FSS:ENSb1124 Global enviro problems - Course Information

ENSb1124 Global environmental problems + seminar

Extent and Intensity

2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Mikuláš Černík (lecturer)
Mgr. Tomáš Chabada, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Ing. Jan Malý Blažek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Ľuboš Slovák (lecturer)
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristína Markechová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies

Timetable

Thu 14:00–15:40 U33 and each even Tuesday 10:00–11:40 U41

Prerequisites (in Czech)

! ENS124 Global enviro problems &&!NOW( ENS124 Global enviro problems )

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Environmental Studies (programme FSS, B-ENV) (5)

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to explain the context of global environmental problems (lectures) and at the same time open a space for common build-up knowledge of alternatives and visions of the problem solutions, based on the presented and discussed case studies (seminars). At the end of the course, the student will be able to understand the context, impacts and links between the particular global environmental problems. Students will continuously search, evaluate and critically reflect case studies of environmentally sustainable alternatives, as well as debate the future visions and tools that are promoted by different agents (academics, institutions, as well as civic society). The structure of the lectures represents the frame of an interconnected net of environmental problems, in which we can point out the main focus on a certain issue (main topic of the lecture), at the same time this topic must be applied on the other nods of the net (connection to other problems). In the end of the course, students will be able to understand the problems and their relationships, but also the context of risks, potential solutions and agents of these solutions. The structure of the seminars corresponds with the lecture topics, students will thus apply chosen case studies on information base provided by the foregoing lectures. The collective and also individual work will result in the capability to search, interpret and critically discuss particular topics (problems) from the view of the solutions (alternatives and visions).

Learning outcomes

After completing the course student will be able to:
- describe individual global environmental issues
- identify the causes and impacts of specific global environmental problems
- discuss and explain the context and interdependence of global environmental problems
- formulate and characterize solutions to global environmental problems
- critically evaluate and compare proposed solutions

Syllabus

• LECTURE: Introduction; Selected concepts for studying and mitigating the global environmental problems; Information about the course
• LECTURE: Consumption
• LECTURE: Population
• SEMINAR: Visions & alternatives: population & consumption
• LECTURE: Energetics
• LECTURE: Inorganic resources
• SEMINAR: Visions & alternatives: energetics & inorganic resources
• LECTURE: Air pollution
• LECTURE: Climate change (expert)
• SEMINAR: Visions & alternatives: air pollution & climate change
• LECTURE: Food resources
• LECTURE: Water resources
• SEMINAR: Visions & alternatives: food & water resources
• LECTURE: Soil degradation, deforestation
• LECTURE: Loss of biodiversity (expert)
• SEMINAR: Visions & alternatives: soil degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity
• LECTURE: Summary

Literature

required literature
• MYERS, Norman and Scott SPOOLMAN. Environmental issues & solutions : a modular approach. International edition. Australita: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2014, 509 stran. ISBN 9781435462328. info
• MOLDAN, Bedřich. Podmaněná planeta. Druhé, rozšířené a upra. Praha: Karolinum, 2015, 511 stran. ISBN 9788024629995. info
• MIDDLETON, Nick. The global casino : an introduction to environmental issues. Fifth edition. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013, xxiii, 614. ISBN 9781444146622. info
• HITE, Kristen A. and John L. SEITZ. Global issues : an introduction. Fifth edition. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell, 2016, xviii, 335. ISBN 9781118968857. info

Teaching methods

The course is composed of 5 blocks consisting of 2 lectures dedicated to specific global environmental problems and 1 seminar focused on solutions for these problems.
Lectures, seminars with active participation, group presentation, individual work, group discussions, expert lecture(s)

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the course will be based on continuous work over the semester. Attendance at seminars is obligatory, with one absence allowed. Active participation in the form of critique and discussion on the alternatives and visions is expected. In preparation for the seminars, it is essential to get familiar with the texts for each presentation.

The evaluation comprises of:
1) Presentations in seminars
A compulsory condition for attending a course is one group presentation (will be specified according to the number of students enrolled in the course) and leading a group activity at a seminar. A total of 20 points can be obtained for the presentation and management of the group activity.
2) ROPOT tests throughout the semester
The ROPOT tests will be filled in before each seminar through an IS application. For one test, a maximum of 6 points can be achieved, i.e. 30 points for the whole semester.
3) Final exam
The final exam will be in the exam period, and you can achieve 50 points.
Classification:
A - 91 - 100
B - 81 - 90
C - 71 - 80
D - 61 - 70
E - 51 - 60
F - 0 - 50

Language of instruction

Czech

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2021/ENSb1124