121-171 Environmental Change

This subject is an introduction to the discipline of geography, both physical geography and human geography, and to a major in environmental studies. The subject examines global and regional patterns of natural and human-induced changes in the environment, together with their consequences for human societies. Topics include global patterns in climate, hydrology and water resources, the evolution of different sorts of landscapes, and the social bases of and links to environmental change. Principles are applied to highlight problems in environmental management, such as irrigation and salinisation, sustainable harvesting of forests, and urban runoff. Students should develop skills such as map use and interpretation of satellite photographs, the ability to argue and the presentation and interpretation of data. By the end of the subject students should have an understanding of the complexity that underlies most environmental problems.

• possess basic technical skills necessary for any professional in geography or the environmental sciences;

• have the ability to acquire information from literature based sources and assess its quality and relevance to a specific topic;

• have the ability to write a logically argued and properly researched essay;

• gain skills in field observation and the reporting of those observations.

A 2-hour examination 20% (during the examination period), a research essay of 2000 words 30% (due in mid-May), weekly practical exercises and essay draft (due in the fourth week of semester) 35% and a field exercise 15% (due early in the semester).