Outline

Overview

In the 21st century the population of the world will increase both in size and its expectation in terms of food, energy and consumer demands. Against this demand we have a planet in crisis where natural resources are degraded, biodiversity is diminishing and planetary cycles related to climate are reaching points of irreversible change. Management of our precious natural resources is a balancing act between production and conservation as always, but now we have to do this against a background of potential large scale changes in climate. In this unit students will gain an understanding of the key environmental challenges of the 21st century; namely food security, climate change, water security, biodiversity protection, ecosystems services and soil security. In the second half, using Australian case studies, we will explore how we manage different agro-ecosystems within their physical constraints around water, climate and soil, while considering linkages with the global environmental challenges. Management now, in the past and the future will be considered, with an emphasis on food production. This unit is recommended unit for students interested in gaining a broad overview of the environmental challenges of the 21st century, both globally and within Australia.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	AGEN1002
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Stephen Cattle, stephen.cattle@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Floris Van Ogtrop, floris.vanogtrop@sydney.edu.au
	Tina Louise Bell, tina.bell@sydney.edu.au
	Lachlan Ingram, lachlan.ingram@sydney.edu.au
	Stephen Cattle, stephen.cattle@sydney.edu.au
	Alex McBratney, alex.mcbratney@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Open book)	Written examination Final exam	45%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Climate map report A short report comprising three full-page maps and one page of text.	5%	Week 03 Due date: 10 Sep 2020 at 23:59	Four A4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Land system sub-group report Each sub-group reports on one land system process for their land system	10%	Week 07 Due date: 12 Oct 2020 at 23:59	Up to 10 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Arthursleigh virtual fieldtrip report A report on vegetation, soil and water resources at "Arthursleigh"	20%	Week 09 Due date: 26 Oct 2020 at 23:59	Up to 13 pages, plus references
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Opinion piece Write an opinion piece about an hypothetical agro-environmental issue	5%	Week 10 Due date: 02 Nov 2020 at 23:59	Up to two pages
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Land system group presentation A Powerpoint presentation by members of each land system group	15%	Week 12	20 minutes per group
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Food security	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Introduction to land system group and QGIS	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 02	Climate change abatement	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Land system groups – climate trends for land systems	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 03	Water security	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Land system groups – water budget for land systems	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 04	Soil security and ecosystem services	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Land system groups – soil P budgets for land systems	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 05	Biodiversity protection	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Land system groups – biodiversity loss, carbon sequestration in land systems	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 06	Australia: agro‐ecosystems overview	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Land system groups – land system change	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 07	Australia: physical constraints; soil, water and climate	Lecture (2 hr)
	Whole class practical – gathering data for field trip location	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
	Virtual fieldtrip to Southern Tablelands of NSW - video of staff collecting data at the site	Field trip (7 hr)
Week 08	Case study: the wheat‐sheep belt	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Whole class practical – processing data from field trip	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 09	Case study: national parks and the forest estate	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Whole class practical – writing an opinion piece	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 10	Case study: rangelands	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Preparing for land system group presentations	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 11	Case study: irrigation and wetlands	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Preparing for land system group presentations	Computer laboratory (2 hr)
Week 12	The future of food production	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Land system group presentations	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

All lectures and practical sessions are online in 2020. Students are expected to be online for all land system group practical sessions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. explain the key global challenges around sustainable food production in the 21st century
LO2. relate the global challenges to an Australian context in terms of key agro-ecosystems
LO3. explain and calculate carbon, water and phosphorus budgets for agro-ecosystems
LO4. use GIS software to perform introductory spatial analysis
LO5. find, analyse, synthesise and reference information from multiple sources
LO6. write a scientific piece of writing
LO7. measure environmental (soil, water, plant, weather) properties in the field
LO8. work collaboratively in a group in a range of situations (field, computer laboratory and writing a report).

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered, although the very popular weekend fieldtrip has been replaced with a 'virtual fieldtrip' in 2020 due to social distancing restrictions.

Additional information

All students are expected to download the freeware QGIS onto their own computers (Mac or PC) to enable their full participation in practical sessions.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit in 2020.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

ENVI1003: Global Challenges: Food, Water, Climate

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect