Introductory description

Optional module available only to Global Sustainable Development students. This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the complexities associated with the protection and management of global natural resources, and to identify a path forward towards their sustainable use.

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 will be taught using a combination of taught lectures and practical seminars. The first 4 weeks of the module focus on foundational knowledge in environmental policy, natural resource economics, and basic principles of ecology. The second part of the module will be taught using real world case studies. Exact topics will vary depending on topicality, and expert availability.
Indicative sessions include the following:

• Tropical Rainforest Ecology
• Coral Reef Ecology
• Mangrove Ecology
• Use of Natural Resources
• Historic Trajectories
• Elephant Conservation
• Oil Palm management
• Plastics
• Protected area design and impacts

Learning outcomes

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

• Apply key theories from natural resource management research and critique their use in real-world contexts;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of conservation strategies, identify barriers to management interventions and propose improvements to current initiatives;
• Integrate knowledge of key monitoring techniques to design and conduct a group research project relating to environmental resource issues.
• Explore the realities of life in a developing community, and understand the contexts and constraints of current governance and policy structures.
• Critically reflect on lived experiences and relate these experiences to theoretical knowledge and personal experience.

Research element

This is an optional module on the Global Sustainable Development courses which aim to facilitate the acquisition by students of a range of methods of enquiry from various disciplines and equip them to deploy those skills in research. Research skills are embedded into the teaching strategy of all of the course's modules which, collaboratively, seek to develop and enhance students’ capacity to conduct independently original research into a current problem.

Interdisciplinary

This is an optional module available to students taking one of the BASc the Global Sustainable Development courses which offer a unique trans-disciplinary and international learning experience that allows students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge.

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. Specifically, this module focuses on a number case studies from around the world in order to contextualise the theories and frameworks studied.

Subject specific skills

Critically interpret and apply theoretical knowledge and frameworks relating to the effective conservation and management of natural resources.
Interpret regional and global legislation and policy, and determine impacts on different stakeholder groups. Use this knowledge to propose improvements to current policies
Critically assess human-ecosystem interactions, to identify necessary areas for management initiatives.
Identify key strengths and weaknesses in different environmental management programmes across different governance levels.
Detect key barriers to effective resource management processes globally and develop suitable, well-informed management programmes to overcome these barriers.

Transferable skills

Skills of critical analysis and interpretation and understanding of governmental policies related to management of natural resources