The course is designed to engage students in the practice of collaborative, integrative multidisciplinary research needed for tackling complex multi-scale issues involved in creating sustainable futures. Topics will include the ‘science wars' and knowledge systems, justice and fairness dimensions of interventions for sustainability, the role of institutions and civil society in regulating human behaviour, and patterns of consumption, resource use versus conservation, living with risk and uncertainty, balancing individual wants and social needs, global equality of access and opportunity.
The course involves student projects that investigate a future issue in a collaborative partnership with an external agency, institution, company or enterprise. Seminars will concentrate on the practice and application of research methodologies, methods and tools for doing and integrating research across many discipline areas.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Understand key current environmental issues and their implications across Australia and globally.
- Source reliable contemporary scientific research findings across the sustainability sector.
- Explain and apply contemporary theory and research methods employed in the sustainability sciences.
- Interpret and communicate research findings and their implications across the sustainability sector for decision-makers.
Other Information
If you do not meet the requisites for this course, it may be possible to receive a permission code. If you are prompted for a permission code on ISIS, please request one online via the following form.
Indicative Assessment
- Learning journal (25) [LO 1,2,3]
- Literature review of and policy recommendations on an agreed environmental science topic. (25) [LO 2,3]
- Grand challenge project (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Oral "Conference" presentation (10) [LO 1,4]
The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 1 x 3 hour Seminar and 5 hours of skills development workshops throughout the semester.
- Approximately 89 hours of self-study which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and other assessment tasks.
Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
Nil
Preliminary Reading
- Australia State of Environment Report 2016. https://soe.environment.gov.au
- IPBES Summary for policymakers – Global Assessment. https://ipbes.net/global-assessment
- IPCC Global Warming of 1.5°C. 2018. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/
- OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Australia 2019. http://www.oecd.org/australia/oecd-environmental-performance-reviews-australia-2019-9789264310452-en.htm
- UNEP Global Environmental Outlook GEO6. 2019. https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/global-environment-outlook-6
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $4560 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $6180 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6936 | 24 Jul 2023 | 31 Jul 2023 | 31 Aug 2023 | 27 Oct 2023 | In Person | View |