ENVMGT 749 : Ethical Environmental Futures

Science

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

We face urgent environmental challenges that require innovative responses to affect better environmental futures. This course will analyse environmental uncertainty and its implications; examine the interface between environmental technologies and society; consider environmental responsibilities, values and ethics; and situate environmental solutions within their wider sociopolitical and economic context. Students will engage with strategies to achieve sustainable and just outcomes.

Course Overview

We are living in exciting digital times which are occurring alongside dramatic environmental changes. Many say we are on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution heralding the rise of machines that can think. With expanding technology comes environmental possibility and responsibility: how are technologies developed; who are they developed by and for whom; for what purpose; how are they used and managed; and what are their implications? This course will consider these questions within the broader political, economic, cultural, and ethical context of emergent and existing environmental sociotechnologies.  

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: Master of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Recognise, describe and account for the social and spatial relations of environmental sociotechnologies (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  2. Critically discuss responsibilities and ethics of sociotechnology including the uncertainties and risks in their development and use . (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Have an understanding of common tools in both everyday and cutting edge environmental sociotechnology . (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reflection papers 7.5% Group & Individual Coursework
Group presentation 15% Individual Coursework
Participation 2.5% Individual Coursework
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Final exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Reflection papers
Group presentation
Participation
Essay
Final exam

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. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

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. Māori and Pacific students are encouraged to contact Sonia Fonua (s.fonua@auckland.ac.nz) for information about the Tuākana programme.

Key Topics

These are partly dependent on class interest. 

Special Requirements

Attendance is expected at weekly seminar/presentation sessions. Weekly readings are expected to be completed. 

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 class time, up to 10 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and up to 10 hours of work on assignments in the specific weeks leading up to submission dates.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities to receive credit for components of the course. 
In-class sessions will not be available as recordings.  
The course will not include live online events such as online group discussions/tutorials. No online participation is enabled. 
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.

There is no prescribed textbook for this course. In-class sessions will be based on weekly readings, and additional readings may be suggested to guide students interested in exploring particular topics in more depth.  

Weekly readings (and further resources) will be listed in Talis, accessible through Canvas. You are expected to use the University Library to access these readings, as well as other relevant references.  

It is vital to go beyond recommended readings for your assignments. 

Health & Safety

No specific requirements.

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.

Based on overwhelming feedback from previous years' students the student-led presentations will continue to be the format for the course providing enrolment numbers enable this. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, 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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 31/10/2023 10:51 a.m.