Students
ENVS1018 – Environmental Management for a Changing World
2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Alexandra Ralph
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit explores human interactions with the environment through the lens of sustainability and connectivity; concepts that are central to environmental management in our ever-changing world. It will help students to understand their environment from social and scientific viewpoints and will demonstrate how an interdisciplinary approach to environmental management is integral to human and ecosystem health. Current, real-world examples from terrestrial and marine ecosystems, social systems, atmospheric and climate systems, and their dynamic interplay encourage critical thinking about environmental management issues in Australia and globally. This unit is designed for students who care about the environment and the world's future and will lay firm foundations for a range of environmental and geographical studies. Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Sustainable Cities and Communities; Climate Action; Life on Land |
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: Define the core concepts of environmental management, including society, environment, sustainability and connectivity.
- ULO2: Describe examples of the ways that population, environment and resources interact to affect human societies and ecosystems, from local to global scales.
- ULO3: Utilise maps, graphs and other forms of environmental and social data to analyse the key relationships in environmental and human systems.
- ULO4: Critically review information relating to environmental management issues and communicate the results to a target audience.
- ULO5: Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in the learning process.
General Assessment Information
Requirements to Pass this Unit
To pass this unit you need to:
- Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50% across all assessments
We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.
Late Assessment Submission Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern. For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration.
Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted
- Assessments 1, 2 and 3 – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies.
Special Consideration
The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Data Analysis | 35% | No | 05/09/2025 |
| Podcast | 35% | No | 10/10/2025 |
| Poster | 30% | No | 07/11/2025 |
Environmental Data Analysis
Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 05/09/2025
Weighting: 35%
Analysis and interpretation of environmental data
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Define the core concepts of environmental management, including society, environment, sustainability and connectivity.
- Describe examples of the ways that population, environment and resources interact to affect human societies and ecosystems, from local to global scales.
- Utilise maps, graphs and other forms of environmental and social data to analyse the key relationships in environmental and human systems.
- Critically review information relating to environmental management issues and communicate the results to a target audience.
- Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in the learning process.
Podcast
Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 10/10/2025
Weighting: 35%
Podcast focusing on current environmental issues
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Define the core concepts of environmental management, including society, environment, sustainability and connectivity.
- Describe examples of the ways that population, environment and resources interact to affect human societies and ecosystems, from local to global scales.
- Utilise maps, graphs and other forms of environmental and social data to analyse the key relationships in environmental and human systems.
- Critically review information relating to environmental management issues and communicate the results to a target audience.
Poster
Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 07/11/2025
Weighting: 30%
Poster and interpretation on the topic of: Solutions for contemporary environmental crises
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Define the core concepts of environmental management, including society, environment, sustainability and connectivity.
- Describe examples of the ways that population, environment and resources interact to affect human societies and ecosystems, from local to global scales.
- Utilise maps, graphs and other forms of environmental and social data to analyse the key relationships in environmental and human systems.
- Critically review information relating to environmental management issues and communicate the results to a target audience.
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
Week 1 Classes
Lectures and SGTAs commence in Week 1.
Methods of Communication
We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. Queries to convenors can either be placed on the iLearn discussion board or sent to the unit convenor via the contact email on iLearn. We encourage you to post queries on the iLearn discussion board as your fellow students may be able to answer your question more quickly than the convenor or lecturers, and the answer you receive there may also benefit other students with the same question.
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/
Academic Success
Academic Success 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 2025.05 of the Handbook