Studying at York
Monitoring & Control of Pollution - ENV00091M
Module summary
This module brings together existing knowledge covering key environmental challenges and techniques to both monitor and control environmental pollution. We will focus on major types of environmental pollutants with a particular emphasis on the aquatic environment. Learning both practical skills and applied knowledge you will gain an understanding of how we measure and mitigate environmental pollution.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
Understanding how to monitor environmental pollutants is important for determining anthropogenic impacts on the environment and providing regulatory bodies with the information they require to develop and implement controls to minimise the impacts of pollutants. This module aims to provide students with an understanding of:
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The different approaches used in environmental monitoring and an introduction into the key concepts involved in the design, implementation and use of environmental monitoring programmes, and
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The strategies available to minimise or eliminate pollution and the production of wastes.
A series of lectures and practical sessions will be used to provide hands-on experience in relevant methodologies and to provide experience of collating and interpreting relevant datasets. Additionally, field trips and seminars will introduce students to the science and engineering underlying pollution and waste management. Together, this course will equip students with the skills to evaluate and select feasible treatment technologies and management techniques for different classes of pollutants and wastes. This will enable students to gain theoretical and practical skills which are highly relevant for employment (e.g., in government agencies, environmental consultancies and other similar bodies).
Module learning outcomes
Module learning outcomes include:
-Identify and apply the important elements involved in conducting successful environmental monitoring and assessment programmes and understand how to design and carry out monitoring exercises using a range of appropriate techniques.
-Critically evaluate environmental data quality from monitoring exercises to support (e.g., policy development, reviewing its reliability, validity and significance).
-Demonstrate an understanding of the science and engineering underlying different treatment technologies and be equipped to select appropriate technologies and management techniques for different classes of pollutants.
-Identify and apply strategies to minimise the discharge of pollutants to the environment.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Written feedback on summative assessment. Ongoing verbal feedback. Optional formative feedback on formative presentation.
Indicative reading
Harrison, R. (2007) Pollution: Causes, effects and control. Fourth edition. Royal Society of Chemistry