Students

LEX 102 – Sustainability, Science and the Law

2018 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Ana Carolina Carneiro
Contact via via email
Lise Barry
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Are human rights, economic prosperity, and community justice sustainable when we are running out of resources? This unit critiques whether legal innovation can integrate competing perspectives of environmental conservation, economic growth, democratic freedom, scientific certainty, and political practicality. We examine science-law relationships, socio-political governance, regulatory design, and capacity building. We consider legislation, court cases, treaties, institutions, and actors as sources of rights, obligations and influence. We illustrate water law, logging, fisheries, pollution, climate, food security, urbanisation, international trade, etc. Your major project will mentor you in legal problem-solving, stakeholder analysis and creativity to develop law reforms addressing global sustainability issues.

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:

  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Identify the main stakeholders in sustainability, and describe the roles of law, science and society in addressing sustainability issues.
  • Critically assess sustainability issues in multidisciplinary and pluralistic (multi-standpoint) perspectives in terms of science and general sustainability principles.
  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.
  • Develop viable options for change in the law and other policy dimensions to improve sustainability outcomes, through in-depth legal analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

General Assessment Information

LATE SUBMISSION PENALTY

“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.”

MARKING RUBRIC

The Essay Plan (assessment 2) and Research Essay (assessment 4) are marked according to a rubric that will be made available on iLearn.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quiz 1 10% No Week 2, Friday 9 March
Essay plan 20% No Week 4, Friday 23 March
Online quiz 2 15% No Week 7, Friday 13 -20 April
Research essay 40% No Week 11, Friday 25 May
Participation and Engagement 15% No Ongoing

Online Quiz 1

Due: Week 2, Friday 9 March
Weighting: 10%

Online Quiz 1

Please refer to the instructions in iLearn under the Assessment heading.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.

Essay plan

Due: Week 4, Friday 23 March
Weighting: 20%

Essay Plan

Word limit: 750 (excluding reference list / bibliography)

The major written assessments in LEX102 will be based on the five case studies outlined on iLearn. You will select one case study to focus on in the unit – your work for assessment tasks 2 and 4 (Essay Plan and Research Essay) will be based on this case study. The Essay Plan gives you the opportunity to start preparing for the major assessment for this unit (Research Essay), and receive feedback that will help you refine your ideas and structure for the Research Essay.

The Essay Plan asks you to start researching your essay, think through what you plan to say in your essay, and develop the essential elements of your essay in outline form. Each case study overview (on iLearn) sets out a range of issues raised by the case. Using these issues to guide you (and identifying additional relevant issues), you will draft your own essay question – you will use this question in writing the Essay Plan and Research Essay.

The marking rubric for this assignment is available on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Identify the main stakeholders in sustainability, and describe the roles of law, science and society in addressing sustainability issues.
  • Critically assess sustainability issues in multidisciplinary and pluralistic (multi-standpoint) perspectives in terms of science and general sustainability principles.
  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.
  • Develop viable options for change in the law and other policy dimensions to improve sustainability outcomes, through in-depth legal analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

Online quiz 2

Due: Week 7, Friday 13 -20 April
Weighting: 15%

Online Quiz 2

Students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of the material covered in weeks 2-6 (inclusive), by answering 15 multiple choice questions online.

The quiz will be available for a week. You must ensure that you will be available to logon to ilearn to complete the quiz during this time. If you will be unable to do this, you must apply for special consideration (with supporting documentation) via https://ask.mq.edu.au.

Once you access the quiz, you will have 30 minutes to complete the quiz. Once 30 minutes have elapsed, your answers will automatically be submitted. Please ensure you have a reliable computer and internet connection before you attempt the quiz.

This is a timed assessment and no late submissions will be accepted.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Identify the main stakeholders in sustainability, and describe the roles of law, science and society in addressing sustainability issues.
  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.

Research essay

Due: Week 11, Friday 25 May
Weighting: 40%

Research Essay

Word limit: 2500 (excluding reference list / bibliography)

Building on the essay plan, students will be required to submit a 2500-word essay based on the case study selected for assessment. The essay will assess your ability to research relevant scholarly work on your chosen case study, form a thesis, analyse the available material, and then present a coherent and compelling argument as a polished academic essay. You will have drafted an essay question for the Essay Plan. You can update this question in consultation with your tutor (and the feedback you receive for the Essay Plan might suggest this).

