Module overview
GEOG6098 is a multidisciplinary unit designed for students with an interest in sustainable development, sustainability, green growth, complex socio-ecological systems, and resilient development. Over the term we will explore the key issues and debates around sustainability, and undertake practical work to develop students’ skills in interpreting and evaluating the multiple sustainability values and perspectives. This module will provide students with a firm grounding in the relationship between sustainability and the core concepts of justice, ethics and wellbeing, integrated modelling processes, conservation and ecology, economic growth and development, politics and governance, technology, tools/frameworks, and resilience. The module will consider both past examples of sustainable development as well as current and emerging challenges relating to sustainability.
Lectures in weeks 1, and 12 will provide a front and back end to the course as well as provice some practical insights to the skills required for consualtancy and research proposal development. Seminars will run in parallel with lectures with typically a double slot seminar following on from a lecture. In the seminars
we will review and apply theories and concepts in real world contexts. This will be delivered through case studies and practical and discursivework.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Critically evaluate the concepts of justice, ethics and wellbeing, conservation, resilience, and economic growth and development
- Carefully articulate the multiple interpretations of sustainability and the worldviews that underpin these perspectives
- Produce academic and commercially relevant information on sustainability for scientific as well as non-scientific audiences
- Describe to a lay person the successes and failures of past attempts at sustainability, the reasons for these, and the future direction of sustainability
- Describe multiple examples of the interconnectedness of justice, ethics and wellbeing, conservation, complex systems’ resilience, and economic growth and development
- Critique the popular and academic literature on sustainable development and socio-ecological resilience revealing an understanding of the multiple perspectives, while also being able to identify robust concerns or options
Syllabus
LECTURE TOPICS
Week 1. Introduction to the course (CH)
Week 2. Pillar 1: Economic growth and development (MS)
Week 3. Pillar 2: Society, justice and equity (MS)
Week 4. Pillar 3: Environmental sustainability and adaptive (CH)
Week 5. Sustainability Frameworks (CH)
Week 6. Reading Week
Week 7. Friday: Role Playing in water resources
Week 8. Sustainability Frameworks (CH)
Week 9. Case studies in application of Sustainability (CH/PD)
Week 10. Developing infographic workshop (CH)
Week 11. World views and normative aspects of SD (MS)
SEMINAR TOPICS
Week 1. Principles and history of Sustainability thinking (CH)
Week 2. Perspectives on economic growth and Assessment 1 support (MS)
Week 3. Poverty/Vulnerability/Wellbeing: Concepts in Sustainability (MS)
Week 4. Developing Indicators: Practical (CH)
Week 5. Frameworks within Sustainability and sustainability science (CH)
Week 6. Reading week
Week 7. Friday: Role playing in water resources
Week 8. Frameworks within Sustainability and sustainability science II (CH)
Week 9. Procurement: Your laptop from cradle to grave (CH/PD)
Week 10. Developing infographic workshop (CH)
Week 11. Visioning future pathways (MS)
CH = Prof. Craig Hutton, MS = Marije Schaafsma, PD= Phil Duddel
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
- 11 weeks x 2 hours Seminar
- 1 x 8 hour field trip to BREGrroup
- 11 weeks x 1 hour Lecture
- 2 x 1 hour help session (anticiapted)
- Total hours = 43
Daily responses to BB forum queries from a module convenor and other teaching staff Participatory learning approaches, peer-learning and collaboration - within and beyond the classroom
– lie at the heart of this module, thereby allowing students to be exposed to multiple perspectives and enabling creative responses to emerge. This will be achieved through weekly seminars and a second assignment that is about collaboration and cooperation.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Teaching | 35 |
Independent Study | 115 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Mulligan, Martin (2014). An Introduction to Sustainability: Environmental, Social and Personal Perspectives.
Adger, W.N. and Jordan, A. (eds) (2009). Governing Sustainability. Cambridge University Press.
Blewitt, John (2015). Understanding Sustainable Development. Earthscan from Routledge..
Assessment
Assessment strategy
- Repeat failed assignment (if assignment 1 or 3).
- Formative assessment does not need to be passed
- Student needs to gain an average pass mark of 50% to successfully complete this module
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework assignment(s) | 50% |
Assessment | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Essay | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External