University of Canterbury

This course examines principles to tell science from pseudo-science, truth from falsehood, logic from rhetoric, sound reasoning from wishful thinking, effective medicine from quackery, and good evidence from lies, fraud and fakery. Topics covered include the fallibility of the senses, the fallibility of memory, the placebo effect, the tricks of the cold reader’s trade, confirmation bias, the Barnum effect, relativism, mind viruses, the basics of logic, formal and informal fallacies, and the scientific evaluation of competing hypotheses.

This course will extend each student's knowledge and understanding of the educational possibilities of top-roped rock climbing in New Zealand. Through the course students will critically analyze the literature relevant to top-roped rock climbing and use this analysis to plan, implement and evaluate a rock climbing experience which incorporates contemporary approaches to outdoor education and is supported by the New Zealand Curriculum. The technical and legal aspects of safety and risk are explored and students develop skills in establishing educational and safe rock climbing experiences. Through field trips to climbing areas in the Port Hills/ Nga Kohatu Whakarekareka o Tamatea Pokai Whenua, students learn about the importance of place to climbers and the significance to Tangata Whenua.

This course examines the nature of environmental law; the merits and disadvantages of statutory and common law approaches to environmental issues; the evolution of environmental concern; particular legal problems arising out of the nature of environmental issues; the precautionary principle; philosophies of human relations with the natural world; possible implications of environmental necessity for political, social, constitutional and economic organization; environmental economics and issues of public and private property and historical and present-day case studies. 

This course provides an opportunity to apply the skills students acquire through their academic study to a project designed by a local company or community group in New Zealand, or internationally.

This course examines the concepts of how marine species interact with each other and the environment to form functional populations and communities. This course uses a mixed platform of lectures, tutorials, computer labs and field-based exercises to explore and understand current issues and processes affecting marine ecosystems, using New Zealand and worldwide examples. 

This course examines the historical realities of the Treaty, enabling an understanding of the modern colonial nation state and its processes with respect to Indigenous peoples. It covers Maori responses, engagement with, and resistance to the colonial project leading to a critical understanding of colonialism.

This course examines the basics of evolution, ecology and conservation biology. It covers how evolution underpins both ecology and conservation and how these areas of biology impact every-day life; genes (micro) and species (macro) evolution; human diseases, drug resistance and invasive species; how fossils have contributed to our understanding of life on Earth today; and how New Zealand science is saving our unique ecosystems.

This course examines options for the transport of forest products. It covers soil engineering characteristics and low-cost methods to determine the bearing capacity of subgrade soils; vehicle/road interaction; legal regulations for heavy vehicles operating on New Zealand public roads; forestry truck and trailer designs and their impact on load capacity and vehicle safety; road design for forest roads and the design of low-cost water crossings and drainage structures; application of RoadEng road design software; and cost estimation and contract management for road construction.

This course examines basic data structures and algorithms that are commonly used in software development, and introduces students to broad concepts from Computer Science that enable them to develop effective programs. 

Has green politics come of age? Around the world we are seeing spontaneous community movements challenging four difficult and intersecting issues: dangerous environmental change, growing social inequality, weak democracy and a paradigm of growth that has contributed to resource extraction beyond the capacity of the planet. Against a background of difficult issues including climate change and the impact of colonization, this course examines the roots of environmental thinking and activism and asks- what are the implications of these ideas for how we live as citizens, communities, businesses and nations and how might we plan for just transitions towards a more equitable and sustainable future? The course involves a weekend field trip.