Undergraduate Course: Environmental Hazards and Risk (GEGR10149)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course will provide a theoretical introduction and practical training in environmental hazards, their management, and strategies for risk mitigation and adaptation. Students will develop a critical, interdisciplinary understanding of the key challenges and risks emerging from a changing Earth's surface in response to environmental change and anthropogenic activity. Students will develop expertise in state-of-the-art and emerging approaches to hazard and risk analysis, and will apply advanced quantitative, geospatial, and process-modelling skills to conduct hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessments across diverse case studies. |
| Course description |
Course aim: The course will provide a theoretical introduction and practical training in environmental hazards, their management, and strategies for risk mitigation and adaptation. Students will develop a critical, interdisciplinary understanding of the key challenges and risks emerging from a changing Earth's surface in response to environmental change and anthropogenic activity. Students will develop expertise in state-of-the-art and emerging approaches to hazard and risk analysis, and will apply advanced quantitative, geospatial, and process-modelling skills to conduct hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessments across diverse case studies. They will gain valuable experience in applied, collaborative research with local partners on real-world environmental challenges, acquiring valuable research skills essential for dissertation projects, further study and future careers.
Course content and delivery: The course will be delivered in two parts: (1) Fundamentals of Hazard and Risk Analysis (weeks 1-5), and (2) Perspectives on Hazard Management, Risk Mitigation, and Adaptation (weeks 6-10) (Table 1). Part 1 introduces key concepts, skills, and methodologies, while Part 2 enables students to critically evaluate current approaches and apply these learned skills and knowledge to real-world scenarios. Examples of environmental hazards covered include floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and extreme weather events.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 4,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 19,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
163 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% coursework«br /»
«br /»
Laboratory portfolio (40%)«br /»
Course reflection (60%) |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback and further discussions of course content will be provided in-person and on an on-going basis by the teaching staff throughout the lectures, laboratory practicals, reading tutorials and workshops. During the more interactive sessions, informal peer-to-peer feedback on work will be actively encouraged. Verbal formative feedback on 5-minute group project pitches in the Week 6 workshop will be offered. The project partners and teaching staff will provide further verbal feedback on the 2-page reports and group presentations during the Research Symposium. This feedback should help to inform the summative course reflection, as well as assignments beyond the course, including dissertation projects. Students can access additional support through regular lecturer office hours and a suite of monitored discussion boards on Learn, each focused on a different aspect of the course.
Summative feedback: Detailed written feedback will be provided on the laboratory portfolios and the course reflection. Students will be encouraged to implement feedback from the portfolios into their group research projects. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop a critical understanding of environmental hazards, their management, and strategies for risk mitigation and adaptation, drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of state-of-the-art methodologies and emerging approaches in hazard and risk analysis worldwide and recognise key challenges and opportunities.
- Further develop and apply skills in quantitative and geospatial analysis and process modelling to conduct hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessments across diverse case studies.
- Gain experience in applied research design and implementation with a community or policy focus, in collaboration with a local partner.
- Strengthen research dissemination and communication skills including data visualisation, presentations, and scientific, policy-focused and reflective writing tailored to different audiences.
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Reading List
A theme-specific reading list will be updated and shared each academic year.
General reading list:
Smith et al. (2024), Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster, Routledge, 7th Edition.
Alcántara et al. (2023), Disaster Risk, Routledge
Hihorst and Bankoff, (2022), Why vulnerability still matters: the politics of disaster risk creation, Routledge
Kelman, (2020), Disaster by choice: how our actions turn natural
hazards into catastrophes.
Dalezios (2017), Environmental Hazards Methodologies for Risk Assessment and Management, IWA.
Donovan, A., Morin, J., Walshe, R. (2023). Interdisciplinary research in hazards and disaster risk. Progress in Environmental Geography, 2(3), 202-222. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1) Develop a critical understanding of environmental hazards and risk by exploring diverse perspectives and approaches to production, management, mitigation, and adaptation. Students will gain a greater awareness of the physical and socio-economic impacts of environmental hazards worldwide, both now and in the future.
2) Develop applied skills in advanced geospatial analysis and gain practical experience of a range of hazard and risk assessments methods. These practices are considered essential for addressing ongoing and future complex environmental challenges and will support students in pursuing careers in the professional sector or further study.
3) Strengthen research and project management skills including critical and reflective thinking, problem solving and time management. Students will design projects that address local, real-world challenges and produce outputs that are accessible to collaborating partners.
4) Further develop communication skills by effectively and sensitively conveying technical information in multiple formats to diverse audiences, including academics and non-specialists.
5) Build upon interpersonal and professional skills to ensure effective working as an individual or as part of a team. Students will learn and apply tools for maintaining a collaborative and inclusive work environment during group projects. |
| Keywords | Environmental hazards,risk,adaptation strategies |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Elizabeth Orr
Tel:
Email: elizabeth.orr@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Leigh Corstorphine
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: lcorstor@ed.ac.uk |
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