2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE3112 Environmental Risk: Science, Policy and Management
10 creditsClass Size: 70
Module manager: Dr Yim Ling Siu
Email: Y.L.Siu@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2019/20
Module replaces
SOEE3111This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
The aim of this module is to provide a holistic understanding of the links between environmental risk, management and communication, and how these three components have effects on environmental policy and decision-making to aid sustainable development. The objectives are to provide students the basic concepts of: the definitions of risk; risk calculation and risk assessment approaches and methods; risk perceptions; the contemporary environmental risk management strategies; and the role and technique of risk communication in decision-making.Objectives
The assessment, perception, communication and management of risk are increasingly seen as major components of environmental policy decision-making. The aim of this module is to adopt a systematic approach to explore the links of these major components, examining how environmental risks are assessed, understood, communicated and managed in a range of contexts.Its objectives are to provide a broad understanding of: the nature of risks; the scientific perspective of risk; using scientific advice for environmental policy and decision-making; the social dimension of risk and how risk decisions were made; the contemporary environmental risk management strategies; and the role and technique of risk communication in decision-making.
Learning outcomes
To develop scholarship and skills in the understanding of environmental risks, including aspects of environmental risk assessment, management, perception and communication; to increase critical awareness of the dichotomy of science-based and social values laden environmental risk assessment and decisions; to gain understanding of the need for balancing technical, social and economic issues in managing environmental risks; and to gain understanding of the need for communicating decisions that involve environmental risk and its uncertainty.
Skills outcomes
- To gain analytical skills in the understanding of the role and component of environmental risk assessment;
- To gain confidence in providing a critical evaluation of the science-based or social values laden environmental risk decision;
- To gain understanding of the principles and techniques in communicating decisions that involve environmental risks, including the uncertainty inherent in Science.
Syllabus
- Introduction
- What is risk?
- Risk calculation & risk assessment: approaches and methods
- Scientific uncertainty
- Why different people perceive risk in different ways?
- Environmental risk management strategies
- Communicating risk: models, principles & best practices
- Reflection and revision
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Group learning | 11 | 1.00 | 11.00 |
Lecture | 9 | 1.00 | 9.00 |
Private study hours | 80.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 20.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100.00 |
Private study
Reading – 40 hours (4 hours per week)Assignment preparation – 40 hours
Methods of assessment
Exams
Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
Unseen exam | 2 hr 00 mins | 100.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 100.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 11/07/2019
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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