Environmental Studies

Natural history museums are institutions that collect, preserve, and interpret the natural world—from fossils and plants to animals and cultural artifacts related to nature. They play a vital role in scientific research, education, and public engagement, serving as both archives of biodiversity and spaces for cultural exchange. 

This course introduces the foundations and contemporary roles of natural history museums.  It discusses how exploration and collecting built the basis for museums; how collections are preserved and managed; how museums communicate with society, and how they address new challenges such as digital collections and ethical debates. 

This course examines the classification of natural hazards within Earth systems and explores key examples of geological, atmospheric, hydrological and biological hazards and explores the social relations and processes that turn hazard events into disasters. Given the vast majority of disasters are climate and weather-related, basics of weather, climate and climate change will be explored. Students will be introduced to key concepts in the study of hazards and disasters including underlying theories and models as well as critically interrogating concepts of vulnerability and resilience. Basic elements of the process of disaster risk reduction will be introduced. Case studies and examples from Australia and around the world will be drawn upon to unpack the nuances of hazard and disasters.

This course is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of fundamental ecology principles, their practical applications, and how the concepts relate to the real world with examples from published scientific studies. Ecology is introduced at its different levels of organization, including organism-environment (biotic-abiotic) interactions, adaptations of plants and animals, the characteristics of populations as a basic biological unit in an ecosystem, intra and inter-specific interactions, community ecology, and ecosystem ecology. Students develop critical thinking and analytical skills by interpreting ecological data and applying theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios. By the end of the course, students have a solid foundation in ecological principles, preparing them for further study or careers in conservation, environmental science, scientific research, and related fields.

This advanced course is especially designed in the format of seminars and guest lecturers to expose the student to the frontier of knowledge of climate and apprehend what are the topics available for the final thesis. Students are able to grasp what are the emerging areas on climate science and be able to select the topic for future deepening of the knowledge.

The course is structured with 1- or 2-hours long time slots and with three types of offers:

1) Seminars: >=1 hour on current research/technological challenges, delivered by specialist.

2) Lecture: >=2 hours on a more general topic of broader relevance and less technical details.

3) Short course: >=3 hours on an additional supplementary skill. Examples may include a focus on programming or on an area of transversal interest.

The exact schedule changes every year. Students are asked to check the program frequently given that it is usually updated in the course of the year based on availability of speakers.

The course gives in-depth knowledge about climate systems and how climate models are constructed. In the first half of the course different components of contemporary climate models (ocean/land/atmosphere) and interactions between them are introduced and discussed. This includes handling of typical data formats associated with climate models and the analysis of model output with varying resolution and/or complexity. The second half of the course focuses on applications in paleoclimate reconstructions and impact models and the use of ensembles to assess model uncertainties. This includes projects where students independently and in groups solve tasks using programming. Exercise in the use of simplified climate models and analysis tools as well as information retrieval and oral and written presentation techniques are included as a part of certain learning activities.

This course introduces fundamental methods and techniques for analyzing both biotic interactions and abiotic conditions in diverse marine ecosystems. Through a combination of laboratory work and field studies, students gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Topics include measurement of abiotic factors, assessment of species interactions and community structure, evaluation of biodiversity and similarity indices, and investigation of behavioral and ecological patterns. The course also explores the effects of human activities on marine environments and examines strategies for ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation.

In "Climate Change and Extreme Weather," students embark on an investigative journey to demystify the science behind climate change and the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events around the world. Aimed at students from a variety of academic backgrounds, this introductory undergraduate course integrates fundamental atmospheric science principles with an examination of the dynamic systems that govern Earth’s climate. Through a blend of lectures, field study, and hands-on data analysis projects, students will delve into the mechanisms of climate change, the physical processes driving extreme weather events (such as typhoons/hurricanes, droughts, floods, heatwaves, wildfires, etc.), and the methodologies scientists use to model and predict these phenomena. Emphasizing critical thinking and problem-solving, students will also investigate the role of human activity in climate change and the strategies for mitigation and adaptation. By the end of the course, students will be empowered with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complex issues surrounding climate change and extreme weather, promoting a proactive and informed approach to one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

This course for advanced undergraduate students covers components and biochemical processes of terrestrial ecosystems. Human activities have altered more than half of the ice-free terrestrial ecosystems. Students learn the components of Earth system including atmosphere, ocean, soil, and biota, and understand how these components influence the cycles of elements, water, and energy. Students are expected to discuss temporal and spatial changes of the components and consider the integrated effects of these changes on soil functions at diverse scales ranging from plots, regions, and the globe. 

Topics include History of ecosystem ecology, Water and energy balance, Plant photosynthesis: carbon input to terrestrial system, Plant and ecosystem carbon budgets, Terrestrial carbon losses, Terrestrial nutrient cycling, Temporal and spatial dynamics, Anthropocene. 

This course provides students with an overall view on the state of the earth's ecosystems, their health and biodiversity, as well as the problems resulting from anthropogenic impacts. Furthermore, the student acquires notions about the conservation methods of ecosystem health. The course contents focuses on the following aspects:

• Brief history of the conservation of ecosystem diversity.
• Distribution and diversity of global ecosystems. Spatial and temporal gradients of ecosystems. Importance of biodiversity for the functioning of ecosystems, ecosystem functions, processes, and global health.
• Threats to Earth’s ecosystem diversity, mass extinctions, and global changes.
• Processes of overexploitation, degradation, and contamination of ecosystems.
• Conservation methods of ecosystems. Social, economic, and political elements for ecosystem conservation.
• National and international strategies and case studies, protected areas, ecological corridors, rewilding, and other approaches to conserve ecosystem health.
• Outline of modern technologies in support of ecosystem conservation.
• Examples of success practices in ecosystem conservation.

This course introduces key concepts for understanding the nature policy instruments, how they are selected and combined. Cases used illustrate the utility of the concepts and to engage in critical reflection on their application to actual policy situations. This enables students to explain and make sense of policy instruments and design in different national and sectoral settings. It deepens their knowledge of policy making and develops competencies to design public policies for sustainable transition.