Mathematics of the Environment - 2025 entry

The module has three interwoven aims: Develop core MATLAB skills; understand key societal themes from a mathematical and computational perspective; develop transferable skills including team-work, report writing and presentation skills. Inter-disciplinarity is key and throughout the module there will be ample opportunity to work alongside mathematical scientists to break down pre-conceived barriers between different areas of mathematics and different applications in science and engineering. Your learning will follow a “develop skills – apply skills – present skills” cycle. 
 
Each cycle will combine lectures and computer lab sessions aimed at building-up quantitative skills, and follows a cycle of introduction lecture to a contemporary challenge within a research theme, guided exploration of the scientific/engineering theme in groups, ending with a presentation or poster session. The cycle will be repeated across three skill sets/applications to offer a wide range of mathematical and computational skills and their application across a wide range of scientific themes.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Listen critically to expert opinions from science and engineering and assimilate imparted knowledge in mathematical terms;

2 Analyse contemporary scientific issues using mathematical, statistical and computational techniques;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

3 Abstract scientific issues into logical mathematical form;

4 Synthesize a range of mathematical, statistical and computational techniques;

5 Develop evidenced-based reasoning;

Personal and Key Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge:

6 Engage in informed debate concerning key issues from the engineering, environmental and life sciences;

7 Engage with stakeholders from the engineering, environmental and life sciences;

8 Engage in group work with peers from different disciplines with different skill sets.

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.

If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Basic Reading:

ELE - http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Met Office Hadley Centre - UKCP18 Science Overview Report:

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/ukcp18/science-reports/UKCP18-Overview-report.pdf

American Meteorological Society (AMS) - State of the Climate in 2015:

https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/publications/bulletin-of-the-american-meteorological-society-bams/state-of-the-climate/

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Reports - AR5 Synthesis Report:

https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf

Other IPCC Reports:

https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/

Other Resources:

Sanyal, J. & Lu, X.X. Application of Remote Sensing in Flood Management with Special Reference to Monsoon Asia: A Review, Natural Hazards (2004) 33: 283

https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000037035.65105.95

Tarsi, K. & Tuff, T. (2012) Introduction to Population Demographics. Nature Education Knowledge 3(11):3

https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/introduction-to-population-demographics-83032908

Reading list for this module: