2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE1420 Resources
10 creditsClass Size: 100
Module manager: Ian Burke
Email: i.t.burke@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
This module will introduce the diversity of renewable and non-renewable resources and the circular economy concept of production and consumption of the Earth’s natural resources by society. We will explore natural resources extracted from the Earth (i.e. fossil fuels, bulk and scarce metals, mineral fertilisers), water quality and security, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, ecosystem services, soil and food, and waste as both a resource and a by-product of societal growth. Students will gain knowledge of a variety of natural resources and the potential environmental damage, socio-economic effects and ethical issues that result from their extraction and use.Objectives
This module will introduce the diversity of renewable and non-renewable resources and the circular economy concept of production and consumption of the Earth’s natural resources by society. We will explore natural resources extracted from the Earth (i.e. fossil fuels, bulk and scarce metals, mineral fertilisers), water quality and security, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, ecosystem services, soil and food, and waste as both a resource and a by-product of societal growth. Students will gain knowledge of a variety of natural resources and the potential environmental damage, socio-economic effects and ethical issues that result from their extraction and use.Learning outcomes
1. Discover and gain an understanding of the diversity of natural resources that are essential to the maintenance and advancement of society.
2. Understand the nature of renewable and non-renewable resources and how society can use them in a sustainable and/or responsible manner.
3. Being able to critically assess the different trade-offs between resource exploitation and the preservation of ecosystem services within natural systems.
4. Understand the national and international legislation and policy around the continued sustainable use of natural resources into the future.
5. Be able to work as a group to synthesise, integrate and present information related to the knowledge obtained during this course.
Syllabus
-Introduction to module
- Resources: concepts and definitions
- Bulk metals
- Rare/scarce/precious metals
- Fossil fuels
- Hydrocarbon by-products
- Mineral fertilisers
- Bulk materials: quarrying and construction
- Renewable energy
- Nuclear energy
- Drinking water and water security
- Ecosystem services: extractable resources
- Ecosystem services: non-extractable resources
- Soil
- Sustainability of future food production
- Waste as a resource
- Sustainable resource policy and legislation
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Debate | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Lecture | 18 | 1.00 | 18.00 |
| Private study hours | 80.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100.00 | ||
Private study
Students will be expected to read relevant chapters from course texts that will be recommended to them, and to independently consolidate and review material covered in lectures. Students will also need to spend an appropriate amount of time preparing for their formative debate and summative presentations in their groups.Opportunities for Formative Feedback
There will be a 2 hour session in week 5 where students will debate one of the key issues already covered in the course in small groups. Each group debate will be convened by one of the teaching staff who will provide formative feedback on each group’s preparation and performance. This will provide ample feedback for the students to use in their summative group assessment later in the semester.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Group Project | Annotated and narrated group powerpoint presentation. | 100.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 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: 10/05/2023 16:29:07
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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