E4000 Environment & Health IV - Social, economical and political context

Faculty of Science
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Mgr. Michal Bittner, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D. (lecturer)
zvaní hosté (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D.
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D.
Supplier department: RECETOX – Faculty of Science
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
Course objectives
The course aims to provide the knowledge to the students about societal and economical aspects of environmental problems. The aim is also to enable a wider understanding of the social, political, economic and psychological roots of the environmental crisis.
Learning outcomes
After this course, the student will be able to:
- to understand the social and economic context of environmental issues
- to describe and explain current societal, economic and political crises of mankind, their causes and impacts
- to explain how the development of environmental problems is related to “unrelated” disciplines such as economics, technology, ethics etc.
- to discuss the impact of media and communications on understanding environmental issues in the society
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory panel discussion on the relationship between environmental problems and global society and economy
  • 2. Social, economic and political problems of mankind – population growth, lifestyle, consumption, poverty, migration, environmental reasons and impacts (invited guests from FSS MU)
  • 3. Sustainable development - concept and principles, indicators, contexts, international documents / commitments, Rio + 20, OECD SDS, Millenium Assessment (M. Bittner) 4. Production and waste – circular economy, sustainable production and consumption, cleaner production, BAT, ecolabelling and eco-design, "cradle to grave", "end of the pipe" 5. Environmental economics - economic instruments for environmental protection, subsidies, fees, support, taxes, fines, environmental / ecological economics, ecological and alternative economic models
  • 6. Environmental ethics - value oriented solutions of environmental crisis
  • 7. Scientific challenges in the field of environment and health - data availability, knowledge gaps, new concepts, information technology, need for interdisciplinary cooperation
  • 8. Communication of environmental problems, media, environmental education
  • 9. Panel discussion of students on the issues addressed, presentation of opinions on the situation, possibilities, tools, solutions, colloquium
Literature
    recommended literature
  • JOHANISOVÁ, Naděžda. Ekologická ekonomie: vybrané kapitoly (Ecological Economics: Selected Chapters). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 88 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7116-2. info
  • CHUDÁREK, Tomáš. Odpadové hospodářství v praxi. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 157 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-6601-4. info
  • BITTNER, Michal. Úvod do udržitelného rozvoje: souvislosti environmentálního pilíře. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 250 pp. Edice RECETOX. ISBN 978-80-210-6622-9. info
  • KOČÍ, Vladimír. Posuzování životního cyklu. Vyd. 1. Chrudim: Vodní zdroje Ekomonitor, 2009, 263 s. ISBN 9788086832425. info
  • BINKA, Bohuslav. Environmentální etika. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2008, 157 s. ISBN 9788021045941. info
  • JANČÁŘOVÁ, Ilona. Ekologická politika. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2004, 207 s. ISBN 8021035994. info
Teaching methods
Regular seminars are held weekly or combined, as needed, into smaller blocks. The individual themes are presented by experts from RECETOX Center and other relevant institutions. The students will prepare independently a seminar work on selected topic given by the course tutor. Participation of students in the seminars is not passive; they are actively involved in surveys, queries, work in groups, etc. The students prepare themselves individually in advance according to given materials and instructions. At the end of the course, a comprehensive panel discussion will take place.
Assessment methods
The work and activity of students is monitored and evaluated throughout the semester. The condition of attending the course is to attend at least 80% of the seminars. Participation must be active (student responds to lecture topics, gives questions, is not "absent-minded" ...). The condition is also the submission of the given seminar work. At the final seminar, a colloquium will be held with a summary panel discussion.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2020/E4000