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Dangerous Earth (ERTH20001)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
An introduction to the study of natural hazards on the Earth, at various different spatial and temporal scales, their impact on human populations and principles of planning, response and mitigation. The course will cover hazards of geological and meteorological origin, as well as major global catastrophes such as those that may be produced by climate change. Topics to be covered include: Earthquakes and their consequences; Tsunamis and other coastal hazards; Volcanoes and volcanic eruptions; Land instability and mass movements; Flooding and flood hazards, Drought and bushfire hazards; Tropical cyclones, thunderstorms and tornadoes; Climate change and its implications for human populations; Managing and reducing the risks from natural hazards. At the end of this subject, students will have acquired: an understanding of the nature and causes of natural hazards, their distribution and predictability; a knowledge of how natural disasters impact on human populations and activities, and the kinds of responses that are possible; an appreciation of what can be done to manage and minimise the dangers posed by natural disasters.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, the students will be able to:
- Differentiate a natural hazard from a disaster
- Distinguish between geophysical, hydrological, meteorological, and climatological hazards
- Summarise the driving forces behind natural hazards
- Relate present-day hazards to historical contexts
- Compare mainstream and indigenous approaches to natural hazards
- Perform a hazard characterisation
- Summarise and explain the components (probability of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability) of the risk equation
- Perform a real-world quantitative risk assessment incorporating the risk equation with modelling on MS Excel spreadsheets
- Collaborate, coordinate, research, present, and defend a real-world project on natural hazard characterisation and risk assessment in a team environment
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students will gain skills in:
- Teamwork skills: Collaboration and teamwork as applicable in a research environment
- Analysis skills: Quantitative risk assessment of natural hazards, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of globally relevant environmental issues
- Modelling skills: Ability to use software like MS Excel spreadsheet to model aspects of natural hazards (e.g. occurrence, human and financial losses)
- Critical Thinking skills: Critical thinking as applicable to natural hazard assessment and risk projection.
- Public speaking or presenting skills: communication of natural hazards and associated science behind them
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Recommended background knowledge
It is recommended that students have an interest or familiarity with research and communication. This subject mimics real-world problem-solving in small teams, and a willingness to collaborate is highly recommended.
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: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Four thematic tutorial group reports (3-5 students per group)
| From Week 3 to Week 11 | 40% |
Group research project (3-5 students per group)
| Week 12 | 10% |
Group research project in-class presentation (3-5 students per group)
| Week 12 | 5% |
Individual research project
| Due between Weeks 7 and 11 | 5% |
Written examination
| During the examination period | 40% |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Mark Quigley Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 2 x one hour lectures per week; 1 x two hour practical workshop per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Donald Hyndman and David Hyndman, Natural Hazards and Disasters, 2nd Edition Brooks/Cole 2009, or 3rd Edition 2011
- Subject notes
This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course.
Students undertaking this subject will be expected to access online information about natural disasters. Appropriate IT facilities are widely available on campus in existing work spaces.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Environmental Science Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Geology Informal specialisation Physical Geography Major Physical Geography Informal specialisation Geology Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Breadth Track Climate and Water Breadth Track Living in Australia's Hazardous Ecosystems Breadth Track Understanding Disasters, Their Management and Planning - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- 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.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024