Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Aims

The aim of the course is to give basic knowledge of man made environmental problems to train the student in critical assessment of relationship between science, society and the environment.

Content

Introduction. Introduction to biology/ecology. Structure and function of the cell, organism, population, community and ecosystem. Recycling in nature. Toxic substances: characteristics, measurements of the effects, environmental problems, classification, application, direct and indirect effects. Basic medical aspects, particularly the risks of cancer, genetic abnormalities, and lesions of the foetus. Radioactive substances and ioni-zing radiation and their biological effects. Cancer, genetical disturbances and foetal damages.

Air pollution and noise problems: Physical and chemical quality of the atmosphere, variations in the composition in short and long perspective. Basic climate conditions. Technical and economic problems in connection with combating air pollution. Noise sources and control of noise, noise measurements. Somatic and physical effects of noise on man and its effects on the environment.

Water conservation and landscape architecture The water cycle: basic surface and subsoil water hydrology inclu-ding transport of solid and dissolved substances in the water. Natural and artificial variations in time and space. Human impact in short and long time perspectives. Chemical composition and production of water. Variations in short and long time perspectives including human impact. Subsoil waters, rivers, lakes, coastal waters, inland seas and oceans as recipients of pollution. Technical and economic pro-blems in connection with water distribution in domestic, industrial, and agricultural de-mands. Landscape architecture, ecology and history. Land use and nature conservation. Changes in the cultural and forest andscape during recent time. Conservation of nature resources. Conservation of nature.

Soil conservation and solid waste: Bedrock and soil. Overview of the physical properties of unconsolidated deposits. Solid rocks and unconsolidated deposits as waterbearing formations, bases for constructions, and as raw materials for construction purposes. Problems related to gravel pits are particularly considered. Basic studies of soil horizons. Soil as a living, dynamic system and tolerance to external changes Solid waste, waste management and treatment. Problems with packings are particularly noticed. The influence of different destructive methods on air, land water and their ecological effects in the food web. Recirculation of wastes. Technical and economical problems in connection with waste managements.

The society and the environment: Organisation and legislation of the environmental control. Community planning and economy. Cost estimates of community needs contra business economics. Control methods of economy and law. Formation of public opinion on environmental problems. Global environmental aspects. Energy and environment.

Instruction

Lessons, group instructions, seminars, visits to facilities connected with the topics of the course, and excursions. Attendance in the seminars, visits, and excursions is compulsory. Presentations in groups or separately of individual studies at a seminar.

Assessment

Examination is arranged at the end of every item. It can totally or partly be replaced by tests during the course. The test is orally or written. A passing grade for the entire course requires passing grades for every single item as well as participation in compulsory activities. Ass grades Pass and Fail will be used. Students who have failed a test normally have the chance to take a new examination within one month after the course and/or at the beginning of the autumn term, after Christmas vacations and at the end of the spring term.