Course unit details:
Mathematics of a Finite Planet
Unit code | MATH35062 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 3 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The unit aims to: introduce students to the challenges created by finite resources and changes in the planetary environment due to human activity. Students will cover a variety of topics, both environmental and societal, developing mathematical analysis and interpreting this analysis in the light of the challenges. They will also be introduced to policy decision making and the assessment of political and ethical issues raised by proposed policies.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Calculus and Vectors A | MATH10121 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Calculus and Applications A | MATH10222 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Introduction to Statistics | MATH10282 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Partial Differential Equations & Vector Calculus | MATH24420 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
PHYS20171 is an acceptable alternative for those Maths-Physics students who took that unit instead of MATH24420.
Aims
The unit aims to: introduce students to the challenges created by finite resources and changes in the planetary environment due to human activity. Students will cover a variety of topics, both environmental and societal, developing mathematical analysis and interpreting this analysis in the light of the challenges. They will also be introduced to policy decision making and the assessment of political and ethical issues raised by proposed policies.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Use local, national and international reports to assess and describe the potential environmental and human impact of the problem
- Manipulate mathematical and/or statistical models to describe aspects of problems from a finite planet
- Interpret the mathematics in the context of the original problem, and to reflect critically on the limitations and/or accuracy of the moelling process
- Develop policy suggestions based on the mathematical descriptions used, and to assess the potential impact and identify any ethical issues raised by the policy and to suggest remedies; evaluate critically the policy proposals and their effects
- Choose content so as to communicate effectively to a technical audience (for the mathematics) and a more general audience (for the other areas); write documents aimed at different communities in a style and with a content that is appropriate to that readership.
Teaching and learning methods
First five weeks: 10 hours standard lectures with 3 hours example classes and discussions, 2 hours of student-led panel discussions.
Next 5 weeks: 4-5 hours (depending on semester) single topic lectures in Impact-Mathematics-Interpretation-Policy format with 8-10 hours of student-led panel discussions in the same format.
Final 2 weeks: 6 hours support for final project submission (of which 2 hours lecture on expectations and writing).
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 20% |
Report | 80% |
Formative assessment: Report handed in during week 7 based on mathematics and interpretation of results.
2 Pages (1000 words)
20% Weighting
Summative assessment: Report in Impact-Mathematics-Interpretation-Policy format at the end of the course.
4 pages (2000 words)
80% Weighting
Opportunity to participate in two presentations
2 x share of 10 minute presentations
Peer review and comparison with lecture notes provided after the session
Recommended reading
Lecture notes available via Blackboard
Various online materials (e.g. UN Sustainable Development Goals https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/, research papers and reports)
R. Attfield Environmental Ethics a very short introduction, 2018, Oxford
A.E. Dessler Introduction to Modern Climate Change, 2012, CUP
H. Goosse, P.Y. Barriat, W. Lefebvre, M.F. Loutre, and V. Zunz (2010) Introduction to climate dynamics and climate modelling, online textbook available at http://www.climate.be/textbook.
M. Maslin Climate Change a very short introduction, 2014, Oxford
R.T. Pierrehumbert Principles of Planetary Climate, 2010, CUP
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Lectures | 22 |
Tutorials | 11 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 67 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Paul Glendinning | Unit coordinator |
Geoffrey Evatt | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.
Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates