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EK5804: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:07


Course Overview

The course provides background information about the origins and development of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, and its implementation in the UK and elsewhere. It also highlights the impacts of planned activities on the environment, including impacts on biodiversity, vegetation and ecology, water, and air. Throughout the course you will learn about the different stages of the EIA process, but you will also learn to identify, evaluate and mitigate the likely environmental impacts of a variety of development projects. A combination of lectures, seminars and workshops will be used, providing an opportunity to develop transferrable skills valued by employers, such as time-management, communication of science, and critical appraisal.

 

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Marta Dondini

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied) or BI4015 Grant Proposal (Passed) or BI4515 Grant Proposal - Semester 2 (Passed)
  • One of MRes Environmental Science or MRes Soil Science or MSc Applied Marine and Fisheries Ecology or Master Of Science In Ecology & Conservation or Master Of Science In Environmental Pollution And Remediation or Master Of Science In Environmental Management or MSc Environmental Science or MSci Biological Sciences

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Human activities affect the natural and human environment in a multitude of ways, varying in characteristics of effect, magnitude, spatial extent and timescale. Because of such complex relationship between the natural and human environments, it is very important to try to predict the environmental (and social) impacts of programs, projects and planned developments that may alter the quality of the environment and impact well-being. As the human population continues to increase and natural resources become more limited, the importance of improving the sustainability of development and identifying mitigation measures becomes greater. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been developed to minimise adverse environmental effects, while allowing economic activities to continue. It is a critical component of sustainable development and it is therefore important to understand, apply and evaluate the EIA process.
The aim of the course is to provide training in principles, methods and application of EIA in the United Kingdom, European Union and elsewhere in the world. The course also aims to foster balanced judgement of the strengths and weaknesses of EIA, effective communication in written and oral forms, as well as providing the tools for creating high-quality EIAs.
By the end of the course, you will be able to describe the different stages of the EIA process, the types of activity involved, and main participants. You will also be able to deepen expertise on assessing environmental impacts and mitigation measures of selected developments through scientific evidences and critical thinking.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Opinion Piece

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Podcast (Recorded Presentation)

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Includes peer review of group work with IPAC. IPAC score varies 25% of group grade.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed elements

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Resubmission of failed element if overall grade is a fail 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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