ENV102 Foundations of the Environment - Semester 2, 2025 Study Notes

ENV102 Foundations of the Environment: Semester 2, 2025

Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country

Murdoch University acknowledges that it is located on the lands of the Whadjuk and Binjareb Noongar people. Respect is paid to their enduring and dynamic culture and the leadership of Noongar Elders, past and present. The boodjar (country) has been a place of learning for thousands of years, a tradition Murdoch University is proud to continue.

Lecture Overview

This introductory lecture covers several key areas:

• Introduction to ENV102 (Dr. Kerryn Hawke): This segment details the unit coordinators, study schedule, unit materials, student activities, and available support services.

• Introduction to Environmental Science (Prof. Jennifer Verduin): This section defines environmental science, its core concepts, key issues, and applications.

• Murdoch University Learning Support and Services: Information slides detail various support mechanisms and ways for students to connect with university resources.

ENV102 Unit Coordinators

• Dr. Kerryn Hawke: Specializes in Atmospheric Science within Environmental and Conservation Sciences (ECS).

• Dr. Essie Rodgers: Specializes in Conservation Physiology & Aquaculture within Environmental and Conservation Sciences (ECS).

Contact: Students can reach the unit coordinators at ENV102@murdoch.edu.au. It is advised to create a useful subject line and include your name and student number in all emails.

Introduction to Environmental Science

What is Environmental Science? It is the study of our planet's health and humanity's role in it.

Definitions:

• Environment: Encompasses all living and non-living things surrounding us, including animals, plants, water, soils, urban centers, living spaces, and structures.

• Sustainability: The capacity of an ecosystem to maintain its ecological processes, functions, biodiversity, and productivity into the future. It recognizes that humans are an integral part of the natural world and dependent on it.

• Stewardship: The responsible management of resources to ensure their sustainable use, acknowledging human capacity to alter the environment.

• Sound Science: The application of scientific data and methods to inform decision-making regarding environmental issues, often drawing lessons from historical data.

Key Environmental Issues Studied in Environmental Science:

Environmental science is crucial for gathering data that informs legislation and regulation of environmental practices. Fields within environmental science collect data on issues such as:

• Animal population declines

• Habitat destruction (e.g., deforestation)

• Temperature patterns (climate change)

• Biodiversity loss (e.g., predicted loss of $27\%$ by 2024)

• Pollution

• Overpopulation

• Waste disposal (including nuclear waste)

• Land management and urban sprawl

• Public health

• Water scarcity and water pollution

Governments rely on such baseline data to identify issues and adjust legislation accordingly. However, developing legislation requires popular support, and environmental friendliness often incurs costs.

Environmental Science Application:

Environmental science provides a structured approach to addressing environmental challenges:

1. Problem Understanding

2. Data Collection and Monitoring

3. Threat Assessment

4. Addressing the Issue: Includes habitat conservation and restoration, invasive species management, and climate resilience initiatives.

5. Public Engagement and Policy Making

6. Results and Ongoing Efforts

Global Relevance and Treaties:

Environmental science plays a critical role in informing and supporting international initiatives:

• United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): These $17$ goals, adopted in $2015$, address numerous global challenges, many of which are environmental. For example, Goal $13$ (Climate Action) relies heavily on climate science for understanding mechanisms, predicting scenarios, and devising mitigation/adaptation strategies. Goals $14$ (Life Below Water) and $15$ (Life on Land) depend on ecological knowledge for managing and protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.

• Paris Agreement: An international treaty designed to mitigate climate change impacts, aiming to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below $2$ degrees Celsius.

• Antarctic Treaty: Established for peaceful purposes with freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation. Article $I$ states Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only. Article $II$ emphasizes freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation. Article $III$ mandates that scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available. Currently, $29$ consultative countries are party to this treaty.

Unit Management and Materials

Unit LMS Website:

Accessible from myMurdoch, students log in with their student number and Murdoch password. The LMS provides:

• Communications: Announcements, Student Discussion Forums.

• Unit Information: Unit Information Guide, Learning Guide, My Unit Readings, Instructions, Resources.

