Postgraduate Course: Sustainable Marine Development (PGGE11253)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This theory and practice-based course teaches students how an ecosystem-based approach (EbA) to marine development helps to balance ocean conservation with sustainable use. Students will first learn to use data-driven approaches to gather baseline data to analyse spatial conflicts in the marine space using web-GIS platforms (no GIS experience necessary), and produce an issue brief. Students will also explore the governance and real-world practice of 3 different marine planning processes and associated marine policies meant to help achieve sustainable marine development: marine spatial planning, strategic environmental assessment, and environmental impact assessment. Students will learn about marine policies on transboundary environmental impacts such as the Espoo Convention, Kyiv Protocol and Convention on Migratory Species, and Habitats Regulation Assessments in marine protected areas as well as area-based management tools and how these help implement an EbA. Students will take part in round-table discussions of global case studies for peer-to-peer learning, with students critique these processes through different perspectives: e.g., climate change, small-scale fisheries, indigenous and local communities, scientific rigour, etc. Guest expert lectures from practitioners will help to reinforce theory and practice. Students will write a final essay-style blue paper that critiques a real-world case study of MSP, an SEA or an EIA. The goal is that by the end of the course, students will have the skills and breadth of knowledge needed to enter into a spectrum of practitioner roles, and to critically evaluate marine planning processes being used worldwide. |
| Course description |
Course Description:
For 2024/25, our Sustainable Marine Development course has 4 main components:
1. Lectures on marine planning: in-class lectures to introduce an ecosystem-based approach and three key planning processes with case studies worldwide (Marine Spatial Planning, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment). Lectures may also include principles of sustainable development in, e.g., commercial fisheries, marine tourism, aquaculture and sustainability issues more widely, often with guest experts;
2. Smaller class discussions called ¿roundtables¿ to talk though how well a case study of MSP, SEA or EIA implemented the ecosystem approach;
3. Conflict analysis: learn use a data-driven approach using scientific evidence to gather intelligence on where spatial conflicts between natural resources and human activities occur in a study region, and how to use peer-reviewed literature to derive solutions to mitigate these conflicts;
4. Blue papers: students will write a paper that explores and critiques a real-world case study of one of the marine planning process learned about in class.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Summative Coursework:
Issue Brief (30%) due week 5
Blue Paper (70%) due week 12
Formative Coursework:
Blue Paper Concept presentation during Week 7
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| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided on both summative assessments. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply critical thinking and analytical understanding of diverse drivers and impacts around marine environmental assessments and project management
- Apply data-driven approaches to producing baseline environmental contexts of the marine space and identify potential spatial conflicts
- Apply stronger organisation skills to plan, execute and report on scientific investigation and management evaluations
- Participate in individual and team activities toward the completion of assignments and goals
- Develop critical thinking with regard to the evaluation of sources of information, the feasibility of management options and interpretation of outcomes
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Reading List
Suggested Reading List to Prepare:
1. Bulleri and Chapman (2010) The introduction of coastal infrastructure as a driver of change in marine environments. Journal of Applied Ecology 47: 26-35
2. Dalal-Clayton, D.B. & Sadler, B. 2017. A methodology for reviewing the quality of strategic environmental assessments in development cooperation. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 35: 257-267
3. Santos, C.F., Ehler, C.N., Agardy, T., Andrade, F., Orbach, M.K. and Crowder, L.B., 2019. Marine spatial planning. In World seas: An environmental evaluation (pp. 571-592). Academic Press.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. General critical thinking and analytical understanding of diverse drivers and impacts around coastal and marine environmental assessments and project management.
2. Exposure to different perspectives on marine development.
3. Organisation skills to plan, execute and report on scientific investigation and management evaluations.
4. To participate in individual and team activities toward the completion of assignments and goals.
5. Critical thinking with regard to the evaluation of sources of information, the feasibility of management options and interpretation of outcomes.
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| Keywords | Marine Infrastructure,built environments,project development,mitigation,environmental change |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lea-Anne Henry
Tel: (0131 6)50 5425
Email: L.Henry@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sarah Jones
Tel:
Email: sarah.jones@ed.ac.uk |
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