This module introduces students to the complex relationship between humans and the natural environment. Students will develop an understanding of key areas of contemporary environmental change, such as climate & the atmosphere (e.g. air pollution and the consequences for public health), animals (e.g. the impacts of animal diseases on people and communities), vegetation (e.g. deforestation, desertification and famine), waters (e.g. urbanisation, heightened river flow and flooding), and geomorphology (e.g. human impacts on and the human cost of seismic activity). The focus of the module is on understanding how humans have influenced these changes, how they have been affected by them, and how they have attempted to deal with them (e.g. through protest or protection). In doing so, the module explores the uneven geographical distribution of impacts on both environment and society, the different scales at which environmental change is experienced (e.g. local and global), and different ways of perceiving environmental change (e.g. the relationship between ‘local’ and scientific knowledge).

1. Examine the complex interactions between humans and nature across a range of different natural environments.
2. Discuss the different forms of knowledge underpinning perceptions of environmental change.
3. Critically assess the uneven impacts of environmental change on different human populations.
4. Critically assess a range of strategies through which humans attempt to cope with the impacts of environmental change.
5. Discuss the changing relationship between local and global environmental change. 

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and guided reading.

1. Making comparisons between diverse contexts (e.g. comparing types of impact across different natural environments)

2. Written communication skills.

This module is assessed through 1) a written essay and 2) an unseen written examination.

For the written essay, students must complete a 2,000 word (maximum) essay.

For the unseen written exam, students must answer two from a selection of six questions within a 1.5 hour period.

Additional advice on assessments will be provided during lectures.

After an introductory lecture, students will be introduced to a range of different natures and for each of these natures the complex relationship with humans will be explored. The typical syllabus content consists of:

Lecture 1        Introduction

Lectures 2-3   Animals and Vegetation

Lectures 4-5   Waters

Lectures 6-7   Geomorphology

Lectures 8-9   Climate and the Atmosphere

Lecture 10      Summary lecture

Goudie, A.S. (2013) The Human Impact on the Natural Environment: Past, Present and Future Oxford: Blackwell

Middleton, N. (2013) The Global Casino: An Introduction to Environmental Issues Abingdon: Routledge

Smith, K. (2013) Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster Abingdon: Routledge