Students

ENVS3462 – Environmental Management

2021 – Session 1, Infrequent attendance, North Ryde

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

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Emilie Ens
emilie.ens@mq.edu.au
Damian Gore
damian.gore@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including (ENV267 or ENVS2467 or ENVS214 or ENVS2115)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides an advanced understanding of the interdisciplinary links between environmental research, management strategies and policy frameworks that are fundamental to environmental management. We explore significant issues and challenges associated with managing dynamic human-nature systems. The unit includes field visits to sites of environmental and Indigenous cultural importance in the Sydney region. Students will develop skills in GIS, App development, data management, science communication, video-editing, policy assessment, grant writing and professional literacy that are designed to enhance employability.

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: Identify and explain the key terms, concepts and approaches in environmental management.
  • ULO2: Evaluate the principal threats to environmental systems and develop appropriate management strategies.
  • ULO3: Analyse and communicate complex issues in environmental management.
  • ULO4: Utilise maps, graphs, statistics, images and text to convey information to diverse stakeholders in environmental management.
  • ULO5: Critically read, think about, interpret and evaluate environmental and social science data and other information relating to environmental policy, planning and legislation.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Module Quizzes 40% No At the end of each module
Video of site biocultural values 30% No In the mid semester break
Grant application 30% No Week 13

Module Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: At the end of each module
Weighting: 40%

 

For each module students will need to complete a 20 question multiple choice quiz.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain the key terms, concepts and approaches in environmental management.

Video of site biocultural values

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: In the mid semester break
Weighting: 30%

 

Drawing on practical classes and lectures you are required to produce a 5 minute video on the biocultural values of an environmental management site including GIS maps, data collected using your App and links to relevant Australian legislation and policies.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain the key terms, concepts and approaches in environmental management.
  • Evaluate the principal threats to environmental systems and develop appropriate management strategies.
  • Analyse and communicate complex issues in environmental management.
  • Utilise maps, graphs, statistics, images and text to convey information to diverse stakeholders in environmental management.
  • Critically read, think about, interpret and evaluate environmental and social science data and other information relating to environmental policy, planning and legislation.

Grant application

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

 

This assessment task requires you to use the template provided in class to write an Expression of Interest for a grant application focusing on an environmental monitoring project.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain the key terms, concepts and approaches in environmental management.
  • Evaluate the principal threats to environmental systems and develop appropriate management strategies.
  • Analyse and communicate complex issues in environmental management.
  • Utilise maps, graphs, statistics, images and text to convey information to diverse stakeholders in environmental management.
  • Critically read, think about, interpret and evaluate environmental and social science data and other information relating to environmental policy, planning and legislation.

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

Delivery

The timetable for ENVS3462 can be found at: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/. A detailed class schedule outlining the lecture and practical topics (including face to face and online practical options) is provided on ilearn. Check iLearn regularly for any class schedule updates. ENVS3462 is taught via lectures, practicals, field trips, readings and assessment tasks.It is offered to internal and external students. Students should make use of iLearn to access teaching and learning materials, to submit assignments, to stay in touch with the unit, to contact lecturers, and to discuss issues and concepts with classmates.

Workload

ENVS3462 earns 10 credit points towards your degree. University guidelines state for a 10 credit point unit you are expected to put in at least 9 hours of study per week on average over the semester; around 135 hours in total. This requires planning on your part to do all the work required in lectures, practicals, assignments, and the readings.

Resources

iLearn

The ENVS3462 iLearn page can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/. Information about how students can access iLearn can be found at: http://www.mq.edu.au/ iLearn/student_info/index.htm. The iLearn page uses Macquarie University’s standard interface and has links, discussion threads and access to lectures (as audio files through Echo360, and as downloadable PDF presentations) and practical material. Important announcements will be made through iLearn, so please check the ENVS3462 page regularly.

Echo360

Information about how to access lecture recordings through the Echo360 EchoCenter page in iLearn can be found at: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/lecture_recordings.htm

Turnitin

Macquarie University promotes student awareness of information management and information ethics. As well as training and the provision of information, the University tackles the issue of academic honesty through the use of the online program Turnitin. Information about how to submit assignments to Turnitin in iLearn can be found at: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm As well as being a key tool for assignment submission, marking and feedback, Turnitin compares your work with the work of your classmates, with previous students from Macquarie and other universities, with material available on the Internet, and with freely available and subscription based electronic journals. The results are sent only to your lecturers, who will analyse them in reference to the University's Academic Honesty Policy. You will be able to access the results of the Turnitin academic honesty scan for your own assignments, known as your ‘originality report’. In ENVS3462, we will allow you to overwrite the initial submission file with a second submission if you choose to do so, but only up until the final due date and time for the assignment. We consider this opportunity to fine-tune your academic honesty a considerable resource, and we hope that you will use this review process constructively to ensure you are referencing other material correctly and effectively.

Recommended Texts

There is no prescribed textbook for ENVS3462, however, you are expected to complete the weekly readings and the following books may be of particular interest: • Allan, C. and Stankey, G.H. (Eds.) 2009. Adaptive Environmental Management: A Practitioner's Guide. Springer, New York, and CSIRO Publishing.

• Conacher, A. and Conacher, J. 2000. Environmental Planning and Management in Australia. Oxford University Press, U.K.

• Dovers, S. and Wild River, S. (Eds.) 2003. Managing Australia’s Environment. The Federation Press, Leichhardt, New South Wales.

• Burns, E., D. Lindenmayer, A. Lowe and N. Thurgate (Eds). 2014. Biodiversity and Environmental Change: Monitoring, Challenges and Direction, CSIRO Publishing. • Hay, I. 2012. Communicating in Geography and the Environmental Sciences (Fourth Edition). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

• Keen, M., V. A. Brown and R. Dyball. 2005. Social learning in environmental management: towards a sustainable future, Routledge.

The following journals may also be particularly useful:

• Journal of Environmental Management

• Australasian Journal of Environmental Management

• Environment International

• Ecological Management and Restoration

• Science of the Total Environment

Also check out the following websites for the latest information on global and Australian environments and their management:

• Australia State of the Environment 2016. Available online at http://www.environment.go v.au/soe/index.html

• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services http://www.ipbes.net/about-us.

• United Nations Environment Program http://www.unep.org

• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

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:

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.

Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook