CORE121 Water for modern human society

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Tomáš Kuchovský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Adam Říčka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Tomáš Kuchovský, Ph.D.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. Tomáš Kuchovský, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 17. 2. to Sat 24. 5. Wed 15:00–16:50 G2,02003, Wed 15:00–16:50 G2,02003
Prerequisites
!TYP_STUDIA(ND) && !FORMA(C) && (!PROGRAM(B-UCB) && !PROGRAM(B-UCC) && !PROGRAM(B-UCF) && !PROGRAM(B-UCM) && !PROGRAM(B-UCZ) && !PROGRAM(B-LGM) && !PROGRAM(B-AEG) && !PROGRAM(B-GEO))
Basics of geography, chemistry, physics, mathematics and history at the high school level
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 80 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 28/80, only registered: 1/80, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/80
Course objectives
The development of human society requires sufficient water resources in the required quality. Water is essential not only for the provision of basic needs of life, but also for the development of energy, industry and agriculture. However, the distribution of usable water usable is not constant in Earth´s global reservoirs and is changing because of both climate change and inappropriate water management. In particular, the provision of sufficient water for drinking purposes is becoming problematic at some regions, and in the future may generate geopolitical and economic problems affecting up to 1/3 of the global population. However, man have modern technologies for sustainable water management. During the course, students will be acquainted with the above-mentioned issues, a suitable form of water management in the Czech Republic will be discussed. Practical examples will be presented on the risks of wasteful use of water resources and their irreversible consequences (historical area of Mesopotamia, North Africa, Central Asia, India, Czech Republic). Students will compile a practical example of the water balance of a selected area, and with the use of variable inputs reflecting changes in climatic conditions and anthropogenic water use, they will understand the risks of endangering water resources for human society.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- describe the circulation of water on Earth and in  landscape;
- describe the factors influencing the distribution of water forms in  landscape;
- define the main risks of endangering water resources for human society;
- evaluate water quality by comparing laboratory analysis with  corresponding normatives;
- understand the main principles and methods of water extraction for modern human society;
- evaluate the water balance of the selected area.
Syllabus
  • 1) Water cycle on Earth - wtaer reservoirs on Earth, their properties and possible usage for human
  • 2) Historical experiences of human society with water management, examples
  • 3) Unsuitable water management stratgies, history and examples
  • 4) Risks related to the human society development, new technolgies and sustainable water management
  • 5) Economical and geopolitical aspects of water management, examples
  • 6) Conflicts of interests - water resources vs. other human activities
  • 7) Legislation in water management, regulations and limits
  • 8) Water contamination and remediation technologies
  • 9) Important water resources in the Czech Republic, examples
  • 10) Water balance of selected region, changes in water balanace caused by human activities and climate change
Teaching methods
Teaching will take place in the form of presentations of individual topics, with  practical examples of selected sites in  the Czech Republic and  abroad. Subsequently, the acquired knowledge will be applied to specific situations that the students may encounter, e.g. in  discussions across society and in  media. This part of the course will be in the form of a discussion with students. Students will fill in prepared worksheets for  individual topics. Compilation of the water balance of the selected site will be a group work.
Assessment methods (in Czech)
Kolokvium - hodnocení formou individuální diskuse ke zvolenému tématu.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the per-term frequency of the course: Poprvé bude otevřeno v jarním semestru 2023/2024.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/CORE121