ESA-20806 Principles of Environmental Sciences

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

This course is the counterpart of the course Methods in Environmental Research in the introductory cluster of the MSc programmes Environmental Sciences and Urban Environmental Management. It is compulsory for students who acquired their BSc degree in another place than Wageningen. It offers them the opportunity of updating and extending their knowledge of the basic concepts of environmental sciences. Environmental problems in soil, water, and atmosphere are described and analysed. Attention is given to the socio-economic causes of these problems and their effects on organisms (including man) and ecosystems. The role science and technology can play in solving these problems is discussed, as is the role of interested actors like government, business, environmental movement and individual citizens. In a case study, small groups of students will analyse a specific environmental problem, write a report and present a paper.

Aims:

Students are able to obtain insight in the principles of environmental sciences, including:
- the functioning of ecosystems and their response to changes in the environment;
- transmission processes of pollutants in and between different environmental compartments;
- effects of pollutants on ecosystems and organisms;
- basic causes of environmental problems;
- scope and limitations of technical solutions to environmental problems;
- to apply acquired knowledge in analysing a particular environmental problem;
- to discuss and report on this environmental problem in an interdisciplinary way.

Activities:

Attending lectures, active participation in a group assignment, report writing and presentation of a paper.

Examination:

Based on written examination and group assignment.

Literature:

Book: W.P. Cunningham: Principles of Environmental Science and a reader