Introductory description

This module will introduce students to the critically important role chemists are playing in humanity’s transition to a sustainable way of life and the primary motivations for this transition. The challenges posed by anthropogenic climate change, environmental pollution and the limited supply of natural resources critical to our current way of life will be considered. Sustainable solutions to these challenges for which chemistry is particularly relevant will be considered, including in the areas of sustainable agriculture, tackling water pollution (whilst also meeting growing demand for drinking water), affordable clean energy for all, tackling atmospheric pollution and sustainable chemical feedstocks for our material needs. The interconnectedness of these topics will also be considered.

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.

This module is taught in the following sections:

Introduction and motivation: (2 Lectures) Introduction to UN sustainability goals, climate change and the circular economy.
Topic 1: Energy (6 Lectures including guest lecture). The importance of heat in the energy landscape. Solar thermal energy, heat pumps and thermal batteries: underpinning physical science and principles of operation. The circular economy for sustainable energy materials.
Topic 2: Water (6 Lectures including 1 guest lecture). What is the equilibrium chemistry controlling ocean acidification, how can we measure ocean pH and can increasing acidification be mitigated. How to provide clean drinking water. How can water be recycled - waste water treatment. Water pollution. Conversion of seawater to drinking water (desalination) via reverse osmosis and distillation, energy considerations and thermodynamics. Challenges faced by the developed versus the developing world.
Topic 3: Green Synthesis and Recycling (6 Lectures including 1 guest lecture). Green synthesis guidelines and challenges. Recycling. Challenges with polymer recycling, microplastics pollution and ways to combat this.
Topic 4: Atmospheric and agricultural chemistry (6 lectures including 1 guest lecture). The reasons and remedies for air pollution including smog, acid rain, and the hole in the ozone layer. Benefits and negative impacts of fertilisers and pesticides for the environment and human nutrition.

Learning outcomes

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

• Understand how chemistry can play a key role in meeting the sustainability challenges given the earth’s limited resources and the challenges posed by climate change and pollution, in line with the UN sustainability goals, including current real-world examples.
• Describe the role chemistry plays in (i) promoting sustainable agriculture, (ii) providing clean water, (iii) addressing the challenges of affordable and clean energy, with a particular focus on heat, (iv) tackling air pollution, and (v) responsible consumption and production (green synthesis, biodegradability, recycling).
• Perform calculations to quantify the impacts on sustainability (e.g. coefficient of performance of heat pump, energy storage in thermal batteries, rates of atmospheric pollution, pH of acidified waterways, atom economy of reactions).
• Assemble and present an appraisal of an endangered element's use, supply, and sustainability

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

Problem solving: The students will learn to tackle a range of quantitative and chemical problems relating to a broad range of topics in the area of sustainability. They will be applying fundamental knowledge acquired during year 1 of the degree to solving real world problems, which will help to open their eyes to the broad range of opportunities for current and future employment in the sustainability space.
Critical thinking: The students will learn to think critically about a broad range of challenges and potential solutions relating to sustainability, including potential trade-offs and the interconnectedness and inherent complexity of many topics in sustainability.
Digital Literacy: The students will research a topic for the poster presentation and in doing so learn to judge the validity, merits and limitations of a broad range of digital sources of information on their assigned topic.

Transferable skills

Critical thinking: The students will learn to think critically about major complex applied problems of our time, that have broad relevance to current and future employment opportunities for chemists.
Problem solving: Student will learn how to solve quantitative and chemical problems.
Communication skills: Written, presentation and oral communication skills will be developed as part of the assessed work component.
Research Skills: Students will learn to assess the merits / limitations of sources of digital information when researching for the poster presentation.