Module FOUN0497: ENGINEERING IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Department: Foundation Year

FOUN0497: ENGINEERING IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Environmental Science 2.

Aims

• To develop awareness and knowledge of key environmental issues and the science and engineering behind them.
• To constructively apply knowledge gained in other subject areas.
• To develop library and research skills.

Content

• Energy Introduction to electricity production, history of energy, supply and demand, alternative energies, non-renewable/renewable/sustainable energies, overview of advantages and disadvantages of different kinds, potential for future use. Detailed consideration of power production from solar, wind, hydro-electricity and waves.
• Nuclear power: principles of nuclear fission, nuclear reactor design, safety issues, storage and treatment of waste.
• Cars and transport How a car engine works, measures for reducing car, air pollution – catalytic convertors, lean burn engines etc – alternative transport policies.
• Recycling and Waste Alternative methods of waste disposal, recycling.
• Climate Change Electromagnetic spectrum, greenhouse effect, implications for climate, greenhouse gas reduction.
• Water Treatment, management of resources.
• Structure of materials, particularly metals and their alloys.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
• describe the basic concepts involved in energy production, transport, recycling and waste management, climate change and water as detailed in the content list.

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the skills to be able to:
• to interpret information to design environmental solutions

• By the end of the module students will:
• be able to communicate effectively in writing.
• be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data.
• be able to demonstrate problem solving skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Theory, initial concepts and techniques will be introduced during lectures and demonstrations.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured activities during tutorials and students' own time.
• Research and library skills will be developed through structured and non-structured research activities.
• Knowledge,understanding and ability to interpret information will be assessed by a portfolio of set tasks and exercises and an end of module examination.
• Research and interpretation skills will be assessed by a set design exercise.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will be given self testing units on a weekly basis. Students will be given some formative research and design exercises.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University