SD2006 Changing Natures

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

1pm-2pm Tues, Wed, Thurs Tutorials to be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr T A Stojanovic

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Timothy Stojanovic; Dr Jessica Hope; Dr Rehema White; and Dr Althea Davies

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

In this dynamic, core SD module we develop student appreciation of the diverse ways that natures are known, protected and changed. It will provide students with the skills to: (1) critically engage with histories and contemporary uses, languages, and concepts of nature and sustainable development; (2) critically reflect on our relationship to nature, as a basis for formulating strategies for action; (3) understand the fundamental, long-term functioning of coupled human and environmental systems, and the implications for sustainability; and (4) practice interdisciplinarity, synthesising different forms of knowledge for sustainability or exploring their apparent contradictions. The course brings together both the natural and social sciences. It explores the roles of people, politics and policies, and the nature of change that is required to meet contemporary challenges.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS SD2005 OR PASS SD2001

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU PASS SD2002 OR TAKE SD2002

Assessment pattern

50% Coursework 50% Written Examination

Re-assessment

100% written examination

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 Lectures (x10 weeks) 1 Tutorials (x4 weeks) 1x self guided field visit (2hours) 1x practical (1 week)

Scheduled learning hours

37

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

160

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • • Appreciate a diversity of understandings of sustainability and evaluate different claims to sustainability;
  • • Communicate sustainability to a variety of audiences;
  • • Understand a range of sustainability approaches from natural and social sciences (including fields such as political ecology, long-term ecology, and environmental governance) and the insights they provide on specific sustainability issues in marine environments, coastal areas and terrestrial ecosystems;
  • • Be aware of various forms and methods of knowledge production in enhancing our understanding of complex issues, and apply approaches to synthesise, integrate or cross fertilize different sets of evidence;
  • • Critically review key SD concepts such as environmental justice, resilience, wellbeing, and participation, and conceive or envision how these could inform practical measures or community efforts to bring about sustainability change.