Students
GEOP6050 – Environment and Society
2021 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit convenor
Emily O'Gorman
Contact via Email
Room B452, Level 4, 25B Wally's Walk
Email for appointment
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MEnv or MEnvPlan or MPlan or GradDipEnv or GradCertEnv or MSusDev or GradDipSusDev or GradCertSusDev
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
With an emphasis on the Australasian region, this exciting interdisciplinary unit explores how societies and ecologies are entwined and develops creative ways of approaching environmental dilemmas. Bringing together geographic perspectives from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, it examines the concepts of environment, sustainability, and society, together with their past and possible future socio-political and economic framings. The historical and contemporary contexts of key environmental issues in Australia are explained along with their connections to global events and perspectives, including climate change, invasive species, water management, environmental protection movements, and links between consumption and production. Current planning frameworks and management processes, including legal and legislative mechanisms are also considered, along with emerging strategies and social movements that aim to address existing and expected problems. |
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: Critically examine the mutually shaping forces of societies and ecologies in producing environmental dilemmas
- ULO2: Explain the significance of historical and contemporary contexts to environmental issues at different scales
- ULO3: Identify, and critically examine, key environmental issues
- ULO4: Evaluate and respond to diverse perspectives and approaches to environments, societies and sustainability
- ULO5: Engage with advanced concepts and academic texts
- ULO6: Assess, sort, and synthesise information in presentations, small group discussions, and written work
- ULO7: Critically evaluate management and planning options for addressing environmental, social and sustainability challenges
General Assessment Information
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All written assessments are to be submitted via Turnitin, the university online submission and marking system - found as a link in iLearn. Turnitin includes Grademark, a paperless grading system where your written assessments are marked by staff online. Submissions are also checked for plagiarism by Turnitin. Turnitin automatically compares your work to the work of your classmates, previous students and material available on the internet. Hard copies of assignments are no longer accepted and will not be marked.
For more information on Turnitin and Grademark: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm
DEADLINES, EXTENSIONS AND PENALTIES
Deadlines set for assessment submissions will not be altered except in exceptional circumstances. In all cases, extensions must be supported with appropriate documentation (medical certificate, counsellor's certificate, statutory declaration). All extensions must be applied for and granted through the special consideration process. See the Special Consideration Policy https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration
Extensions will not be granted in cases of poor time management. Only the Unit Convenor can authorise extensions.
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 seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
Students who fail to complete and submit ALL assessments for the unit may not receive enough marks to pass the unit. Penalties will also be incurred for plagiarism, that is, the use of another persons’ work and presentation as your own (see University Policies and http://www.mq.edu.au/ policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html).
GRADING
Each assessment will be marked, commented upon and returned to you via Turnitin and Grademark. Grading is conducted in line with the universities grading policy (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html)
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial facilitation | 25% | No | Weeks 2-11 tutorials |
| Literature Review Essay | 40% | No | 5pm 23 April 2021 |
| Take home exam | 35% | No | Available 12noon 28 May 2021; due 5pm 4 June 2021 |
Tutorial facilitation
Assessment Type 1: Facilitation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: Weeks 2-11 tutorials
Weighting: 25%
Undertake discussions and presentations based on unit readings. This will include each student leading the facilitation of a selected tutorial and submitting of a summary of the associated readings. All students are, however, expected to help facilitate the discussion each week.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically examine the mutually shaping forces of societies and ecologies in producing environmental dilemmas
- Explain the significance of historical and contemporary contexts to environmental issues at different scales
- Evaluate and respond to diverse perspectives and approaches to environments, societies and sustainability
- Engage with advanced concepts and academic texts
- Assess, sort, and synthesise information in presentations, small group discussions, and written work
Literature Review Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 5pm 23 April 2021
Weighting: 40%
A literature review essay that engages with key concepts from the unit and demonstrates independent research based on a topic provided. Length: 2,500 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically examine the mutually shaping forces of societies and ecologies in producing environmental dilemmas
- Identify, and critically examine, key environmental issues
- Evaluate and respond to diverse perspectives and approaches to environments, societies and sustainability
- Engage with advanced concepts and academic texts
- Assess, sort, and synthesise information in presentations, small group discussions, and written work
- Critically evaluate management and planning options for addressing environmental, social and sustainability challenges
Take home exam
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Available 12noon 28 May 2021; due 5pm 4 June 2021
Weighting: 35%
A take-home exam based on lecture material.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically examine the mutually shaping forces of societies and ecologies in producing environmental dilemmas
- Explain the significance of historical and contemporary contexts to environmental issues at different scales
- Identify, and critically examine, key environmental issues
- Assess, sort, and synthesise information in presentations, small group discussions, and written work
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Technology
This unit has a website which is accessible via www.mq.edu.au/iLearn. Here you can get access to unit materials including recording of lectures, copies of lecture slides, notices and a general discussion place to pose questions to staff.
Students are not required to acquire any specific technology for this unit but are expected to access the iLearn site and to use computers to produce their assignments.
Lecture and tutorials
This unit runs as a series of weekly recorded lectures, and a tutorial program (1 session weekly). All lecture recordings will be made available on iLearn through Echo360. Copies of lecture slides will also be made available through iLearn.
Students will need to enrol in a weekly tutorial and attend the same tutorial session each week. These are offered in a variety of formats. Please check eStudent.
Unit Schedule
|
Week |
Date |
Lecture Schedule (subject to change) |
Tutorial |
Assessments |
|
1
|
22 Feb
|
Environment and Society
|
No tutorials
|
|
|
Part 1: Politics and ethics |
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
1 March
|
Political ecology
|
Politics and environments + tutorial leader sign-up
|
Tutorial facilitation: tutorial leader + class discussion (this assessment runs across tutorial weeks 2-11; see assessment instructions – total 25% across tutorial weeks) |
|
3
|
8 March
|
Political ecology of cities
|
Cities, ecology, and power
|
|
|
4
|
15 March
|
Environments and ethics
|
Ethics and ecology
|
|
|
Part 2: Commodities and globalisation |
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
22 March
|
Circulations
|
Power and movement
|
|
|
6
|
29 March
|
Place and production
|
Place and production
|
|
|
Mid-session break: 3 April to 18 April |
||||
|
Part 3: Social movements and values |
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
19 April
|
Climate migration and disasters
|
No tutorials: Essay preparation
|
Essay due (40%): 5pm, Friday 23 April |
|
8
|
26 April
|
Protected areas and biodiversity
|
Politics of protected areas
|
|
|
9
|
3 May
|
Species protection and eradication in Australian history
|
Protection and eradication
|
|
|
Part 4: Emergent pathways |
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
10 May
|
Water and society
|
Water and cities
|
|
|
11
|
17 May
|
Multispecies and more-than-human worlds
|
Multispecies worlds
|
|
|
12
|
24 May
|
Alternative economies and degrowth + Synthesis and exam preparation
|
No Tutorials: Take-home exam
|
Take-home exam (35%): available 12noon Friday 28 May; due 5pm Friday 4 June. |
|
13
|
31 May
|
No lecture
|
||
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). 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
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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
Assessment changes: New tutorial facilitation structure introduced (tutorial leader + class discussion). Oral presentation assessment removed. Take-home exam replaces exam.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook