Geography

This course examines climatic conditions on Earth and their interaction with the environment and human society. It focuses on climate change and deals sensibly with questions raised concerning future climatic conditions and evaluation of their impact on environment and society as essential to understand the nature of the climate system and what causes it to change. In particular, the impact of human activities on the climate system are set in perspective alongside the background of natural changes in the climate of our planet. Issues associated with societal decisions taken today and their potential impact on climate over the next century are also discussed. 

This course provides a framework of sustainable waste management in the context of a metropolitan city like Hong Kong. The interactions among economic activities, human activities and waste management problems and solutions are covered. The waste challenges and waste management hierarchy are examined covering waste reduction, minimization, recycling, treatment and disposal. A multi-disciplinary approach is adopted to prompt students to critically re-examine their values and lifestyles in relation to the waste management challenges facing a city like Hong Kong. An international perspective is adopted to enable students to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of different waste management policies and practices. The spatial implications of waste management policies and infrastructure are analyzed. The role of technology in waste management and treatment is also discussed. The course concludes with a critical look at values, lifestyles, policies and technologies as the key drivers of change for sustainable waste management for long term sustainability of a city like Hong Kong.

This course explores the relationship between the natural sciences, specifically their abiotic aspects, and geography. It discusses the fundamental concepts of astronomy, geology, geophysics, and hydrology, and their application to spatial studies. Topics include: the Earth's position and movements and their impact on the distribution of solar energy; characteristics and composition of solid materials exposed on Earth's surface-- minerals and rocks; dynamics and evolution of the lithosphere and its influence on the earth-- global tectonics and geological history; basic characteristics, composition, and general dynamics of the hydrosphere.

This course explores the consequences and crisis that biodiversity is facing under global change, with a focus on the effects of climate change on biodiversity and how it affects human societies. In particular, it addresses key questions such as: How do climate and climate change lead to changes in biodiversity on land and oceans at genetic, species and ecosystem levels? Does climate change interact with other global change drivers (e.g., invasive species, habitat alteration) to influence biodiversity? What are the effects of climate changes on species extinctions and interactions between species? Do changes in biodiversity affect human wellbeing and society? In order to address these questions, the course reads and discusses the primary literature, participate in lectures and discussions, and engages in a series of exercises and experiments.

This course introduces the analysis and regional understanding of the new territorial reality existing in Spain, based on the changes in the valuation of physical and productive resources, the new organization of the State, and the socioeconomic repercussions of the internationalization of the economy and integration into the European Economic Community. Emphasis is placed on the necessary skills to analyze, explain, and synthesize the geographical factors that give Spanish regions their unique character and diversity during the last decades, paying attention to city typologies and urbanization models.

Earth’s surface is constantly changing. Understanding how and why these changes occur is a key skill for those across the Earth Sciences, from physical and human geographers to geo- and environmental scientists. This course focuses on the role of water in the evolution of Earth’s landscape. Through investigating water-driven processes and sediment transport, students gain first-hand experience in constructing simple models to help them estimate the rate and magnitude of surface processes. Students also practice sediment classification, quantitative problem solving, and map making.