ES4S007 - Tools for Sustainable Development 01 Jul 2017 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 3
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | ES4S007 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Tools for Sustainable Development | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science | ||
| Faculty Group: | Chemical and Environmental Sciences | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Earth and Environmental Science | ||
| Module Leader: | Tim Patterson, | ||
| Module Team: | Amelia Grass, Ciaran Burns | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2015 | Final Year of Intake: | 2012 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 7 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 101318 - biodiversity conservation | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 3 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Jul 2017 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2027 |
Module Aims
1. To give course participants an overview of the principles, techniques and methodologies of sustainable development.
2. To critically evaluate strategies, plans and programmes for sustainable development.
Content Summary
What do the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable development” mean? – various interpretations of the principle and term: critical evaluation of at least one set of sustainability principles.
Drivers for sustainability:
• Waste production and resource consumption issues
Climate change, the IPPC scenarios and assumptions;
• Energy Issues: past and current patterns of energy consumption, future projections of energy consumption, availability and possible sources, prospects for fossil fuels, nuclear power, novel energy sources, renewables, EROEI as a crucial criterion in evaluating energy sources;
• Environmental degradation – biodiversity, soil and water resources;
• “Limits to Growth” – the dismissal and recent rehabilitation of this concept.
Responses to the issues:
• Use of renewable energy resources: types, possibilities and limitations;
• “Energy rationing” via mechanisms such as TEQs;
• Working towards an “Ecotechnic” future;
• Localisation, Transition initiatives;
• Ecovillages; resilience as a common thread to many alternative responses;
• Promoting alternatives to conventional (GDP) growth as a measure of wellbeing;
• Research into human behavioural aspects and change resistance in relation to conservation and sustainability issues;
• Sustainable building technologies – materials, construction, services, heating systems;
• Carbon footprinting – calculation systems, various reduction options;
• Energy efficient transport systems
Presentation of sustainability issues to a non-specialist audience. Preparing a funding application to finance a sustainability project including meeting conditions, matching selection criteria, budgeting, project planning and management.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Practical classes and workshops | 7 |
| Independent Study | 164 |
| Seminar | 29 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Use planning, stakeholder identification, and project management techniques and presentation skills in the context of Sustainable Development. |
| LO2 | Critically assess the importance of the drivers for sustainability and the usefulness of proposals to deal with these issues.<br />. |
| LO3 | Fully understand, explain and critically assess the concept of Sustainable Development |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment | Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1 | Presentation | 10 | N/A | 40 | No | 40 |
| Asynchronous Assessment | Essay 1 | Essay | 0 | 3000 | 60 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | LO3 | |
| Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Essay 1 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |