In Modern Environmental Issues you will learn how scientific methods and knowledge inform issues of environmental concern. You will learn about different environments and their interaction with human populations, resources and pollution, disturbance, atmospheric composition and air pollution, fossil fuels and renewable sources of energy, conservation and environmental management. You will begin to apply basic scientific knowledge and quantitative data to researching and discussing environmental issues and 'wicked' problems.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit Coordinator

Invented citations in fortnightly assessable questions and the end of term on line quiz are a growing issue

All scientific literature citations need to be accompanied by a clickable DOI link to ensure invented citations are minimized. Students will need to indicate the page and paragraph the cited item originates from.

Feedback from Student

Content and assessments felt excessive for a first year unit and required significantly more time commitments than second and third year units.

The content of the unit does not exceed the standards for first year units (12.5 hours/wk). Lectures are 3 hours, fortnightly assessment is 3-4 hours, and readings are ~3 hours.

Feedback from Student

Each assessment criteria was clear and precise, the lecturer was easy to get a hold of and quick to respond to all questions and provide further clarification when needed, and the assessment results were returned in a timely manner.

The assessment criteria will continue to updated and modified to help students improve their research and communication skills, to help them incorporate GenAI into their workflow, and to deepen their knowledge of environmental issues and their impact on society and nature.

Feedback from Student

Proof check moodle before term commencement, particularly assessment items, due dates and ability to post to ECHO360.

Remove ECHO360 links from individual weekly tiles so that all video lecture material is available through the Virtual Classes tile. Tick the "allow text" box on the Assessment 2 to allow students to submit assessment to ECHO360 through Moodle. Check and recheck dates against the Unit Profile. Reduce due dates to three places on each Moodle page (UP, Assessment Tile summary, and each assessment item).