49122 Ecology and Sustainability

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Handbook description

The aim of this subject is for students to examine the fundamental principles of ecological systems and biodiversity, and in the context of ecological sustainable development gain an understanding of the effect of human impact on these systems. Environmental problems relating to air, water, soil and noise pollution, greenhouse and the disposal of solid and hazardous waste will be studied. Using local and regional case studies, students will learn to evaluate and develop strategies and management practices to achieve sustainable solutions for these problems and examine other areas such as ecotourism and industrial ecology.

Subject objectives/outcomes

The purpose of this subject is to provide students with a knowledge on (i) local environmental problems (such as air, water, soil and noise); and global environmental problems (such as greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, and acid rain) and the sustainable solutions (ii) fundamental principles of ecological systems in the context of ecological sustainable development.

At the completion of this subject, the students will understand the concepts of ecologically sustainable management principles.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

As one of the subjects in the Master of Environmental Engineering and Management, and  in the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Engineering and Management, this subject offers an overview of environmental systems and impacts. It can be taken separately as part of other postgraduate courses.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is offered by distance mode and block mode.

As a student in this subject you are expected to read all course material and complete your assignments by their due dates. The marked assignments will be sent back to you within 3-4 weeks of submission.

Content

Introduction; Environmental management and planning systems; Ecological systems and processes; Basic ecological principles: bio-geochemical cycles, development of ecosystems, interaction between physical ecosystems; Global environmental issues such as Greenhouse Effect, ozone depletion, acid rain etc.; Human impacts on ecosystems; Population growth; Terrestrial ecosystems (forests and agricultural land); Aquatic ecosystems (lakes, rivers and oceans); Bio-diversity; Sustainable development; An overview of major environmental problems: their effects and remedies; Air pollution; Noise pollution; Water pollution; Soil pollution; Solid and hazardous wastes, including contaminated site assessment and remediation strategies; Environmental assessment audit practices; Case studies

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Assignment 1

Assessment Item 2: Assignment 2

Assessment Item 3: Ecoloigically sustainable management

Assessment Item 4: Supplementary Short Assignment on Ecology

Assessment Item 5: Final Exam

Minimum requirements

This subject has a FORMAL EXAMINATION, which will be held during weeks 15, 16 and 17 of the semester (after the teaching period).

In order to pass the subject, you have to obtain a minimum of 50% in the final exam.

Required texts

UTS course notes and materials in UTSonline

Recommended texts

None

References

1. Brown V A, 1998, ‘Managing Local Sustainability - Policy, Problem solving, Practice and Place’, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury , NSW, Australia
2. Davis M L and Cornwell D, 1991, 'Introduction to Environmental Engineering', Second Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York
3. DLWC, 1997, ‘Biosolids Management for Country NSW’, NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney
4. Francesco di Castri, 1997, ‘Biodiversity’, World Science Report
5. Masters G M, 1998, 'Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science', Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
6. Mackenzie L D and Cornwell D A, 1991 ‘ Introduction to Environmental Engineering’ International edition - McGraw-Hill Inc
7. Odum E P, 1989, 'Ecology and our endangered life-support systems', Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Mass.
8. Peirce J, Weiner R F and Vesilind P A, 1998, ‘ Environmental Pollution and Control’, Butterworth - Heinemann Publications, Woburn, MA, USA.
9. Sincero A.P and Sincero G A, 1996 ‘ Environmental Engineering - A Design Approach’, Prentice Hall, Saddle River, New Jersey
10. Stoll U, 1996, ‘Municipal Sewage Sludge Management’, Environmental Systems Review # 30, Environmental Information Systems Information Centre (ENSIC), Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
11. UN Commission on Sustainable Development, 1996, ‘ Indicators of sustainable development and methodologies - Report, United Nations Publications, New York
12. Vigneswaran S, Sundaravadivel M and Chaudary, D, 2004, ‘ Environmental Management, SCITECH Publishers
13. Westman W E, 1985, 'Ecology, impact assessment, and environmental planning', Wiley
14. World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, 'Our Common Future', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1987

Other resources

Please see subject coordinator if you are not already enrolled on UTS-ONLINE for this subject. Refer Student Guide.