Pollution, often seen as a modern challenge, has deep roots in history. Understanding its legacy is the key to creating a cleaner and more sustainable future. This course unveils how historical pollution has been a force of transformation, both in the environment and in the shaping of societies. Students will not only acquire historical knowledge but also uncover the valuable lessons that centuries of pollution hold for us today.

This course will take students to the realms of ancient empires such as Rome and China, the Inca civilization, and the era of modern colonisation, enabling us to uncover the environmental footprints they left behind. As the course delves into these case studies, questions that transcend time will be discussed: How has pollution impacted the rise and fall of civilizations? Were chemicals ever used with sinister intent for social or political gains? What makes one pollutant unacceptable in one era while another is tolerated in a different context? And how do societies balanced their economic pursuits with environmental preservation?

In this course students will engage in basic laboratory analyses, gaining firsthand experience in simple scientific techniques used to uncover traces of pollution from centuries past. Upon completion of this course, students will have built a strong foundation in environmental history, achieved through an engaging exploration that bridges history and science, contributing to the betterment of our environment's future.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Contrast categories of historical pollution resulting from human activities.
2. Evaluate the relationship between the development of historical societies and the onset of pollution.
3. Examine the primary environmental mechanisms responsible for the dispersion of pollution in the natural environment.
4. Interpret the findings of basic laboratory analyses in the field of environmental science that facilitate the tracing of historical pollution.
5. Evaluate how historical pollution cases influenced the creation of early environmental protection laws.

Research-Led Teaching

Lab work will be conducted in this course

Field Trips

Field visits to (1) Captains Flat, a former copper and zinc mine, and (2) to Braddon in Civic, to explore and uncover the history of industrial pollution in our region.

Additional Course Costs

A minibus will be provided for transport, and a tutor will accompany students during both fieldwork and lab activities.

Only the trip to Captains Flat will incur a cost of approximately $20 per person. All other activities are free of charge.

Examination Material or equipment

lake sediments

Required Resources

A reading list will be made available on Canvas before course commencement.

Recommended Resources

A reading list will be made available on Canvas before course commencement.

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
10	Course Topic/Title: Pollution in past societies: the science and history that shaped the modern world Course Description:Pollution, often seen as a modern challenge, has deep roots in history. Understanding its legacy is the key to creating a cleaner and more sustainable future. This course unveils how historical pollution has been a force of transformation, both in the environment and in the shaping of societies. Students will not only acquire historical knowledge but also uncover the valuable lessons that centuries of pollution hold for us today.This course will take students to the realms of ancient empires such as Rome and China, the Inca society, and the era of modern colonisation, enabling us to uncover the environmental footprints they left behind. As the course delves into these case studies, questions that transcend time will be discussed: How has pollution impacted the rise and fall of civilizations? Were chemicals ever used with sinister intent for social or political gains? What makes one pollutant unacceptable in one era while another is tolerated in a different context? And how do societies balanced their economic pursuits with environmental preservation?In this course students will engage in basic laboratory analyses, gaining firsthand experience in simple scientific techniques used to uncover traces of pollution from centuries past. Upon completion of this course, students will have built a strong foundation in environmental history, achieved through an engaging exploration that bridges history and science, contributing to the betterment of our environment's future. Learning Outcomes:Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to: 1) Differentiate between categories of pollution resulting from historical human activities.2) Evaluate the relationship between the development of past societies and the emergence of pollution.3) Analyse the primary environmental processes responsible for the dispersion of pollution in natural systems.4) Interpret the results of basic laboratory analyses used in environmental science to trace historical pollution.5) Assess the influence of historical pollution cases on the development of early environmental protection laws. Other InformationAs a multidisciplinary course, the instructor will provide a foundational understanding of each discipline. No extensive prior knowledge in any of the disciplines is necessary. A strong desire for learning, curiosity, and motivation are highly encouraged.	Assessment Summary:The course grade will based on points given for the online quizzes, case study paper presentation, and for the final report, per the following: 1. Online Quizzes 30%2. Case study presentation 30%3. Final report 40% Online quizzes:Online quizzes will be made available at the end of each day. You will have two weeks to complete them. They should serve to consolidate what you have learnt in the lectures. Note that quizzes will be graded. Case Studies: Each student will choose a pollution related topic to present. You are encouraged to read scientific articles and other reliable material related to the topic for your presentation. Feel free to approach Larissa to ask questions or further understand the topic of your case-study. She is very excited about the topic of this course and is supportive of students who want to make the most of it.Your presentation will be graded based on four major aspects: Content & OrganisationYou should try to present at least the major aspects of your case study. The organisation of your presentation should demonstrate a certain logic. In other words, it should be coherent and cohesive in a way that one segment naturally and logically leads to another.Make the case study’s argument forceful, then, contextualise it (needs and context analysis, for example), support it with evidence (research findings and interpretations, for example), show the logical steps that lead to the arguments (for example, setting up objectives, analysing findings, drawing conclusions).  Presentation DemeanourHow you “act” and “behave” yourself in front of your audience will directly affect your oral presentation. The most important thing is: do not present for presentation’s sake; present to convince your audience. Therefore, show your knowledge and your enthusiasm! A dry, boring presentation where you show no interest in what you are talking about will convince and persuade no audience. Do not do anything that may distract your audience. VisualsVisuals are an essential part of an effective presentation. You can use any program (available at the ANU computers) you consider appropriate to design your visuals (e.g. PowerPoint, Word, etc.) You can have an introductory visual (in which you introduce the project title), an outline visual (which overviews the presentation), and whatever visuals you need to highlight the main points of your talk. Time limitYour presentation should be somewhere around 15 minutes, give or take a few. Being excessively over or under the limit will affect your grade. Minimum: 10 minutesMaximum: 20 minutesAudience: Larissa and your classmates Final report submission:Your report should be submitted as a word file online, using Turnitin (on Wattle). Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records.Note: Practical exercises and case-study presentations are expected to be delivered during classes. If the course has to be changed fully to an online platform (e.g. due to COVID, bushfires) then practical exercises will be expected to be uploaded on Wattle and study-case presentation will be delivered via Zoom. More information will be given by the convenor, if changing to online platform is required.

Tutorial Registration

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.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Quiz	30 %	13/07/2025	13/07/2025	2,3,5
Case Study	30 %	12/07/2025	12/07/2025	1,2,3,5
Final Report	40 %	19/07/2025	19/07/2025	1,2,3,4,5

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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.

Participation

This is a face-to-face course, and a minimum of 80% attendance is expected during the two-week intensive classes.

Examination(s)

All assessments will be evaluated by the course convener.

Assessment Task 1

Quiz

Quizzes will be released in the afternoon on each of the first six days of the course and will cover material from that day's classes. There will be six quizzes in total, comprising 60 multiple-choice questions overall. Each question is worth 0.5 mark, and the quizzes collectively contribute 30% to the final grade.

Assessment Task 2

Case Study

Your presentation will be graded based on four major aspects: Content & Organisation (10%), Research & Evidence (10%), and Clarity & Delivery (10%).

Students will present a case study on pollution in past societies. This task will contribute 30% to the final grade.

Assessment Task 3

Final Report

For this assessment, you are required to select a past environmental pollution case of your choice and critically analyse it. This report will account for 30% of the final grade.

Word limit:

• ASIA 6118 - Minimum: 2,000 words.

Maximum: 3,000 words.

 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

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. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

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

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students