Large Scale Challenges to the Climate and the Environment
This course is the common starting point for the two Master Programmes in Environmental Science. The course explores the composition and function of the environment, and how natural environmental systems are perturbed by anthropogenic disturbances.
The course consists of three course modules:
- Global Challenges: This module will give you an overview of global environmental challenges and the impact on the natural environmental system from society. You will become familiar with several basic concepts like biogeochemical cycles, the hydrological cycle, and large-scale energy balances. In addition, this module introduces ethical and philosophical issues in human-environmental interactions.
- Tools: This module will give you tools for statistics, research and communication. You will learn how to analyse environmental data, as well as how to find and report scientific information.
- The Environmental System: This unit will give you an overview/review of the large-scale perturbations of the environmental system:
- water system (incl. eutrophication and ecosystem changes),
- air pollution,
- climate change,
- contamination from synthetic chemicals and their effects on ecosystems, organisms and human health.
These perturbations will be evaluated from four perspectives: observed effects (problem description), sources, dispersion, and actions to be taken.
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Course structure
Modules
1: Global Challenges, 3,5 hp
2: Tools, 3,5 hp
3: The Environmental System, 8 hp
Teaching format
The course consists of lectures and group instructions and exercises. The course is offered in English.
Assessment
The course is examined as follows:
Part 1 (Global Challenges) is assessed through written exam.
Part 2 (Statistics, research and communication tools) is assessed by written reports.
Part 3 (The Environmental System) is assessed by written assignments and written exam.Your rights and responsibilities
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
Relevant literature will be handed out
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Course reports
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More information
This course is compulsory in both Environmental Science master’s programs, but may also be taken as an separate course.
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Contact
Study counsellors
Course coordinator
Jana Weiss, Jana.Weiss@aces.su.se
Department of environmental Science, unit of Exposure and Effects