The marking rubric for this assignment is available on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Identify the main stakeholders in sustainability, and describe the roles of law, science and society in addressing sustainability issues.
  • Critically assess sustainability issues in multidisciplinary and pluralistic (multi-standpoint) perspectives in terms of science and general sustainability principles.
  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.
  • Develop viable options for change in the law and other policy dimensions to improve sustainability outcomes, through in-depth legal analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

Participation and Engagement

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

Participation and Engagement

Internal students

Your participation and engagement mark will be based on your tutorial participation and general engagement. Tutorial questions will be made available each week on iLearn. You are expected to contribute to discussions regularly and participate in the group presentations in week 12.

External students

If you are an external student, your attendance at the on-campus-session  (OCS) is compulsory. The OCS will be held on the 27th and 28th April, 9.00 am - 4 pm. You are expected to regularly contribute to online discussion forums.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Critically assess sustainability issues in multidisciplinary and pluralistic (multi-standpoint) perspectives in terms of science and general sustainability principles.
  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.
  • Develop viable options for change in the law and other policy dimensions to improve sustainability outcomes, through in-depth legal analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

Delivery and Resources

This unit requires students to attend or listen online (through Echo360) a weekly one-hour lecture. Students are also required to attend a one-hour tutorial each week. External students are encouraged to attend lectures whenever possible.

 

Student workload, in accordance with university guidelines, is 3 hours per credit point per week (over a 15 week term), and can be estimated as follows:

22 hours – attendance of lectures, tutorials (compulsory for internal students) and online participation ( for external students)

55 hours – readings, review of online content and self-study

63 hours – assessment tasks

Suggested Text:  

Elizabeth Fisher, Bettina Lange and Eloise Scotford, Environmental Law: Test, cases and materials (Oxford University Press, 2013 edition)

This text is available through the Co-op Bookshop ( external students please order through the bookshop). Copies will also be place on reserve through Macquarie University Library.

Additional material:  

There are many (free) student resources related to the prescribed texts available through Macquarie University Library (Unit Readings).

 

Extra material, including reading lists, will be placed on the unit’s iLearn page. Students are required to access the page regularly to review online content and readings.

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:

Undergraduate 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 shown in iLearn, 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.

All requests should be directed via the University’s Ask MQ system.

 

  1. < >Ask MQ  or: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/

     

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 improve your marks and take control of your study.

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

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Quiz 1
  • Essay plan
  • Online quiz 2
  • Research essay
  • Participation and Engagement

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Identify the main stakeholders in sustainability, and describe the roles of law, science and society in addressing sustainability issues.
  • Critically assess sustainability issues in multidisciplinary and pluralistic (multi-standpoint) perspectives in terms of science and general sustainability principles.
  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.
  • Develop viable options for change in the law and other policy dimensions to improve sustainability outcomes, through in-depth legal analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Quiz 1
  • Essay plan
  • Online quiz 2
  • Research essay
  • Participation and Engagement

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Critically assess sustainability issues in multidisciplinary and pluralistic (multi-standpoint) perspectives in terms of science and general sustainability principles.
  • Develop viable options for change in the law and other policy dimensions to improve sustainability outcomes, through in-depth legal analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay plan
  • Online quiz 2
  • Research essay
  • Participation and Engagement

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Develop viable options for change in the law and other policy dimensions to improve sustainability outcomes, through in-depth legal analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay plan
  • Research essay
  • Participation and Engagement

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Define sustainability and the concept of sustainable development, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of philosophical principles and environmental ethics in sustainability.
  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Critically assess sustainability issues in multidisciplinary and pluralistic (multi-standpoint) perspectives in terms of science and general sustainability principles.
  • Demonstrate a general knowledge of legal concepts, systems and processes and institutions that regulate environmental values and sustainability practices.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay plan
  • Online quiz 2
  • Research essay
  • Participation and Engagement

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Identify the main stakeholders in sustainability, and describe the roles of law, science and society in addressing sustainability issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay plan
  • Online quiz 2
  • Research essay
  • Participation and Engagement

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and describe the main issues currently in play in sustainability debates, including examples at local, regional and global levels of interest.
  • Identify the main stakeholders in sustainability, and describe the roles of law, science and society in addressing sustainability issues.

Assessment tasks

  • Essay plan
  • Online quiz 2
  • Research essay
  • Participation and Engagement

Changes since First Published

Date Description
08/02/2018 Change of OCS dates - The date of the OCS will be held on the 27th and 28th April, 9.00 am - 4 pm (Friday and Saturday)