
- UCAS course code
- C1V3
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Crisis of Nature: Critical Issues in Environmental History
Unit code | UCIL20592 |
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Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Offered by | School of Medical Sciences |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
Why are environmental problems defined as 'wicked problems'? What makes a problem 'wicked'? And do you think you can solve one? Looking at a selection of real life environmental crises, this unit will discuss the following: who speaks on behalf of the environment, who acts on its behalf, and what matters in solving environmental issues?
You will be asked to think locally and globally, working to understand how the two different scales influence the availability of solutions.
The unit encourages you to use creative thinking to answer burning environmental questions. You will produce an original analysis of environmental issues in your immediate vicinity, the campus and the City of Manchester.
Pre/co-requisites
UCIL units are designed to be accessible to undergraduate students from all disciplines.
UCIL units are credit-bearing and it is not possible to audit UCIL units or take them for additional/extra credits. You must enrol following the standard procedure for your School when adding units outside of your home School.
If you are not sure if you are able to enrol on UCIL units you should contact your School Undergraduate office. You may wish to contact your programme director if your programme does not currently allow you to take a UCIL unit.
You can also contact the UCIL office if you have any questions.
This unit is also available with a different course unit code. To take a UCIL unit you must choose the unit with a UCIL prefix.
Aims
This unit aim is to familiarise you with the fundamentals of environmental history and to provide an introduction to environmental activism and policy, using case studies that include ocean crisis, plastic pollution, environmental health, man-made disasters and food security.
The unit explores key environmental issues and trends during the last two hundred years, examining the cultural and economic histories of 'nature', and their relation to the emergence of risk society and the politics of environment. It investigates the origins of key environmental crises and analyses how societies define risk and sustainability, produce waste and conceptualise cleanliness.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
- Explore environmental issues in the light of their historical, scientific, economic and ethical background
- Describe the connections that link environmental changes and how culture and technology have influenced our relationship with nature globally
- Analyse the political and cultural origins of the environmental movement and environmental regulation
- Interpret the ideas and ideology that underpin environmental politics and use this knowledge to analyse a local environmental issue
- Prepare a written report integrating a range of viewpoints
In addition, for 20 credits:
- Research and write a literature-based review, including material from scientific, historical and social contexts
Syllabus
- What is ecology?
- What counts as pollution and waste?
- The rise of risk
- Climate crisis
- Food security
- Ocean's decline
- Disasters
- Plastics
- Urban sprawl
- Species extinction
- War and environment
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Critical reading, essays - all based on analytical readings of sources
- Group/team working
- Seminars would involve non-assessed debates between teams.
- Innovation/creativity
- Students develop different interpretations to problem questions - on occasion work on highly localized problems even on campus (light saving proposals on basis of observations). In sessions, developing argument for maximum impact on jury. Jury creatively interprets defense and prosecution groups.
- Leadership
- During seminars, group leaders are in charge of leading the group in the debate
- Oral communication
- Seminars discussions, debates
- Problem solving
- Essays may require finding a solution to a problem: e.g. what is the key environmental issue on the campus of University of Manchester?
- Research
- Primary and Secondary
- Written communication
- Essay and exam; short summaries when required
Assessment methods
1. 1500 word essay (25%)
2. Exam (25%)
3. 3000 word project report (50%)
Feedback methods
Feedback is available via Blackboard after submissions have been marked. Further feedback can be sought from the unit co-ordinator.
Recommended reading
- Douglas M (1984) Purity and Danger. London : Ark
- Soule M & Lease G (1995) Reinventing Nature: Responses to Postmodern Deconstruction. Island Press
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Assessment written exam | 2 |
Lectures | 12 |
Seminars | 12 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 174 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Vladimir Jankovic | Unit coordinator |