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National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour Session 2 Session 2,  2

Unit Summary

Unit type

PG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

9

Level of learning

Advanced

Former School/College

Former School of Environment, Science and Engineering

Unit aim

Provides a multidisciplinary approach to defining the major types of chemical, physical, biological and genetic pollutants that impact upon marine environments. Also examines pathways, fates and effects of these pollutants on marine ecosystems and human health. Examines different approaches to the design of monitoring programs for detecting pollutants, and techniques for controlling pollutants. Students gain skills in sampling techniques and analysis of polluted samples.

Unit content

Read the study guide topics and directed readings.

Topic 1 -An Introduction to Marine Pollution
Topic 2 -Nutrients and oxygen demanding wastes
Topic 3 -Oil and Hydrocarbons
Topic 4 -Antifoulants Past and Present
Topic 5 -Metals and mining
Topic 6 -Compartments, Distribution Processes and Community Response -case studies on sediments and dredging
Topic 7 - Plastic wastes -the floaters
Topic 8 -Radioactivity
Topic 9 -Water and sediment quality monitoring risk assessment and compliance testing. Risk assessment tools: Ecotoxicology, multiple lines of evidence, community response.
Topic 10 -Understanding management actions and legislation that can reduce and minimise pollution

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 Understand and describe general pollution issues, their sources and the relationship humans have with the ocean as a source of food and a sink for waste.
2 Understand the chemistry of the way different pollutants behave in the marine environment and their impacts on marine ecosystems including nutrients, oil, metal pollution, pesticides and herbicides, solid plastics, antifoulants, radioactivity
3 Recognise and explain the compartments and distribution processes of pollutants in the marine environment with case studies on sediments and dredging.
4 Have developed tools and approaches that expand the enquiring mind through an understanding of managing marine pollution
5 Write and orally present sound scientific arguments related to research and data collection associated with marine pollution

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Understand and describe general pollution issues, their sources and the relationship humans have with the ocean as a source of food and a sink for waste.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. Understand the chemistry of the way different pollutants behave in the marine environment and their impacts on marine ecosystems including nutrients, oil, metal pollution, pesticides and herbicides, solid plastics, antifoulants, radioactivity
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. Recognise and explain the compartments and distribution processes of pollutants in the marine environment with case studies on sediments and dredging.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  4. Have developed tools and approaches that expand the enquiring mind through an understanding of managing marine pollution
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
  5. Write and orally present sound scientific arguments related to research and data collection associated with marine pollution
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.