Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | .25 Hours Group presentation | 25% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Unseen exam | 75% |
| Supplementary Assessment | .25 Hours Group presentation | 25% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Unseen exam | 75% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Understanding of geochemical element and species behaviour in the secondary environment associated with specific anthropogenic activities
Understanding of the impact of biological processes on the fate of geochemical species and contaminants in the environment
Understanding of how environmental contaminants can be remediated by biological and non-biological processes.
Knowledge of the role of environmental geochemistry and biogeochemistry on human and animal health
Brief description
Environmental pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today. This module will develop detailed understanding of the themes of environmental geochemistry and biogeochemistry to equip students with the skills to understand the processes involved in the generation of geochemical pollutants and mechanisms which can be used to clean up or remediate the environment.
Content
An introduction to environmental geochemistry and biogeochemistry.
Sources of geochemical species and contaminants in the environment.
- Mining and the environment
- Smelting and the environment
- Power generation and environmental pollution
- Other sources of environmental pollution
Biogeochemistry – the cycling and remediation of geochemical species in the environment.
- Biological controls on geochemistry
- Biogeochemical cycles
- Biomineralization
- Bioremediation of inorganic contaminants
- Organic compounds and bio-remediation
- Environmental geochemistry, biogeochemistry and health
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Co-ordinating with others | The module has a group presentation component and will involve planning and coordination within a group environment in order to achieve collective goals. |
| Creative Problem Solving | The nature of geochemistry and biogeochemistry as a subject means that the module will have problem solving as a consistent theme throughout. The source and cycling of geochemical species can be both biotic and abiotic and problem solving is inherent within the material presented. This will be assessed via the written exam. |
| Critical and analytical thinking | Geochemical and biogeochemical data sets and studies will be presented throughout the module and discussed in order to develop critical and analytical thinking. This will be assessed via the exam and the oral presentation. |
| Digital capability | Students will prepare for the group work using the Teams platform, and develop the presentation using PowerPoint or similar programmes and will thus developing digital copiability skills. |
| Real world sense | The material presented in the module is focused on real world environments and contemporary environmental problems imbedded directly in real world sense, and is assessed via the written exam and the oral presentation. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6