ENV 100 : Shaping Planet Earth

Science

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

We inhabit a dynamic planet that impacts our everyday lives. Take a journey from Earth's cataclysmic beginnings to the unprecedented scale of present-day changes to our land, rivers, coasts, and oceans. By examining Earth’s processes, hazards, and resources we demonstrate how an understanding of past and present environments will enhance our future.

Course Overview

Shaping Planet Earth is an exploratory journey designed to unravel some of the most compelling questions in Earth Science, such as: When and how did the Earth form? How do the continents move? How have oceans developed and what drives tides and waves? Why does the Earth have an atmosphere and why are we not irradiated by the sun? We will answer these questions and investigate other Earth Science mysteries by examining the intricate processes that have shaped the Earth over its 4.6-billion-year history.

We will also explore the composition and significance of Earth’s atmosphere, examine climate changes and their impact on life, understand why Aotearoa-New Zealand has so many earthquakes and volcanoes, and study sediment transport and deposition. By understanding these fundamental concepts, we will learn how our knowledge of the past can inform future planning and sustainability efforts.

The course is divided into six themed teaching blocks, each using a variety of time and spatial scales to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of Earth systems. Themes will range from Earth’s cataclysmic beginnings and planetary processes, through Blue Planet and re-surfacing Earth, to the unprecedented changes we face today.

This course goes beyond traditional lectures by incorporating practical lab experiences and is assessed entirely through coursework. A day trip to Maukatia Bay and Muriwai Beach provides a field experience integrating skills and knowledge learned from the course and demonstrates the important connectedness between ancient and modern processes.

This course isn’t just about learning, it’s about discovering your place in the vast story of our planet. Whether you're aiming for a career in earth science, geography, or environmental studies, you'll gain valuable insights into what shapes planet Earth.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of Earth’s processes (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Evaluate human-environment interactions (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Anticipate possible futures by investigating past and present environments (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Develop lab-based skills to evaluate Earth science data (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  5. Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world examples in the field (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Laboratories 50% Individual Coursework
Tests 20% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 20% Individual Coursework
Field trip 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Laboratories
Tests
Quizzes
Field trip

Key Topics

Cataclysmic beginnings
Drivers of planetary processes
Blue Planet
Resurfacing our planet
Unprecedented present-day changes
Providing for our future

Special Requirements

ENV 100 includes a one-day field trip.

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test, and exam preparation and more. As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of Environment Tuākana Programme aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for, and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection), and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 20 hours of labs (including pre-labs and in-person labs), 8 hours of field trip, 48 hours of self-directed learning, and 50 hours of work on assignments and preparing for quizzes/tests.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including lectures, to complete components of the course and required at activities, including labs and the field trip, to receive credit for assessed components of the course.

Attendance on campus is required for the tests.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Semester one 2025 will be the first offering of this course - we will welcome student feedback after this.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 02/11/2024 08:24 a.m.