Environmental Biology
Overview
This unit aims to introduce the students to various regional and global concerns regarding the environment, including the natural challenges, various types of environmental pollutants and their effects, the changing environment, and the developments of diverse technologies to detect, study and address these concerns. The subject aims to introduce specific examples and cases, and explain how chemical, biological and molecular sciences can applied to identify and address issues of environmental concerns.
Requisites
AND EITHER
CHE10001 Chemistry 1
OR
CHE10004 Introduction to Chemistry
AND ONE OF:
BIO20002 The Microbial World
OR
BCH20002 Introduction to Biochemistry
OR
CHE10002 Chemistry 2
01-June-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Consider the significance of native biodiversity and need for its conservation, including describing diversity of life forms and their interactions in ecosystems
- Explore Indigenous knowledges of caring for Country and apply learnings to contemporary environmental biology studies
- Investigate and appreciate diverse types of environmental pollutants and their impacts on health and the environment, including the impact of human activities
- Reflect on any scientific, ethical and social issues associated with some applications of new technologies to address environmental concerns
- Via literature searches, expound environmental issues and appraise potential solutions to these identified issues
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 1.50 | 12 weeks | 18 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.00 | 12 weeks | 96 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Sarawak
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Lecture | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 1.50 | 12 weeks | 18 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.00 | 12 weeks | 96 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual | 20 - 35% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Online Quiz | Individual | 10 - 15% | 1,3,4 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 30 - 45% | 1,3,4 |
| Online Tests | Individual | 15 - 30% | 1,3,4 |
Content
- Life forms and their interactions, biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Contemporary studies of organisms and ecosystems and exploring their potential convergence with aspects of Indigenous knowledge
- Issues of environmental concerns, e.g., diverse types of pollutants from industrial, mining or agricultural activities and/or health care practices; case studies
- The effects of pollutants on living organisms; case studies
- Environmental stress factors and their impacts on plant life, sustainability and biodiversity; case studies
- Natural sources of new drugs, chemicals, industrially useful organisms, applications
- Emerging or developing areas such as biopolymers, biodegradable materials, biofuels, environmental modelling studies
- Applications of biology, chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and/or biotechnology in environmental sciences
- Ethical, scientific and/or social considerations of the various issues
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.