SCI1300 Climate change: From science to society
Faculty of Science
SCI1300 Climate change: From science to society is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2023 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2023
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 5 tasks
The 2027 handbook has no page for SCI1300. This is its 2023 entry, the latest one.
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Requisites
Before SCI1300
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After SCI1300
No unit lists SCI1300 as a prerequisite in the 2023 handbook.
Enrolment rules
PROHIBITION: ATM1020, MON1001
Overview
Climate change is a key global challenge for modern society. It will affect all natural and human systems and has far-reaching consequences for society. Responding to the effects of climate change will require international and interdisciplinary approaches. This unit provides the scientific background to climate change, and it assesses the environmental and societal impacts, and community and political responses to climate change. Starting from the basic principles and processes that define and govern the Earth's climate, the unit explores how the different spheres on Earth interact to produce the rich past and current variability of climate in space and time. It then highlights how human influences are shaping the future of the Earth's climate. Equipped with the essential scientific background, the unit will then investigate what options humankind has to respond to the economic, ethical and political challenges of climate change, including global and national governance models required to mitigate and adapt to its effects. The unit will provide you with the foundation and knowledge to respond to climate change challenges throughout their career, independent of their specific discipline.
Offerings in 2023
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Climate model reportReport20%
- Group projectOther20%
- Country comparison of impactsEssay20%
- Tests during lecturesIn class test20%
- Practical class participationParticipation20%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Understand the basic scientific concepts underpinning natural climate change, anthropogenic climate change and responses;
- 2
Critically evaluate information on climate change, climate change impacts and responses from a variety of sources including scientific reports, blogs and the media;
- 3
Develop, apply, integrate and generate knowledge to analyse and solve problems in climate change, its impacts and the options for possible societal responses;
- 4
Demonstrate competence in information technology, data handling, problem solving, communication skills and team work;
- 5
Convey the basic concepts of climate change, its impacts and possible responses to diverse audiences.
Workload and teaching
- Practical activities24 hours
- Lectures36 hours
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachSimulation or virtual practice
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Three 1-hour lectures
- One 2-hour practical class per week, plus
- Seven hours of private study/research
The group poster and essay involve students researching independently. Poster topics may be chosen from a wide range of options ranging from strictly scientific to social, political and economic factors related to climate change
You will use simple models of the climate to understand how climate systems work and/or make predictions of future climate
This unit is divided into three parts:
- Part I (Weeks 1-4) covers the science of climate change.
- Part II (Weeks 5-8) covers other issues relating to climate change, such as impacts, politics and economics.
- Part III (Weeks 9-12) will be advanced studies in an area of your choice.
Each week, there are three 1-hour lectures (or equivalent) and one 2-hour practical class.
There are three major assignment's, which need to be completed outside of class time.
There is no exam for this unit.
Fast-paced practical classes stimulate discussion between students about a range of climate and climate change topics. The focus in these classes is engagement with the material, and you are encouraged to discuss and debate climate topics in small groups. Every week, students analyse a piece of climate-related data. This unit features group work and peer assessment.
Learning resources
Technology resources
You will need a computer with internet access during practical classes and for out-of-class activities
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Adam Kessler
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Adam Kessler
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for SCI1300?
SCI1300 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is SCI1300 offered?
In 2023, SCI1300 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton.
Does SCI1300 have an exam?
No. SCI1300 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.