• Assessments: Preparatory activities, Submission portals.

• Practicals: Practical Manual, Preparatory activities, Worksheet submission portals.

• Learning Sections: Learning activities, Revision and study questions, Lecture slides and recordings (accessible via Echo360).

Unit Materials Available:

• On the unit LMS website: Unit Information Guide, Unit Learning Guide, Practical Manual, Workshop worksheets (face-to-face students), Workshop-only activities (mixed-mode students).

• In My Unit Readings: All required chapters, articles, and reports. The prescribed textbook, Environmental Science, Earth as a living planet 9th Edition, is entirely available online through My Unit Readings at https://murdoch.rl.talis.com/index.html.

Study Schedule:

The unit is structured into four main learning sections:

1. Water and the Environment

2. Environmental Landscapes

3. Pollution and the Environment

4. Environmental Management
   Detailed schedules for each section are available in the Unit Information Guide on the LMS.

Learning and Assessment Overview

Timetabled Activities:

• $1$ x on-campus lecture per week (Mondays, $12:30-1:30\mathrm{pm}$).

• $2$ x pre-recorded lectures per week (to be watched at student's convenience).

Timetabled Assessed Activities:

• $4$ x workshops during the semester: focus on researching, writing, group work, and exam preparation.

• $4$ x practicals during the semester: $2$ laboratories, $1$ on-campus vegetation disturbance survey, and $1$ GIS computer lab.

Other Assessments:

• Individual written assessment.

• Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) survey field trip (self-directed, in groups of $4-5$).

• Final examination.

Assessment Components and Weighting:

Assessment Due Dates:

• External (Mixed-mode) students: Practical worksheets for mixed-mode students are due at the end of their practical class in the on-campus week (Week $10$). Online workshop activities are due $6\mathrm{pm}$ Friday of the scheduled workshop week.

Workshops:

• Face-to-face students: Must sign up for a GROUP in myMurdoch Class SignUp (for workshops & practicals). It is recommended to discuss and consider SCP survey groups leading up to Workshop $3$.

• Mixed-mode students: Complete online workshop activities, due Friday, during the same weeks.

• Preparatory activities: Students must check worksheets for any preparatory activities before attending a workshop.

Practicals:

• Face-to-face students: Must sign up for a GROUP in myMurdoch Class SignUp. This is separate from the SCP survey.

• Mixed-mode students: Refer to the timetable in the ‘Mixed Mode Workshops and Intensive Practical Week Information’ section on the unit LMS.

• Preparatory activities: All students must complete preparatory activities (found in the Practicals section on the unit LMS) before attending their class.

Important Practical Requirements:

• Practicals $1$ and $2$: Lab coats, safety glasses, and closed shoes are mandatory. Failure to have these items will result in not being permitted to participate and forfeiture of marks.

• Practical $3$ and SCP field trip: Closed shoes and appropriate clothing for field safety and weather conditions are required. Mosquito spray and sunscreen are also recommended.

• Always bring a copy of the relevant Practical Manual chapter.

The Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) Survey:

• A group assignment, with $4-5$ students per group.

• Groups are formed during Workshop $3$ (for mixed-mode students, this occurs during the on-campus week in Week $10$).

• Resources, submission portal, and worksheets will be made available in the SCP survey section on the unit LMS website.

• This group assignment is due at the start of Week $11$.

Written Assessment:

• Consists of a short essay and a critical evaluation of GenAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence) output.

• Students must choose ONE of the $4$ topics listed in the Unit Information Guide.

• Maximum length: $500$ words (excluding title page, Copilot essay, and reference list).

• Students must provide their word count on the title page.

• A penalty of $5\%$ for every $50$ words over the limit will be applied.

• Submission is via the Written Assessment submission module on the unit LMS.

• Instructions are detailed in the Unit Information Guide.

• Students are encouraged to attend (or watch) the Week $2$ on-campus Written Assessment lecture.

• Due Date: At the start of Week $7$. Extension requests must be made no later than $24$ hours prior to the submission deadline, observing the new late penalty policy.

