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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences)

Postgraduate Course: Urban Ecologies (PGGE11174)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis subject will serve postgraduate students taking taught or research degrees with an emphasis on environment & development, society & environment, or environmental sustainability, all of which are core themes in existing PGT programmes in the School of GeoSciences. There is likely to also be a demand among urban studies students in the CHSS (MSc in the City) and emergent CHSS programmes in sustainability. The course will offer advanced level training about the interface between social and physical processes relevant to urban areas. This would include: (1) what is an urban ecology? (2) the city and climate change; (3) urban micro-climates; (4) urban hydrologies - water sheds, water quality, water dependency, sanitation and supply; (5) energy and the city - heat sinks etc; (6) green space and the city; (7) waste and the city: landfill, recycling etc; (8) urban environment and well-being; (9) governance and urban ecology; (10) sustainable cities; (11) ecological urban futures. The course will also draw on explicit urban case studies, from both history and present, First World and Third World. The course will uniquely deliver materials from the perspective of both the physical and the social scientist, acknowledging and showcasing the need for such conversational knowledge production in understanding urban ecologies.
Course description The core of this course is understanding the environmental and ecological problems facing contemporary cities, and specifically how cities exacerbate and create environmental problems, resulting in significant social impacts and responsibilities of scientific problem solving and governance.

The primary assessment will be by essay so students need advanced level skills in researching, the critical synthesis of ideas and writing.

Although the course draws on both physical and social science knowledges they will be pitched in a way that advanced specialist knowledge is not required.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
A student completing this course will be able to demonstrate and understanding of:
- What is meant by the term 'urban ecologies', and the history and current use of the term;
- The range of environmental and ecological issues currently facing cities in various contexts;
- The uneven impacts of ecological problems with respect to development;
- Strategies currently adopted to resolve or govern processes or problems adversely affecting urban ecologies;
- The relevance of multi and inter-disciplinary thinking to understanding and resolving urban ecology issues;

At the end of this course students will be able to:

- research and synthesis key debates and arguments with respect to urban ecologies;
- Understand to a meaningful level the science behind many of the urban ecological problems currently faced;
- Present ideas in written and visual formats.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsUrban Ecology environmental sustainability
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jane Jacobs
Tel: (0131 6)50 2515
Email: Jane.Jacobs@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Caroline Keir
Tel: (0131 6)51 7192
Email: caroline.keir@ed.ac.uk
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