• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Living with Environmental Change

Module description

The environment is changing locally and globally, from climate change to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, with increasing pressures on life-sustaining resources (including water, food, clean air, energy and materials). This environmental change is in the context of rapidly ageing populations and growing inequalities around the world. This in turn has important implications for human health and wellbeing. We will examine the wellbeing, resiliency, and sustainability of vulnerable human populations and ecosystems in the face of rapid global environmental change. Delivered in Cornwall, this is an optional module and is suitable for non-specialist students (i.e. does not require having taken other modules). The module is interdisciplinary in focus, and is open to students enrolled in different programs.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module covers a wide range of topics related to opportunities and challenges faced when living with environmental change. These range from food and water security, land use and degradation, ecosystem services, and living in the built environment to the health and wellbeing benefits stemming from interactions with the natural environment. Insights from medicine, biology, geography, climatology and social sciences will be used to put these challenges in context, and possible approaches to prevention, mitigation and adaptation will be discussed. 

The skills you gain from discussion and critique of cutting-edge research, coupled with independent review of the scientific literature, will stand you in good stead for careers in the environmental and health sectors by developing or enhancing your employability. Transferable skills to other sectors include: problem solving, time management, collaboration and writing- and presentation skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Explain the various challenges and opportunities faced by humankind in light of global and local environmental change.
• 2. Demonstrate appraisal of some of the potential mitigation, adaptation and prevention approaches to living with environmental change including different perspectives (e.g. individual, community, national and international, and developed vs. developing world).
• 3. Examine the wellbeing, resiliency and sustainability of pertinent examples of vulnerable human populations and ecosystems facing rapid global environmental change.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Explain the need for and demonstrate some appraisal of qualitative and quantitative interdisciplinary evidence.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Communicate key concepts competently both verbally and in writing.

Syllabus plan

This module will cover study of the risks and benefits of interactions between humans and the environment including the effects on health and wellbeing from a range of exposures associated with environmental change (e.g. climate change, anthropogenic pollution), potential routes of exposure , impacts on ecosystems, and related issues such as food security and energy, as well as interactions with stakeholders. Case studies, student discussions, a field trip and other group interactions will be utilised.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Howard Frumkin, Editor. Environmental Health: From Global to Local. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2016.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Web based and electronic resources: Web based and electronic resources will be available 

Other resources: An up to date reading list of journal articles will be provided on ELE.

Key words search

Climate change, pollution, planetary health, environmental health, global change