ENVSCI 303 : Environmental Science, Risk and Society

Science

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An examination of the contemporary topics that shape the ways in which environmental science may be communicated and understood. Topics of discussion include issues of scientific uncertainty, risk communication, public trust and the role of media.

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.

Our assessments include regular small assignments that help you to engage with media representation of environmental issues and critically examine what is being communicated. We also emphasise the importance of understanding how to work with others, and why we have different worldviews. In our tutorials students work on coursework in small teams. These tutorials are framed around individual thoughts and ideas, coming together as a team, and then often reviewing and critiquing the work of another team with respect to a self-selected environmental issue. Students really enjoy completing a lot of their assessment during scheduled class time, together, with a good balance of individual and teamwork.

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. Emma S. focuses on food and environmental politics, including food sovereignty and governance. 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.


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. Critique the factors that shape the communication of scientific uncertainty and risk. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  2. Identify, explain and evaluate contrasting ideas of an environmentally framed issue and proposed solutions. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Describe, analyse and consider representations of environmental science. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tutorial assessments 40% Individual Coursework
Individual assessments 30% Individual Coursework
Test 30% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Tutorial assessments
Individual assessments
Test

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. This course is supported by our Programme Coordinator, Kaiāwhina/Māori student adviser, and Pacific student adviser. They are able to organize group study and facilitate direct assistance regarding material taught in this course. 

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

Students much achieve 50% or more in their overall course assessment (coursework + exams) to pass this course. 

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, four 2-hour tutorials (two of which 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.

There is no prescribed textbook for this course. Students are expected to do all the essential readings for the course (one core course reading plus one reading assigned per lecture).  While lectures and their specific readings provide a comprehensive introduction to the topics to be examined, your grade will be greatly enhanced by reading widely and critically.

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.

The tutorials will be offered throughout the course to support the assessments.

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 06/07/2024 10:51 a.m.