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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

Explores a multidisciplinary approach to major types of chemical, physical, and biological pollutants that impact upon marine environments. This unit investigates pathways, fates and effects of these pollutants on marine ecosystems and human health. Different approaches to the design of monitoring programs for detecting and techniques for controlling pollutants are examined. Students gain practical skills in sampling techniques and analyses 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 critically analyse and evaluate pollution issues, their sources and the relationship humans have with marine environments
2 investigate the chemistry associated with pollutant behaviour in marine environments including nutrients, oil, metals, pesticides and herbicides, solid plastics, antifoulants, and radioactivity
3 synthesis information from multidisciplinary perspectives about the impacts of pollution and apply this to management decision making
4 develop tools that expand their inquiry to reflect on management outcomes
5 analyse and synthesis sound scientific information related to research and data collection associated with marine pollution
6 research and present sound scientific information for appropriate audiences.

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

  1. critically analyse and evaluate pollution issues, their sources and the relationship humans have with marine environments
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. investigate the chemistry associated with pollutant behaviour in marine environments including nutrients, oil, metals, pesticides and herbicides, solid plastics, antifoulants, and radioactivity
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. synthesis information from multidisciplinary perspectives about the impacts of pollution and apply this to management decision making
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  4. develop tools that expand their inquiry to reflect on management outcomes
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  5. analyse and synthesis sound scientific information related to research and data collection associated with marine pollution
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
  6. research and present sound scientific information for appropriate audiences.
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • Prescribed text information is not currently available.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.