Course overview
This course examines the heavy burden humans have placed on Earth. The functioning of the environment is analysed to understand human impacts. A key feature of the course is a focus on the solutions to environmental problems at local to global scales. In the course we first consider Indigenous peoples' management of the Australian landscape. Then follows an examination of global climate change. Turning to the water cycle, we focus on how the crucial resource of water has been degraded in Australia and around the world. We then we examine biological process and the challenges of biodiversity loss, invasive species, fire and forest management, and the importance of wetlands. A one-day field trip focusses on rehabilitation of degraded environments. The final module focusses on the role of culture, education, and media in environmentally issues and how multidisciplinary approaches are needed to address environmental problems effectively.