Introductory description

This interdisciplinary module will stimulate students to engage with a variety of contemporary issues surrounding sustainable management of water resources, explored through international case studies that extend conventional conceptions of social, environmental and economic sustainability. This lens also provides opportunities for further examination of the history, geo-politics, culture and governance frameworks that relate to water and sustainable development, as well as reflecting, evaluating and envisioning adaption strategies connecting to water and future climate change. In doing so, it draws from the University of Warwick’s wider expertise in this area and establishes a foundation of knowledge and analytical skills for other GSD modules.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Civilisation- Water, Agriculture and the City
2. The Water Cycle, Environment and Habitats
3. Water Quality, Contamination and Sanitation
4. Living without Water- Drought and Survival
5. Water and Culture
6. Water Politics, Security and Migration
7. The Water, Energy, Food Nexus (WEF)
8. A Flooded Future
9. Infastructure, Climate Change and the Anthropocene
10. Climate Adaption Strategies

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Upon completion of this module, students will be able to: · Articulate the key international, sustainable development challenges that relate to water; · Critically appraise existing methods of water management, based upon published evidence; · Research, appraise and evaluate emerging approaches to sustainable water management; · Communicate a sophisticated understanding of water issues relating to the wider global challenges of sustainable development, such as health, inequality and survival; · Formulate a sustainable pathway for addressing a key global water challenges in the future.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

Research skills are embedded into the teaching strategy of the module. Students are expected to research, appraise and evaluate emerging approaches to sustainable water management;

Interdisciplinary

This is an optional module on the Global Sustainable Development course which adopts an interdisciplinary approach spanning the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences fields in order to engage with the major global challenges facing contemporary society, explore these 'big problems,' from a variety of perspectives and consider a range of possible solutions.

International

This is an optional module on the Global Sustainable Development course which offers a unique trans-disciplinary and international learning experience that allows students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge.

Subject specific skills

Ability to:
critically assess and analyse sustainability issues that need to be addressed, including real-life examples
use and apply established frameworks and methodologies for analysing the impact(s) of a behaviour or process
generate and evaluate different models of sustainable development to assess their likely impact
actively implement or contribute to changes that promote sustainable development within the scope of own learning experience
engage with real-life problems relevant to sustainable development
use historical knowledge and an understanding of the consequences of past actions to envision how futures may be shaped
identify the importance of empowering individuals and organisations to work together to create new knowledge
employ leadership for sustainable development by challenging assumptions and negotiating alternatives to unsustainable current practices
identify the opportunities to support and develop a progressive and resilient culture that encourages citizens, professions and institutions to put learning into practice

Transferable skills

Written communication skills
Oral communication skills
Working with others
Problem solving
Information technology
Numeracy
Research across various disciplines