Postgraduate Course: Climate Change: Policy and Practice (BIME11027)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | We will discuss how climate change has major consequences for species, ecosystems and the services they provide and subsequent impacts for human health and wellbeing, migration pressures, and regional instability. We will review the complexities of the international legislation, policy and strategies that hope to address these issues. |
| Course description |
This course explores climate change related policy and strategy, examines the extent and manner in which this translates to practice through implementation, and considers what the impacts and consequences are to livelihoods, societies and wider environmental and economic agendas.
The course initially explores the particular challenges that individual species face, for example shifts in species distributions, and how these changes have implications for ecosystem health and human health and wellbeing. Critically, we explore the environmental justice implications of climate policy and examine the processes by which the initiatives and policies that attempt to address climate change impacts are negotiated, communicated and implemented.
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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 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
| Course Start Date |
04/08/2025 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Online Activities 25,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
53 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Formal summative written assessment will constitute 60% of the student's grade. Online assessment will incorporate a variety of activities will constitute 40% of their overall course grade and is taken to represent a formative assessment of learning throughout the programme. |
| Feedback |
Summative assessment consists of a written element, worth 60% of the total mark, and an online element worth 40%. In both cases, comprehensive written feedback is provided individually with 15 working days of the assessment deadline. Students are expected to reflect on their feedback, to seek additional clarification if appropriate, and to use this to improve on future assignments of a similar nature.
Formative assessment consists of discussion around what is expected of each piece of assessed work for the course. This is conducted in an open discussion forum for all students to contribute to and provides an opportunity to clearly understand the key requirements for each assignment before submission. Any student can post questions about the assignment and a response will be posted on the discussion board by the course tutor within 3 working days.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically assess the scientific evidence of climate change knowledge and understanding
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the consequences of climate change for biodiversity and human health and wellbeing
- Understand issues of justice underpinning climate change drivers and impacts and gain a critical appreciation of the challenges in finding equitable solutions.
- Evaluate the complexities of global multilateral agreements to effect regional, national and local policy related to climate change and understand who influences these processes.
- Identify and apply appropriate styles to communicate climate change knowledge and policy to specific target audiences.
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Reading List
| The course will draw from current literature and other publications relevant to the topic. A reading list will be provided for each lecture. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.web.mvm.ed.ac.uk/ |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course encourages an appreciation for the interface between science and social science and the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to studying global issues. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ellie Devenish-Nelson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3508
Email: Ellie.Devenish@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Stepha Heck
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: stepha.heck@ed.ac.uk |
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