This course aims to develop your understanding of environmental problems caused by human activities, global environmental stressors and “grand challenges” in environmental engineering. The course is structured to week by week introduce key module topic areas through explanation of the environmental problem and the corresponding environmental engineering solutions to issues of climate change and contamination of air, water and ground by human activities. In addition, key environmental engineering topics of waste management and environmental impact assessment are studies.  Furthermore, the course includes a laboratory to provide you with practical hands-on experience of laboratory methods in environmental engineering. 

1. Recognise how human activities lead to environmental impacts (including pollution of the atmosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere) and how these can be understood through the lens of sustainable development. 
2. Identify and define common environmental engineering approaches, technologies and processes applicable to mitigation and remediation of anthropogenic environmental impacts.  
3. Identify and critically evaluate environmental engineering technologies and processes and their sustainability and appropriateness in application to specific engineering projects and environmental problems.  
4. Employ relevant laboratory techniques, set-ups and methods of measurement to investigate environmental engineering problems. 

The module will be delivered through a blend of face-to-face classes (guided study, tutorials, feedback, and laboratory session), and online learning material (including pre-recorded lectures, and tutorial problems).  You will form small groups which will work together through the course on guided study questions and a group project report.  Where possible, a field trip of relevance to the course will be undertaken.  

Within this module you will develop the following employability skills 

• Contributing positively and effectively when working in a team, having an impact from the outset. 

• Think creatively about technological solutions to environmental problems whilst being mindful of the Climate Emergency and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 

• Identifying, defining and analysing complex issues and ideas, exercising critical judgement in evaluating sources of information 

• Think creatively about technological solutions to environmental problems whilst being mindful of the Climate Emergency and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 

• Identifying, defining and analysing complex issues and ideas, exercising critical judgement in evaluating sources of information 

• Collaborative working - You will need to contribute positively and effectively when working in groups during the laboratory sessions. 

• Develop collaborative peer communications skills through informal tutorial and group laboratory settings. 

• Effective communication - In the laboratory reports you will need to communicate complex ideas effectively. 

• Use of experimental testing and measurement techniques in the laboratory

The module is assessed through a combination of coursework and a short laboratory report.   

There are two pass or fail qualifying element to the module, these are (i) The laboratory session, assessed via a short report completed in the laboratory session (LO4). And (ii) A report comprising the study group’s answers to the group study questions (LO 1-2).  

The core assessment is through a group report to which individuals receive marks for their individual and group contribution (LO 2-3).  

Formative feedback is provided on group study questions is provided during timetabled sessions.   

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE: 

Reassessment will be via written examination and/or a synoptic assessment which will be based on any combination of failed components as deemed appropriate. 

Opportunities for re-assessment is only permitted provided you have not failed more credit than in the resit rule adopted by your programme.  If the amount of credit you have failed is more than permitted by the relevant resit rule, you may be permitted to repeat study if you are within the threshold set for the Repeat rule adopted by your programme.  You will be notified of your eligibility to resit/repeat any modules after the Examining Board in the Summer period. 

All resit assessments will be held in the Resit Examination period, prior to the start of the following academic session. 

• Global environmental stressors and grand challenges in environmental engineering within the context of sustainable development 

• Global warming and its mitigation 

• Contaminated land and its remediation 

• Air pollution and air pollution control 

• Environmental Impact Assessment 

• Water pollution and water treatment  

• Wastewater and wastewater treatment 

• Waste management, recycling and circular economy