice case studies and futures | |||
|
11 (AM) |
Forests and multispecies justice |
Forest decision making |
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|
12 (AM) |
Climate justice |
Climate justice |
Team based learning assessment |
|
13 (AM + JM) |
Hope and transformation: just futures for the Anthropocene |
Hopeful futures |
Environmental justice assessment report due |
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
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 since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 20/02/2020 | Some small changes were made to the unit schedule. The third TBL is now scheduled for Week 12 rather than Week 11. |