ENVR209-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Environmental Science and Resource Management

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

This course explores the debates and issues in environmental science and resource management around the core theme of agriculture and the environment. There is an emphasis on developing solutions to environmental issues. The course takes a quantitative approach to environmental issues, teaching students to make informed decisions that integrate biophysical data with policies and practices of management in New Zealand, and global, contexts. Students will learn to recognise patterns and processes in agricultural environments, and gain an understanding of how those patterns and processes influence, and are influenced by, resource management decisions. Students will develop an awareness of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand as it applies to environmental issues associated with agriculture, recognising that Maori values may be distinct to regulatory guidelines regarding environmental quality. Matauranga Maori aspects of agriculture and the environment will be covered.

This course explores the debates and issues in environmental science and  resource management      around the core theme of agriculture and the environment. There is an emphasis on developing solutions to environmental issues. The course takes a quantitative approach to environmental issues, teaching students to make informed decisions that integrate biophysical     data with policies and practices of management in New Zealand, and global, contexts.  Students will learn to recognise patterns and processes in agricultural environments, and gain an understanding of how those patterns and processes influence, and are influenced by, resource management decisions. Students will students will develop an awareness of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand as it applies to environmental issues associated with agriculture, recognising that Māori values may be distinct to regulatory guidelines regarding environmental quality. Mātauranga Māori aspects of agriculture and the environment will be covered.

Learning Outcomes

We aim to introduce the key principles of Environmental Science and Resource Management using current environmental issues relating to agriculture. ENVR209/GEOG209 seeks to provide students with an intellectual toolbox to develop cost-effective and practical solutions to the multiple stressors that agriculture places on our environment.  The emphasis will be pattern, process, and connectivity across systems. This requires integration of knowledge from the many disciplines that underpin any environmental issue.      Recognising that resource managers and environmental scientists cannot be experts in all subjects, the course teaches the aspects of each subject as they relate to specific agricultural issues – and importantly – how the environmental scientist can use data to make informed decisions within the existing legislative framework.

- Synthesise data into an objective and succinct report with the aim of informing, making, and implementing decisions about environmental issues.

- Synthesise information from multiple strains of environmental knowledge into a strategic report making recommendations with the aim of effecting environmental change. (BiCC1)

- Critically assess environmental issues using a variety of knowledge sources including scientific literature. Filter key pieces of information from reports that may contain unsubstantiated claims. (BiCC 5)

- Integrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s biculturalism into environmental issues associated with agriculture, and recognise that Māori values might be different from regulatory guidelines on environmental quality. (BiCC 2, 4)

- Apply theoretical aspects of Environmental Science and Resource Management to environmental issues at different scales, from iwi Māori to global. (BiCC 2)

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Biculturally competent and confident

Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

Engaged with the community

Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Globally aware

Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

(ENVR101 and GEOG106) or (GEOG110 and GEOG106); and 15 points from CHEM, GEOL, BIOL, ARTS102 or STAT101.

Restrictions

GEOG206, GEOG209 and ENVR201

Equivalent Courses

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 12:00 - 13:00 A2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 A2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Workshop A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 10:00 - 12:00 A2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 28 Sep

Timetable Note

4 hrs lectures a week (2 x 1hr  + 1 x 2hr)

Course Coordinators

Ann Brower and Brett Robinson

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Test 20%
Written Report 40%
Exam 40%

Notes

Prerequisites: 90 points at first year level including ENVR101 and GEOG106; plus 15 points from CHEM, GEOG, GEOL or BIOL; or by permission of the course coordinator.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,036.00

International fee $5,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All ENVR209 Occurrences

  • ENVR209-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025