Students
GEOP3000 – Environmental Justice in the Anthropocene
2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Phoebe Everingham
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| 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
General Assessment Information
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all non-timed written assessments (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc) is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams/quizzes, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation task | 30% | No | In class and online TBA |
| Environmental Justice Assessment Project | 40% | No | 24th May |
| Environmental Justice Essay | 30% | No | 5th April |
Participation task
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: In class and online TBA
Weighting: 30%
Participatory tasks related to unit content. Many of these activities will be scaffolding for the other assignments.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Assess environmental decisions or plans using environmental justice concepts or frameworks
- Synthesise geographic information from the social and physical sciences to identify environmental justice issues
- Describe and explain common environmental injustices associated with contemporary forms of socioecological change
- Investigate and appreciate diverse stakeholder perspectives using environmental justice tools and concepts to improve environmental decision-making
- Argue for improved environmental justice outcomes in a variety of written and spoken forms
Environmental Justice Assessment Project
Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 24th May
Weighting: 40%
Students are required to undertake a project that assesses a recent or upcoming environmental decision or plan from the perspective of environmental justice. The project will comprise a systems mapping task and 2000 word report.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Assess environmental decisions or plans using environmental justice concepts or frameworks
- Investigate and appreciate diverse stakeholder perspectives using environmental justice tools and concepts to improve environmental decision-making
- Argue for improved environmental justice outcomes in a variety of written and spoken forms
Environmental Justice Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: 5th April
Weighting: 30%
This short essay asks students to explore an environmental justice concept and apply it to a case study (1000 words).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Synthesise geographic information from the social and physical sciences to identify environmental justice issues
- Describe and explain common environmental injustices associated with contemporary forms of socioecological change
- Investigate and appreciate diverse stakeholder perspectives using environmental justice tools and concepts to improve environmental decision-making
- Argue for improved environmental justice outcomes in a variety of written and spoken forms
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
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Unit Schedule
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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
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
The Writing Centre
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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 2024.02 of the Handbook