Module Details

Module Code: ENVR S8Z01
Full Title: Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern
Valid From:: Semester 1 - 2018/19 ( September 2018 )
Language of Instruction:English
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits:: 7.5
Module Owner:: Valerie McCarthy
Departments: Unknown
Module Description: This module aims to introduce the student to the multidisciplinary world of environmental science by introducing them to some of the emerging issues of environmental concern and the cutting edge technologies, techniques and innovations which are being used to address them. A conscious understanding of ecological and environmental physical and chemical principles and how they apply to the major environmental problems of our times, such as water use, waste management, global warming, conservation and the preservation of biodiversity will be developed. The role of civil society in the management of these issues will be explored through an introduction to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
Module Learning Outcome
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Module Learning Outcome Description
MLO1 Appraise the mechanisms of climate change and analyse effects at an ecosystem level.
MLO2 Analyse the lifecycle of plastic from source to pollution and evaluate plastic alternatives and technologies for plastic waste reduction.
MLO3 Evaluate the current topics relating to issues of public health in terms of zoonotic disease transmission and the link between variations in the environment, both natural and human activity-related and emerging zoonotic disease.
MLO4 Critically engage with concepts and theory in biodiversity science and management from interdisciplinary perspectives and gain an insight into new technologies for the future of biodiversity science and management.
MLO5 Evaluate how all 17 SDGs interconnect and underpin these critical environmental issues - essentially meaning that success in one SDG affects success for others - and ultimately has implications for future environmental stability, e.g. how dealing with the threat of climate change can impact on how we manage our fragile natural resources, or how achieving better health through improved water quality can help eradicate poverty or examining the relationship between agriculture, food security and climate change.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named DkIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
 
Module Indicative Content
Climate Change
Mechanisms and processes of directional climate change; measured effects on global and local climate, and projected future changes; effects on ocean acidification; effects on global freshwater water availability and water security; effects on ecosystems and the services they provide in an Irish context.
Biodiversity
Introduction to the concept of biodiversity; measuring biodiversity; identification of threats; the ecological consequences of biodiversity loss; Ecosystem services and marketing biodiversity; prioritising choices in conservation.
Plastic Waste
Sources of plastics; Biodegradability of plastics; Microbeads and wider microplastic pollution; Impacts on the environment including marine and terrestrial ecosystems; Plastic waste prevention and solutions including water and waste treatment and alternatives to plastics; EU waste hierarchy; Legislation associated with plastics.
Zoonoses
Zoonotic disease; Emerging zoonotic disease; Epidemic zoonoses; Impacts of zoonoses; Pathogen flow; Risk factors; Managing zoonoses for human, animal and ecosystem integrity; overview on antimicrobial use in healthcare, veterinary and farming (use as therapeutic agents, prophylactics, metaphylactics and growth promoters); Emergence and spread of resistance; Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria; Environmental and global impact of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
SDGs and the Environment
Introduction and overview of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Interconnectedness of the environmental, political, social and economic challenges facing our world; Local, national and global relevancy of the SDGs and the role of citizens and their governments; National SDG implementation plan.
Practicals
Practicals will be delivered under each of the five major themes as follows - Climate Change: 1. Effect of warming on decomposition (simple incubation at different temperatures using measurement of gas evolved). 2. Simulation of effects of ocean acidification using effect of change in pH on eggshells, Computer based practicals- 1. accessing the latest climate change data 2. simple computer modelling scenario to asses effects of future warming in lakes; Plastic Waste: 1. Assessment of biodegradability of plastics 2. Analysis of microplastics in marine sediments; Zoonoses: 1. Identification of common zoonotic parasites 2. Analysis of dog faeces for toxocara contamination. Biodiversity:1. Biodiversity assessment and bumblebee collection; Use of molecular tools in ecological studies, Cryptic species diversity is thought to be common within the class Insecta, posing problems for basic ecological and population genetic studies and conservation management, students will extract total genomic DNA from a hind leg of sampled bumblebee using the chelex protocol. Cryptic species will be identified from the samples using mtDNA COI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis developed by Murray et al. (2008). Suggested Field Trips: Zoo visit with conservation talk; Biodiversity Data Centre
Module Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Course Work30.00%
Project40.00%
Practical30.00%
Module Special Regulation
 

