Tackling Environmental Challenges (10235.2)

This unit builds upon second-year units in environmental science encompassing ecology and environmental assessment. This unit aims to investigate some of the most significant environmental challenges in Australia, from a management, policy (legislation) and research perspective. The range of stakeholders involved and their roles in each challenge will also be examined. The unit is broken into a series of modules or case studies; one for each challenge. Through such examination of these key environmental challenges students will gain valuable insights into the challenges they may encounter during their professional careers in environmental science, and how they might utilise their accumulated knowledge to synthesis the problem and manage such challenges. To help achieve this, students will be expected to form a concise position statement on each challenge examined.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Apply their knowledge from prior environmental science units to determine the key issues associated with each major environmental challenge in Australia examined;
2. Use their skills to investigate and critically evaluate a range of environmental challenges from multiple perspectives and stakeholders both individually and within a team working environment;
3. Describe and synthesis the key issues associated with each environmental challenge, and provide sound justification as to why;
4. Have an understanding of the type of data and information that underpins each challenge and the associated strengths and limitations;
5. Evaluate the current management, research and policy associated with each challenge, as well as an understanding of the international influences that have a local impact;
6. Report on environmental challenges both verbally and in concise written form; and
7. Communicate effectively using well-developed scientific thinking which leads to the formulation of a justified and ethical recommendation or advice.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives

Prerequisites

Must have passed 54 credit points.

Corequisites

Environmental Conflict and Engagement, 10232.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

Ecology and Biodiversity, 6916.

Assumed knowledge

None.