Postgraduate Course: Water Resource Management (PGGE11018)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course aims to enhance understanding of the multiple, multi-scale interconnections between water management, environmental and socioeconomic issues. In particular, it considers multidisciplinary approaches to water management problems. Examples and case studies will be used to illustrate the issues surrounding water management, drawing on perspectives from both the natural and social sciences. Topics will be covered through lectures from a range of contributors, investigation of case-studies, and small group work. This course would be appropriate for students who are interested in pursuing careers in environmental protection, environmental consultancy, water resource policy, education or advocacy groups. |
| Course description |
The following topics will be covered in the 2013/14 instance of the course:
1. The Water Framework Directive
2. Water and climate
3. Water quality monitoring and measurement
4. Privatisation and the politics of water
5. Wetland ecosystem services
6. Dams, development and human rights in Africa
7. The sociology of household water demand in the UK
8. Flood risk management in Scotland
9. Community based flood management in northeast England
10. Regulating water quality
11. Quantifying river flow
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The course is assessed by an essay (50%) and group project work (50%):
- 2,500-word essay due by Thursday 20 March (50% of course mark):
'Examine, making use of water-related examples and case studies, the implementation of new regulatory frameworks (e.g. EU Water Framework Directive) or the adoption of new scientific-technological approaches (e.g. equipment or decision-making tools). The essay should clearly describe the purpose, the rationale, the results and the difficulties faced from socioeconomic, techno-administrative and environmental perspectives.'
- Project work in groups of four students; assessment by group presentation to class (25% of course mark) and individual 1,500-word essay, due by Friday 11 April (25% of course mark):
'Discuss achievements and failures of water data management (qualitative and quantitative data) and/or of the introduction of economic instruments of water management (e.g. charges, incentives, payment for ecosystem services, water markets, etc.) in two river basins (one in a northern/industrialised and one in a southern/industrialising country).'
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
- Enhanced understanding of the physical basis of water resources, the nature of demands for water resources and the difficulties in matching supply and demand.
- Knowledge of techniques and regulatory frameworks for managing both water quality and quantity.
- Grounding in different approaches to water resource management within a catchment context.
- Appreciation of the interactions between hydrological, socioeconomic and political aspects of water management.
- Critical analysis of case studies in water management from northern and southern countries.
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Reading List
| There is no textbook that covers the whole course. A specific reading list will therefore be provided each week. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/~sallen/wrm/ |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. Presentation skills
2. Group working skills
3. Interdisciplinary thinking |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
4 hour(s) per week for 11 week(s). |
| Keywords | Integrated catchment management, hydrology, water supply, water demand, regulation, case studies |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Simon Allen
Tel: (0131 6)50 7215
Email: simon.allen@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Alice Heatley
Tel: (0131 6)50 4866
Email: alice.heatley@ed.ac.uk |
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