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GEO201: Threats to Civilisation

Module Title	Threats to Civilisation
Module Code	GEO201
Module Tutor	Kenneth Lynch
School	Natural and Social Sciences
CAT Points	30
Level of Study	5
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Restrictions	None
Brief Description	This module investigates different aspects of environmental and social hazards over time and their management from an inter-disciplinary perspective. Examples include historical collapse of civilization, major floods and volcanic eruptions. Students research the science, perception, prediction and planning for mitigation.
Indicative Syllabus	This module examines the relationship between population and resources in the face of major environmental change and hazards. The module will cover controversial aspects of hominid extinction (e.g. Neanderthals; ‘Hobbits’), and subsequently cases of claimed spectacular human population collapse (e.g. the Mayan civilisation; Easter Island). The module will then investigate different aspects of contemporary environmental hazards and their management from an inter-disciplinary perspective. Students will be encouraged to research the science and prediction in relation to the historical examples and then combine these approaches with study of the perception and planning for mitigation in relation to contemporary threats. It also emphasises the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to environmental hazard research and as such draws on the strengths of student participation from different subject specialisms. The material provides a springboard for further study of applied environmental management.
Learning Outcomes	i. Knowledge and understanding On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they: a) have successfully understood and evaluated the contributions of the social and physical sciences to understanding environmental threats to modern and historical civilisation; b) have successfully understood the threat of long term environmental change and short term environmental events and what can be learned from this for the management and mitigation of threats to contemporary civilisation; c) have successfully understood a range of different environmental agents and their challenges for management; d) have an awareness of the significance of the rise and fall of past civilisations for contemporary and future societies. ii. Skills On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they can: a) read and comprehend complex theoretical arguments and relate them to detailed empirical problems; b) are familiar with a range of environmental archaeological techniques; c) effectively communicate their own theoretical arguments and original research using written, oral and visual communication; d) can evaluate a range of evidence to assess human impact on the landscape; e) conduct original research including the evaluation of a range of evidence to assess the relationship between human civilisation and the hazards of environmental events or longer term change.
Learning and Teaching Activities	Staff / student contact: 32 % (48 hrs; lectures) Student directed learning: 68%
Assessment (For further details see the Module Guide)	001: 35% Coursework: Standard: 3000 words or equivalent 002: 15% Coursework: Standard: 500 words or equivalent 003: 50% Written Exam: End of year, unseen, closed book: 3.00 hours
Special Assessment Requirements	None
Indicative Resources	The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.

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