MAB341 - Global Challenges: Food, Water and Climate
Unit details
| Year: | 2023 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Pallavi Shukla |
| Prerequisite: | MAB242 or MAB251 or MAE101 or MAE233 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | MAE341 |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - online: | 1 x 1.5 hour recorded lecture per week and 1 x 2 hour online seminar in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. |
Content
This unit will take a deep dive into the key issues facing our world – food, water, and climate crises. We will use real-world examples to understand why some sustainability policies work while others fail. We will discuss the challenges of trying to encourage economic development while reducing environmental damage caused by economic activities. We will debate the roles of governments, markets, and citizens in supporting environmental sustainability and the challenges of adopting sustainable practices in poor and developing communities. Our discussions will often focus on explaining the economic concepts and analytical underpinnings of the problems of sustainability and development. Students will have the opportunity to examine topical issues such as GMOs, obesity and malnutrition, environmental justice, international trade, nuclear energy, and carbon markets, among others.
| ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Apply underlying principles behind sustainable development and natural resource management into the discussions on global food and agriculture challenges. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Present a coherent and justified commentary on prevailing global challenges in sustainable development to stakeholders. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Source, sort and report relevant information and statistics on key issues facing the world related to agriculture, food, and water security. | GLO3: Digital Literacy |
| ULO4 | Critically comment on ongoing policy discourse aimed at reducing poverty and minimizing environmental degradation, the role of markets in supporting or impeding sustainability, and the challenges of adopting sustainable practices in developing communities. | GLO8: Global Citizenship |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Individual) Video recording | 5 minute presentation; and a two-page handout | 20% | Week 4 |
| Assessment 2: (Individual) Report (Business) | 1500 words max | 30% | Week 10 |
| End-of-unit assessment task: Written | 2000 words | 50% | End-of-unit assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning Resource
Texts and reading lists for units can be found on the University Library via the following link. Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
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