Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

n/a

Co Requisite Comment

n/a

Aims

1. To enable students to acquire knowledge of:

a) the principal elements of the history and philosophy of science, and the relationship between
science, law and policy-making;

b) the scientific, political, economic, social and ethical aspects of climate change;

c) the legal and policy responses to climate change in general and in more closely-defined problems
with an impact on climate change;

d) the role of justice in the relationship with science, regulation and climate change.

2. To enable students to analyse critically the interrelationship between science, law and policy, particularly in the context of complex problems such as climate change.

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Introduction to Basic Concepts

a) Theory and Social Function of Science
• History and basic concepts of science                        
• Authority and status of science, and its critics

b) Law-making, Legal Reasoning; International Law and Institutions

c) Environmental justice as a concept and it's relevance in science regulatory settings

2. The Regulatory Role of Science

a) Science and scientists in the legal process: standard-setting and judicial decision-making
• Standard-setting and judicial decision-making,
• Identification and design of new research priorities and programmes, e.g. research development
under multilateral environmental agreements
• The role which environmental justice considerations in play regulatory settings
• Negotiation of technical standards, e.g. protocols to multilateral environmental agreements
such as the Climate Change Convention

b) Science and scientists in the legal process: evidence before the courts
• Questions of fact, mixed fact and law
• Limits of scientific or technical feasibility, e.g. the use of sampling techniques
• Evaluating weight and reliability
• Complex situations and judicial review


c) Science and scientists in the legal process: dealing with risk and precaution
• Risk analysis: risk assessment and risk management
• Precautionary principle and its critics                              
• Risk perception and consumer choice

d) Regulation of Emerging Technologies and Scientific Change
• Old concepts applied to new technology
• Science and non-scientific considerations
• Designing regulatory instruments for the new, the changed and the uncertain

3. Case Study: Climate Change
• Scientific aspects of climate change
• Political aspects of climate change
• Economic aspects of climate change
• Ethical aspects of climate change
• The law and its limits: international, EU and UK

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should have acquired knowledge and understanding of:

• The key elements of the history, philosophy and social function of science
• The interrelationship between science, law and policy-making in standard-setting, judicial
decision-making, evaluation of evidence, risk and precaution, and regulating for change
• The key elements of climate change as a scientific, legal and policy problem
• The limits of the law and science, and the contested relationship between law and science, as
illuminated by the experience of tackling climate change

Intended Skill Outcomes

• Ability to interpret, analyse, reflect upon and apply legal instruments, principles and rules relating
to the law as it relates to science, the environment and climate change

• Ability to write, speak and think with care and precision in the analysis and synthesis of the
different elements that make up the problem of climate change

• Ability to identify issues in science, law and policy for research and to retrieve accurate and
relevant legal and other sources in primary and secondary form.

• Further development of ability to interpret, analyse, synthesise and evaluate legal materials

• Further development of ability to exercise critical judgment

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This is an advanced knowledge module which emphasises student learning by reading and evaluating primary sources and a wide range of contemporary literature in a fast-changing area of law and policy. This is best fulfilled by seminars for which the students do substantial prior reading in which clarification and development of knowledge and analysis can be achieved.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The emphasis in the module is on the cumulative acquisition and understanding of a wide range of knowledge in a complex legal area. The combination of coursework and exam will give students the opportunity to demonstrate a wider range of knowledge, the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise the different aspects of science, climate change, regulation and justice and to apply their understanding and skills to problem solving.

General Notes

N/A