Ecoliteracy

Recommended Prerequisites

Fluent reading, writting and comprehension in English.

Teaching Methods

Course composed by modules, with theoretic-practical lessons. The teaching methodologies include expositive sessions and participatory approaches, with group works and discussion of case studies. Whenever possible, the classes will take place in the Botanic Garden of the University of Coimbra.

A cycle of lectures about the remain Global Goals for Sustainable Development will be organized during the course. In this way, the students will have the opportunity to understand the several dimensions of sustainable development: environmental, social and economic.

Learning Outcomes

The overall objective of this course of study is to provide the students a solid foundation for environmental literacy. Environmental literacy is the capability for a contextual and detailed understanding of an environmental problem in order to enable analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and ultimately sound and informed decision making at a citizen's level. The lectures aimed at stimulating the discussion of several ecological and environmental problems, such as sustainable agriculture, biodiversity loss, climate changes, or protection of oceans. The themes were selected from the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development, part of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, set by the United Nations.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Module 1 - Agricultural production and nutrition

Module 2 - Urban ecology and quality of life

Module 3 - Soil and Sustainable Production

Module 4 - Climate change and its impacts

Module 5 - Conservation and sustainably use the oceans

Module 6 - Biodiversity and Conservation.

Head Lecturer(s)

Helena Maria de Oliveira Freitas

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 50.0%
Resolution Problems: 50.0%

Bibliography

- Textos de apoio fornecidos

 

- Bhullar G, Bhullar N. 2012. Agricultural Sustainability (1st Ed). Academic Press

- Chiras D. 2012. Environmental Science (9th Ed). Jones & Bartlett Learning

- Hill DM, Fasham G, Tucker M, Shaw P. 2005. Handbook of biodiversity methods: survey, evaluation and monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

- Letcher T. 2009. Climate Change. Elsevier Science

- Marcha J, Bayley A. 2016. Coastal Change, Ocean Conservation and Resilient Communities. Springer

- Newman P, Isabella Jennings I. 2008. Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems: Principles and Practices. Island Press

- Primack RB. 2016. An Introduction to Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates

- Rickefs RE. 2011. The Economy of Nature (6th Ed). New York: Freeman