EA3006 - Land Degradation Field Studies

Credit points:	03
Year:	2007
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	Discipline of Earth Sciences

This is a field based intensive subject which provides a practical introduction to land degradation issues in tropical Australia. It covers the causes and environmental impacts of improper land management and contemporary pollution issues. Topics presented include contaminated site assessment, mine site pollution and rehabilitation, acid sulphate soils, and land management and condition assessment.

Learning Outcomes

• a general background in the mineralogical, chemical and physical processes involved in land degradation;
• acquire an overview of procedures and strategies directed to the sustainable management of agricultural, industrial and mining areas;
• recognition and documentation of land degradation issues in the field.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• The ability to calculate, produce, interpret and communicate numerical information;
• The ability to select and use appropriate IT tools;
• The ability to access and employ online technologies effectively;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to use a variety of media and methods to retrieve, analyse, evaluate, organise and present information;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning processes and products;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner.

Prerequisites:

EV1001 or EA1001 or EA1100 or EA1300 or EA1003 or EA1004 plus any two level 2 science subjects

Availabilities
Cairns, Block, Study Period 7
Census Date 20-Jul-2007
Face to face teaching 15-Jul-2007 to 21-Jul-2007
Coordinator:	Professor Bernd Lottermoser
Contact hours:	8 hours workshops/Seminars 56 hours fieldwork
Assessment:	presentations (25%); practical tasks (25%); essays (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.