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Reshaping Environments (ENVS10002)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Email: hbender@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
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This subject explores how environments shape us and we humans reshape the environment. It examines human attitudes to, impacts on and interactions with the environments in which we live by considering ‘natural', transformed and built environments as sites of production and consumption, imagining and contest, in different parts of the globe. The subject considers the material relationship between the natural and built environments by exploring issues of resource use. Human demands for water, energy, food, fibres and minerals, will be examined in relation to the technologies and practices used to meet those needs, and the resulting creation of waste and pollution and impacts on climate and a range of ecosystems and species. These issues and processes will be presented and considered using thematic, geographically varied, historic and contemporary examples. The subject will operate at three ‘scales' including: ‘natural' landscapes and their ecosystems; cities and the urban environment; buildings.
Intended learning outcomes
At the conclusion of the subject students should be able to:
- Discuss and critique ideas of sustainability;
- Identify and describe the physical and social needs of humans and non-human species within their environments;
- Identify and describe the ways that humans re-shape their environments to suit needs, expectations, and ethics;
- Identify and describe the ways that economic, social and environmental norms shape environmentally significant action;
- Identify, describe as a system, and detect the physical and social consequences of human efforts to reshape their environments;
- Discuss how human-environment relationships and interactions have impacts for sustainability, future environmental design, norms and management.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject students should have developed the following skills:
- Basic analytical skills for observing human-environment interactions
- Skills for the observation and interpretation of practices which transform natural and urban environments
- Skills in synthesising, reporting on and discussing issues relevant to this subject
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- Reflective journal throughout semester totalling approximately 1000 words; weekly entries assessed in Week 4 and Week 11 (20%)
- Tutorial participation during the semester (10%)
- Team analysis and diagram (1000 words/team), due Week 9 (20%)
- Individual written response (2500 words), due Monday of the first week of the examination period (50%)
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Helena Bender Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours of lectures and 24 hours of tutorials. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2017 to 28 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2017 Census date 31 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 Semester 1 contact information
Email: hbender@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 Hours
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Bender, Helena (ed.) (2012) Reshaping environments: an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability in a complex world, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Bachelor of Environments Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Landscape Ecosystem Management Breadth Track Engineering and Environments Breadth Track People and Environment - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 27 April 2024