Final Examination:

• A final exam will be held at the end of the teaching period.

• Further details will be provided on the LMS, during Workshop $4$, and at the final on-campus lecture.

Support for Your Studies

Peer and Academic Learning Support:

• Discussion Forums: The first line of inquiry for problems, fostering a collaborative learning environment where peers can often assist.

• Learning Advisor Consultations: One-on-one support.

• Peer Academic Coaches (PACs): Support from trained peers.

• Workshops: Support for academic learning.

• Studiosity: Online study support service.

• Grammarly: Writing assistance tool.

• Numeracy Toolkit & Study Success Toolkit: Self-service resources.

Library Services:

• Workshops: On search strategies, referencing, EndNote, etc. (murdoch.edu.au/library).

• Ask a Librarian Service: Includes 'Getting started at the Library', 'Develop your Research Skills', 'Study Success Toolkit', 'Referencing Guides', and 'How to use My Unit Readings' (murdoch.edu.au/library).

• Book a Study Room: For group assignments or quiet study, available for up to $2$ hours a day (murdoch.edu.au/library).

• Library Therapy Pets: Check Facebook and Instagram for visiting schedules.

Student Support Services:

• Counselling Service: Free, confidential sessions (up to $6$ per year) for students, available face-to-face, phone, and Zoom. Located at $440.1.044$, contact $9360\ 1227$ or counsellingservice@murdoch.edu.au ($8:45\mathrm{am}$ - $4:30\mathrm{pm}$).

• Medical Centre: Offers doctor's consultations, occupational screenings/vaccinations, pre-travel consultations, gender transition/HRT treatment, mental health support, walk-in nurse appointments (including sexual health checks), and healthy lifestyle consults.

• Access and Inclusion: Free support for students with disability (including temporary), medical or mental health conditions, pregnant/breastfeeding students, or carers for people with disability. Located at $460.1.009$, contact $9360\ 6084$ or access@murdoch.edu.au ($9:00\mathrm{am}$ - $5:00\mathrm{pm}$). If you have an EQAL Plan, email it to ENV102@murdoch.edu.au.

• Murdoch Safe App: Free app (iPhone and Android) with campus security info, internal/external support services, anonymous disclosure of sexual harassment/assault, and a personal safety toolkit (flashlight, loud alarm, location sharing, safety tips).

• Parenting Facilities: Includes a Parents’ Room ($430.10$ with kitchenette, feeding room, toys, computer/working spaces), Feeding Rooms ($490$ - Guild Offices & $353$ - Library Link), and multiple baby changing facilities across campus. More info on the website.

• Wellbeing and Equity Projects Team: Located at $440.1.006$, contact awe@murdoch.edu.au ($8:30\mathrm{am}$ - $4:30\mathrm{pm}$). Offers educational workshops and wellbeing/equity awareness events.

  • The Den / Winter Garden Activities: Held Monday-Friday ($10\mathrm{am}-2\mathrm{pm}$) during semester, starting Mon $26$ Feb. Activities include free yoga, crafternoons, indoor/outdoor games, meditation/sound healing, cocoa and canvas, Indigenous Walk on Country.

  • Murdoch International Café: Every Wednesday ($10\mathrm{am}-2\mathrm{pm}$) in The Den (South Street only), starting Wed $28$ Feb. Offers free snacks, drinks, activities, and connects students with support services and cultural celebration days.

Student Associations:

• Murdoch University Environmental Science Association (MUEnSA): Free to join, offers pizza parties, bush walks, quiz nights, and weekly job ads on LinkedIn. Find them on Facebook (MUEnSA), Instagram (@muensa.murdoch), or email (muensa@gmail.com). Sign up at https://muensamembership.getqpay.com.

Reminders

• Contact ENV102@murdoch.edu.au for any questions.

• Workshop $1$ is this week: Watch the library videos (links on the worksheet). Morning classes start at $9:30\mathrm{am}$, afternoon classes start at $1:30\mathrm{pm}$.

• Source lab coats and safety glasses for next week's practicals.