Course syllabus
Teknisk miljövetenskap
Environmental Science
FMIF15, 7,5 credits, G2 (First Cycle)
Valid for: 2014/15
Decided by: Education Board C
Date of Decision: 2014-04-14
General Information
Elective for: B4, BI3, C4, D4, E4, M4, MD4, RH4
Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish
Aim
After passing the course, the student should have gained an
understanding of how societal activities affect the environment and
how environmental problems can be mitigated, in particular from the
perspective of the active engineer or fire protection engineer.
Also, the student should be encouraged to take part in a discussion
regarding the particular responsibility of the engineer in relation
to sustainable development. The course departs from already
acquired knowledge and relates it to the issue of
sustainability.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must
- Be able to describe the scientific mechanisms behind certain
important environmental problems.
- Be able to describe and discuss potential environmental
problems and their mitigation in different societal sectors, e.g.
energy supply, transport, agriculture and waste management.
- Be able to describe and discuss the societal framework of
environmental protection, e.g., legislation and other policy
instruments.
- Be able to describe and critically discuss methods and tools
such as environmental management systems and life-cycle
analysis which are used in companies and organisations.
Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must
- Be able to formulate a relevant study problem that is followed
up in an analysis
- Be able to write a well-structured short report with a correct
language, and a satisfactory use of relevant sources.
- Be able to independently gather and critically evaluate
information in the framework of a minor project work.
Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must
- Be able to identify and critically assess environmental issues
that are relevant for the active engineer.
Contents
The lectures describe:
- The scientific mechanisms behind certain important
environmental problems
- Society’s supply of energy and natural resources, and local
and global environmental problems related to the processes of
production, consumption/use, and waste handling.
- The Swedish environmental legislation and other policy
instruments in the environmental field (economic,
informative).
- Concrete methods and “tools” for environmental work within
companies and organisations and their usefulness and limitations.
Examples of such methods and tools are: life cycle analysis,
environmental impact assessment and environmental management
systems.
The course also consists of:
- One or a few discussion seminars on relevant issues/problems,
e.g., environmental ethics problems that may face the active
engineer, and private consumption and it's environmental impacts in
a critical perspective.
- A tutored project work (in groups of students) aiming at a
deeper understanding of particular issues. The aim and problem are
formulated by the students, and a critical approach should be
employed.
Examination details
Grading scale: TH
Assessment: Attendance at seminars is mandatory. A group project is carried out, that must be presented orally and in writing, and the project report must fulfil basic scientific criteria. Written exam. The final grade of the course is a weighted average of the written exam grade (2/3) and the project grade (1/3).
Admission
Required prior knowledge: Minimum 60 ECTS credits from a faculty of engineering.
The number of participants is limited to: No
The course overlaps following course/s: FMI031, FMI065, FMI100, GEMF01, FMI640, FMIA01, FMIF01, FMIF05, FMIF10, FMIF20
Reading list
- Ammenberg, Jonas: Miljömanagement. Studentlitteratur, 2012.
- Gröndahl, F och Svanström, M: Hållbar utveckling - en introduktion för ingenjörer och andra problemlösare. Liber, 2011.
- Scientific articles, reports, etc.
- The literature may be changed, due to the rapid development in this field.
Contact and other information
Course coordinator: Karin Ericsson, karin.ericsson@miljo.lth.se
Course coordinator: Max Åhman, max.ahman@miljo.lth.se
Course homepage: http://miljo.lth.se