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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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

Postgraduate Course: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Environment (PGGE11286)

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
SummaryAn interdisciplinary course that exposes students to alternative approaches and ways of understanding and researching environmental issues and problems.
Course description In understanding and managing environmental issues and problems, not only is a scientific understanding required, but increasingly also an understanding from alternate perspectives. This course will provide students with an opportunity to explore a range of alternate approaches, examine the nature of the evidence or output from these approaches, and integrate the different information sources together.

The course starts with introductory sessions, then goes into a series of topics, many of which will be led by a specialist in that area. Throughout the topics, possible research tools or methods will be examined, allowing students to develop an interdisciplinary ¿toolkit¿ for further studies or the workplace. This will include ways of modelling the system in question, and examination of such methods will be backed up with case studies and further reading. For every session, students will take part in organised mini debates or there will an overall class discussion on the material in that session. The final session will look at the One Health approach, and a horizon scanning exercise will be carried out to scope possible future developments.

Proposed topics include (note that these may vary):

1. Our evolving relationship with the environment and the wicked challenges we face
2. The scientific approach and the nature of evidence
3. Assessing and synthesising interdisciplinary resources
4. Valuing the environment
5. Economics and the environment
6. Life cycle analysis tools
7. Environmental behaviours
8. Concepts of environmental justice
9. Policy influencing and analysis
10. Principles of env law and regulations
11. One Heath and horizon scanning future approaches
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  41
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 156 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 50% critical essay (max 2500 words) on a selected topic or approach, and how that helps address environmental problems (may be covered in the course, or if not subject to course organiser approval)

AND

25% for each of 2 short (max 4 pages each) research briefs that examine and summarise an environmental issue from 2 approaches (e.g. scientific and behavioural) (list of env issues/topic will be supplied, for students to choose from)
Feedback Continual feedback will be supplied through feedback to the class debates/discussions
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Be aware of how different disciplines and approaches can help us understand environmental issues and problems
  2. Understand the nature of evidence arising from different disciplines and approaches to the environment
  3. Be able to critically assess and synthesis such evidence to enable better understanding and communication of such issues
Reading List
There is no single text appropriate for this course, but readings (highlighted as essential or additional) will be issued for each topic
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Research skills
Interdisciplinary skills including critiquing evidence
Teamwork skills
Essay and research brief writing
Communication and presentation skills
Keywordsenvironmental,interdisciplinary
Contacts
Course organiserDr Hannah Grist
Tel:
Email: v1hgrist@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Jennifer Gumbrell
Tel:
Email: Jennifer.Gumbrell@sruc.ac.uk
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