Tackling Environmental Challenges: Water (11778.1)

Please note these are the 2024 details for this unit
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Tackling Environmental Challenges: Water
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Science And Technology
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Academic Program Area - Science Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit builds on the content and concepts developed in previous environmental science specialisation units, integrating them in the context of theory and methods used to address challenges in water science at local, national and global scales. Students will undertake an in-depth exploration of key challenges in water science focussing on issues such as water security, sustainable water management, water related hazards, and water within a changing socio-hydrological systems. An important part of the unit will be understanding stakeholder perspectives and differing knowledge sources, particularly those of Indigenous peoples. This unit addresses various Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLO) for environment and sustainability endorsed by the Australian Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (ACEDD).

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Develop an in-depth understanding of current theory and methods and how they are being applied to address challenges in water science;
2. Critically evaluate and apply theory and methods to real problems in water science;
3. Evaluate the role of different stakeholders and knowledge sources (particularly those of Indigenous people) in current challenges in water science;
4. Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge of key environmental and sustainability challenges and their drivers, with holistic systems thinking and complexity (ACEDD TLO 1.2 and 1.3);
5. Understand diverse approaches to environment and sustainability including different frameworks for knowing and particular values, knowledge, ethical positions and interests of Indigenous peoples globally (ACEDD TLO 2.2 and 2.4); and
6. Design and execute a research task pertaining to a problem in water science, by identifying, synthesising and applying appropriate knowledge and evidence from diverse sources (ACEDD TLO 3.1).


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
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
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
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways


Prerequisites

11771 Meeting Environmental Challenges: Foundations AND 11776 Land and Water

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

10235 Tackling Environmental Challenges

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Prof Fiona Dyer
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Prof Fiona Dyer
Not available

Required texts

There is no set reading for this unit but workshop leaders for each of the modules will refer you to relevant literature and provide support materials on CANVAS.

Readings will be available through the Reading List of the CANVAS webpage.

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

An aggregate mark of 50% or more is required to pass this unit.

The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes, which may result in an adjustment to the marks awarded for a specific task.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

There are up to 36 contact hours in this unit (3 hours of workshops x 12 weeks). Module leaders will provide guidance on the tasks required in the reamining 114 hours, but it is expected that it will be divided between self directed learning, research tasks and the preparation of assessment items. Time can be allocated in proportion to the assessment weighting for the module. 

Participation requirements

Workshops will be held on campus and will involve a mix of presentations, guest speakers, Q&A sessions and activities. It is important to attend all workshops, except in extenuating circumstances. If a student misses a workshop, they must email the unit convenor with appropriate supporting documentation and make arrangements to catch up.

Required IT skills

Familiarity with Word, Powerpoint and Excel is assumed.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Circumstances beyond the unit convener's control could result in changes to the mode of delivery for workshops and assessment. Students will be advised if this occurs and appropriate alternatives will be arranged.