This course develops multi-disciplinary skills by integrating scientific knowledge and environmental management using examples of major environmental issues related to land and marine environments, including the coastal zone. Through lectures, research projects and field study site visits, students learn about:

• mine site rehabilitation
• national parks and their management
• management of indigenous lands
• wildlife management for conservation and production
• sustainable management of land and water resources in rangelands and croplands
• management of river systems and catchments
• coastal zone management

This course is of interest to soil scientists, foresters, geographers, geologists, and others involved in land and catchment management.

 

Honours Pathway Option

Subject to the approval of the course convenor; students taking this option will be expected to complete advanced weekly readings and to be prepared to discuss this advanced material in tutorials. In addition, students will be expected to make a tutorial presentation on one week's reading and to lead the subsequent discussion (a minimum of 15% of overall assessment). All other assessment and requirements remain the same.

 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Conduct a detailed literature search and prepare a major research paper on a major environmental issue related to land and marine environments, including the coastal zone
2. Conduct a detailed literature search and prepare a research seminar on a major environmental issue related to land and marine environments, including the coastal zone.
3. Discuss a range of environmental issues with various land managers, government extension officers and private consultants, and prepare a report on these issues.
4. Work in teams to record data, write joint reports, and present joint papers at conferences.
5. Explain both the scientific underpinning and environmental implications of critical issues in land, marine and coastal environments, including mine site rehabilitation, national parks and their management, management of indigenous lands, wildlife management for conservation and production, sustainable management of land and water resources in rangelands and croplands, management of river systems and catchments, and coastal zone management.

Research-Led Teaching

The research activities of a number of ANU research staff and government managers, who are guest lecturers, are the basis of this course. Students will receive lectures from experts across a range of environmental disciplines. Each lecturer is drawing directly from their own research experience or management practice. The tutorials and workshops follow a number of discipline case studies emphasising the complex cross-disciplinary nature of environmental management. The course field trips visits real working industry placements, for example cotton farm, broad acre cropping, gold mine, international registered wetlands. The speakers at each stop are actively engaged in real world management.

Field Trips

Four day rangeland fieldtrip [optional] – Depart 7.15 am Tuesday 10th and return by (no later than) 7 pm on Friday 13th September. A major field trip to the marginal rangelands of NSW is held in September holidays. Detailed field program exposes students to real management practices and challenges faced by a range of land uses.

Half day mine site rehabilitation – Captains Flat fieldtrip [optional] – Week 4 Thursday - depart 1300 return by (no later than) 1700. Explore the historical context of mine sites.

Half day mine site rehabilitation – Woodlawn fieldtrip [optional] – Week 5 Thursday - depart 1300 return by (no later than) 1700. Explore the historical context and re purposing of an old mine site.

Additional Course Costs

Four day rangeland fieldtrip – $250* each. Includes transport, accommodation and meals. Payment via ANU Science Shop.

* final cost will be indicated on the course Wattle site

Examination Material or equipment

No electronic devices.

Required Resources

No special resources are required.

Recommended Resources

Readings will be made available during the course.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

Written comments on assignments;

• Verbal comments on individual presentations;

• Verbal feedback to the whole class on group exercises and on assignments;

• Additional, individual feedback on request.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture A: Intro 'What are NRM issues' Lecture B: Focus of NRM governance	Essays/reports/seminars
2	Lecture A: Mining & minesite Rehab Lecture B: Mining & minesite Rehab
3	Lecture A: Mining rehab and LFA Lecture B: Field trip to Woodlawn	Seminars Module 1 (Minesite rehab)
4	Lecture A: Rangelands 1 - What, where Lecture B: Rangelands 2 - Wildlife Harvesting	Field trip to Captains Flat
5	Lecture A: Rangelands 3 - Goats Lecture B: Rangelands 4 - Grazing	Field trip to Woodlawn
6	Lecture A: C in Rangeland soils Lecture B: Mgt soil salinity	Seminars Module 2 (Rangelands management)
7	Lecture A: Indigenous Land Ownership Lecture B: National Parks	Seminars Module 3 (National Pks/Conserv)
8	Lecture A: Box gum network Lecture B: National Landcare	Seminars Module 4 (National Landcare Program)
9	Lecture A: Water dist in catchments Lecture B: Algal bloom management	Seminars Module 5 (Catchment management)
10	Lecture A: P runoff & algal bloom Mgt Lecture B: Black Water
11	Lecture A: Sea water ingress Lecture B: Coast adapt	Seminar Module 6 (Coastal adaptation)
12	Lecture A: Catchment modelling Lecture B: Course Review

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Research Seminar	25 %	22/07/2019	24/10/2019	2, 3, 4
Major Research Essay	25 %	15/08/2019	07/09/2019	1, 4
Field trip report	25 %	10/10/2019	24/10/2019	1, 2, 3, 4
Final semester exam	25 %	31/10/2019	28/11/2019	4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Examination(s)

Please note, that where a date range is used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams, the due date and return date indicate the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held and results returned to the student (official end of Semester results released on ISIS). Students should consult the course wattle site and the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Research Seminar

As a group, research a land management topic. Each group member will argue the case of a different stakeholder. Talk duration is 8 mins with panel discussion time at end. Active listening mark is awarded to rest of class in audience.

Word limit: Active communicator = 8 mins; Active listener = 500 words

Value: 25%

Presentation requirements:Written work submitted at end of class

Estimated return date: One week after submission

Students will present on different dates which will be discussed in class. The due date indicates the approximate date the first presentations are due, the return date indicates the end of the teaching period.

Assessment Task 2

Major Research Essay

Choose one essay topic (28 across 6 themes are provided). International students can write on a case study of the topic in their home country.

Word limit: 2500

Value: 25%

Presentation requirements:Written work submitted via Turnitin

Estimated return date: 2 weeks after submission

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): Individual assessment piece

Assessment Task 3

Field trip report

Prepare a 2000 word report in the style of a journal article OR 'The Conversation' that describes:

• The key characteristics of shrublands that have become dysfunctional and formed clay pans?

• Describe how water-ponding techniques can be used to rehabilitate such degraded areas, and landscape function analysis used to monitor the rehabilitation.

Value: 25%

Presentation requirements: Written work submitted via Turnitin

Estimated return date: 2 weeks after submission

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): Individual assessment piece drawing on group collected field dataset

Assessment Task 4

Final semester exam

Two hour (2hr) final exam – answer 6 questions from the 8 options provided.

The date range in the Assessment Summary indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ISIS. Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time and location exam.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records.

Hardcopy Submission

Hard copy submission is not permitted.

Late Submission

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure.

The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request it in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Feedback on assignments is provided electronically via the Wattle course page

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Re-submission of assignments is not permitted

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students