Assessments

Full Time On Campus

Course Work
Assessment Type Continuous Assessment % of Total Mark 15
Marks Out Of 100 Pass Mark 40
Timing S1 Week 8 Learning Outcome 1
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
The students will carry out computer based practical exercises linked to modelling climate change scenarios.
Assessment Type Other % of Total Mark 15
Marks Out Of 100 Pass Mark 40
Timing n/a Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students will be assessed on their contribution to in-class discussions, tutorials, debates or online discussion forums hosted through a VLE. In addition, students will be asked to engage in environmental activism by considering a campus based environmental initiative or public outreach relating to environmental issues.
Project
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 40
Marks Out Of 100 Pass Mark 40
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4,5
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Students will be asked to complete an e-Portfolio based assessment of a particular technique used to study or remediate against a specific environmental issue of concern referencing the UN SDGs. This assessment engages the students with technology enhanced learning through the development of an ePortfolio using the DkIT mahara system to provide a visual overview of the technique of choice and which allows the incorporation of video clips, images and webpages of relevance.
Practical
Assessment Type Practical/Skills Evaluation % of Total Mark 30
Marks Out Of 100 Pass Mark 40
Timing Every Week Learning Outcome 1,2,3,4
Duration in minutes 0
Assessment Description
Laboratory experimentation, field and site
visits will be examined through a mixture of laboratory worksheets and report write-ups.
No Final Examination

DKIT reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time On Campus
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Weekly lectures will be delivered in 1 x 2 hour block which will allow time for group discussion and student engagement. All lecture notes will be provided to the students through a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This VLE will also be used for access to helpful YouTube video clips, pod casts and peer reviewed publications of interest to the course. Every Week 2.00 2
Lecturer-Supervised Learning (Contact) Contact Guest lectures with expertise in specific areas will be invited to give an overview of specific topics. This will include a range of individuals including those working in governmental organisations eg. EPA/Marine Institute and environmental scientists working in industry such as pharamacuticals. In addition, focus-group/discussion on case studies will be hosted by the lecturer and will encourage students to engage in open discussion on specific topics relating to emerging environmental issues. Every Week 1.00 1
Practical Contact Practicals will be delivered under each of the five major themes Climate Change, Plastic Waste, Zoonoses, Biodiversity, Antiobiotic Resistance and Soil and Water Pollution /Toxin accumulation in crops as stipulated in the indicative content. These practicals will either involve site visits, field work or computer based sessions as appropriate. Every Week 3.00 3
Independent Study Non Contact No Description Every Week 3.00 3
Directed Reading Non Contact No Description Every Week 3.00 3
Total Weekly Learner Workload 12.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 6.00
This module has no Part Time On Campus workload.
 
Module Resources
Supplementary Book Resources
  • David Archer and Stefan Rahmstorf. (2009), The Climate Crisis, [ISBN: 978-0-521-732].
  • Gaston, Kevin J. & Spicer, John I.. (1998), Biodiversity : An introduction, Blackwell Science Oxford, Malden, MA, USA.
  • Macdonald, David W. & Service, Katrina. (2007), Key topics in conservation biology, Blackwell, Malden, MA, USA.
  • Blair Crawford, C. and Quinn, B.. (2016), Microplastics Pollutants, Elsevier, [ISBN: 9780128094068].
  • Stevens, E. (2002), Green Plastics: An introduction to the new science of biodegradable plastics., Princeton University Press, [ISBN: 9780691049670].
  • Andrady, A.. (2015), Plastics and Environmental Sustainability, Wiley, [ISBN: 978-1-119-009].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
Other Resources