Environmental Science

Course summary

On this course, you will investigate local and international environmental issues, topical and current issues. Learn to evaluate and assess data and information from several different sources, separating fact from fiction. You will examine how the planet works, the soil and rocks, the oceans, the atmosphere and the complex living world that depends upon these systems. How man is upsetting and damaging the environment is contrasted with sustainable management of the planet. You will also see how environmental scientists are actively tackling a range of issues facing the world, such as climate change, pollution, desertification and GM technology. The course is broken down into the following major subject areas: – The living environment – The physical environment – Energy resources, pollution – Biological resources – Sustainability – Research methods Lessons are a mixture of whole-class teaching, group work and independent research that will lead to you presenting your findings to the class. You will also learn through lab work, discussions and field trips. During your studies, you will become more confident in kick sampling, microclimate analysis, and ecological sampling in grassland and woodland habitats. Finally, you will use apps from satellite telemetry to ocean buoy monitoring to examine how environmental monitoring data is collected and analysed.