Undergraduate Course: Environmental Problems and Issues (EASC10049)
This course will be closed from 31 July 2025
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The course is intended as a means to engage students in learning about a range of topical environmental issues, but especially to develop students independent research and presentation skills. The course is delivered through a series of lecture suites, each of which is followed 1 week later by a session in which students will present 15-20 minute seminars on selected sub-topics. Each seminar will be followed by a discussion session. Students engage in seminar sessions both through presentation and audience participation (recommended readings and discussion associated with each seminar). The exam takes place in May, and the course is therefore not suitable to students visiting only for semester 1.
Further Course Information https://path.is.ed.ac.uk/courses/EASC10049_SV1_SEM1
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| Course description |
Syllabus
PART 1: Impact of synthetic gases on the Earth system.
Synthetic gases contribute to the major global environmental problems of stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change over the past half-century. These lectures will study the science of these issues linking to the history of discovery and policies to mitigate emissions.
PART 2: Estuarine Processes
Physical and biogeochemical processes occurring in estuaries, and how these interact to control the cycling and fate of natural and contaminant materials.
PART 3: Ocean exploitation
Due to technological advancements, demand for critical elements such as Ni, Cu, Mn and Co has increased. Manganese nodules and ferromanganese crusts harbour these and other elements and improved deep-sea mining technology may is enabling commercially viable exploitation. The course will cover how manganese nodules and ferromanganese crusts are formed, and evaluate the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining and associated policy issues.
PART 4: Nuclear Waste management
Chemical, geological and socio-economic issues associated with managing the Earth's low-, intermediate- and high-level nuclear waste.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Only available for full year visiting students |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Development of an understanding of the current state of the Earth and the interactions between Man's activities and natural cycles.
- Skills in independent literature research and in-depth, critical studies of processes within the context of specific problems and case studies.
- Skills in oral presentation to an informed audience.
- Skills in discussion and critical assessment of student-led seminars.
- An understanding of selected environmental issues and real-life problems in context provided by other linked Environmental Geoscience courses.
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Reading List
| Recommended readings will be provided with each lecture suite as well as with sub-topics selected for student seminars. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | EPI_Environmental_Problems_Issues |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Greg Cowie
Tel: (0131 6)50 8502
Email: Dr.Greg.Cowie@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Johan De Klerk
Tel: (0131 6)50 7010
Email: johan.deklerk@ed.ac.uk |
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