Environmental Studies

This course develops an understanding of physio-chemical and ecological aspects of the freshwater systems, especially for Taiwan rivers; explains the causes and consequences of human modification of fresh waters, and their implications for conservation of aquatic biodiversity and maintenance of human well- being; describes the techniques which may be used to quantify the status of (and monitor the changes in) instream and riparian ecological niches; and introduces the range of management strategies that can be used to reduce or mitigate human impacts on freshwater ecosystems and maintain water quality; and the concept of drainage basin management. Assessment: final exam, coursework, assignments, projects.

This course examines a physics and geomorphology based understanding of the formation and dynamics of rivers and deltas.

This course examines the interaction of the environment with national and international development and identifies the elements and factors that intervene in political decisions and the creation of legal instruments for ecological conservation. The course provides the necessary knowledge to understand the complexity of environmental issues at the national and international levels, highlighting the difficulties in achieving cooperation among states to protect the global environment, and the reasons behind the positions of developing and developed countries in international forums. Furthermore, the course examines the various actors involved in the development of environmental policies and the main issues on the national and international environmental agenda, such as water scarcity; the increasing use of renewable energy; biodiversity; financing for environmental protection; environmental governance; and global climate change, among others.

Understanding sustainability broadly, the course explores how social entrepreneurship and innovation are a particular form of organizing toward social transformation. The course provides knowledge of how to explore and evaluate social entrepreneurship and innovations in theory and practice. Different theories and intellectual tools from social sciences are used to both understand the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship and innovation and apply them to the design of social entrepreneurial ventures in groups. During the theoretical part of the course, an introduction to the academic field of social entrepreneurship and important key concepts in social innovations are reviewed. Students work in groups to develop their own social enterprise. 

This course discusses major categories and sources of air pollution, dangers of some air and water pollutants, dangers of stratospheric ozone depletion and radon in indoor air, types and effects of water pollution, thermal pollution and thermal shocks, damages of air pollution, control and monitoring of pollution, acid rain and deposition, air pollution control, status of water quality in developed and developing countries, groundwater problems, and human waste disposal.