ENVSCI 303 : Environmental Science, Risk and Society
Science
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Are you interested in learning about how complex environmental issues are communicated and understood? In ENVSCI 303 we use a variety of case studies in Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific region to examine how scientific risk and uncertainty are communicated, what influences public understanding and acceptance of information shared, how media and the public play a role.
Society has become increasingly mistrusting of science and decision-makers' abilities to deal with complex environmental issues resulting from changing social and technological pressures. Understanding the nature of science and society is important for recognizing the influence of scientific contributions to complex environmental issues.
This course is an examination of the contemporary topics that shape the ways in which environmental science may be communicated and understood. Using five course themes we consider issues of scientific uncertainty, risk communication, public trust, policy, and the role of media. We also look closely at how science is constructed and how the public engage with science.
We have a diverse team teaching on the course bring a range of views, perspectives, and expertise. Sonia is passionate about Indigenous knowledge and ensuring we value and engage with diverse ways of being, knowing, and doing, particularly using art mediums to communicate concerns around environmental issues. Emma R. is interested in climate change impact on coral and coastal environments and will use this area to explore risk and uncertainty in scientific data throughout the course. While Melanie brings her enthusiasm for exploring and understanding pollution and contamination with a particular focus on soils.
This course is preparation for anyone wanting to progress to a career or postgraduate studies with a focus on the society-environment nexus.
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 |
Learning Outcomes
- Critique the factors that shape the communication of scientific uncertainty and risk. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
- Identify, explain and evaluate contrasting ideas of an environmentally framed issue and proposed solutions. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
- Describe, analyse and consider representations of environmental science. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assessments | 60% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Test | 40% | Individual Test |
| 2 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
| Assessments | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
Key Topics
- Constructing Science
- Uncertainty in Measurement
- Uncertainty in Data Interpretation
- Scientific Risk in Environmental Science
- Communicating Science, Risk, and Uncertainty
- Socio-environmental Risks in Environmental Science
- Managing Complex Environmental Issues
- Public Engagement with Science
Special Requirements
Tuākana
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 in which they are enrolled.
For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, ten 2-hour tutorials (some are assessed), and about 1-hour of essential reading and viewing resources per lecture.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled classes including lectures and tutorials to complete components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings but other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings. Attendance on campus is required for the final examination. 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.
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.