GEO1021 : Environmental Issues (Semester 1 for Exchange Students) (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2025/26
- Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
- Module Leader(s): Dr Seb Pitman
- Lecturer: Dr Nick Cutler, Dr Mark Kincey, Professor Andrew Henderson
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module introduces key concepts in geography, earth science and environmental science. It encourages reflection on the natural and human processes affecting - and affected by - the global natural environment. Strategies for prevention and mitigation of a range of environmental issues will be presented.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Environmental issues: overview of environmental science and Earth’s physical system
2. Climate Change: earth’s climate system, past, present, and future climate change
3. Environmental degradation: global environmental change, pollution, waste
4. Natural resource security: terrestrial and water resources
5. Human societies: human population, ancient civilisations, geopolitics
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 13 | 1:00 | 13:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Formative exercises to scaffold coursework Assessments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Coursework surgery. Can be delivered virtually if required. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 81:00 | 81:00 | N/A |
| Total | 100:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GEO1005 | Environmental Issues |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Teaching is mainly delivered via comprehensive, well-illustrated and up-to-date lectures, backed by widely available texts, and by use of media sources. This delivers a new intellectual milieu, and new ways of thinking (e.g., the ecosystem concept, the Anthropocene), but also new responsibilities to take a critical approach to science/society interaction. Two coursework assessments – in the form of problem-based learning exercises - will be used to reinforce the lecture content, encourage engagement with the scientific literature, and develop study and team-working skills. The coursework assessments will be supported by short, formative assessments (undertaken as guided independent study).
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exam Pairings
| Module Code | Module Title | Semester | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 100 | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The practical report introduces students to handling data pertaining to key environmental issues and analysing it for trends.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- GEO1021's Timetable