136-527 Ecology and Environmentalism

Students who have completed 136-419 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours, or a postgraduate coursework program.

Our study of ecology-environmentalism begins with a consideration of the `intellectual flavour' and the `socio-political context' of environmentalist-ecological practice at the beginning of the 21st century. We move on to a short history of environmental activism in Australia. We then go on to focus on a history of ecology. In the second section of the subject students are introduced to a form of analysis that refuses to frame ecological-environmental issues by assuming that nature and culture are ineluctably separate. One assessment choice allows you to experience first hand the day-to-day life of environmental management. You will be offered support in carrying out a small research study of an environmental organization of your choice.

• develop skills in written and oral communication;

• conduct independent research;

• make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument;

• form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.

A research report of 5000 words 100% (due at the end of the swot vac).

A subject reader will be available.