ENSb1124 Global environmental problems + seminar

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Mikuláš Černík (lecturer)
Mgr. Tomáš Chabada, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Ing. Jan Malý Blažek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Ľuboš Slovák (lecturer)
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Karolína Žižková (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Müllerová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 14:00–17:40 U32
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! ENS124 Global enviro problems &&! NOW ( ENS124 Global enviro problems )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to explain the context of global environmental problems (lectures) and at the same time open a space for common build-up knowledge of alternatives and visions of the problem solutions, based on the presented and discussed case studies (seminars). At the end of the course, the student will be able to understand the context, impacts and links between the particular global environmental problems. Students will continuously search, evaluate and critically reflect case studies of environmentally sustainable alternatives, as well as debate the future visions and tools that are promoted by different agents (academics, institutions, as well as civic society). The structure of the lectures represents the frame of an interconnected net of environmental problems, in which we can point out the main focus on a certain issue (main topic of the lecture), at the same time this topic must be applied on the other nods of the net (connection to other problems). In the end of the course, students will be able to understand the problems and their relationships, but also the context of risks, potential solutions and agents of these solutions. The structure of the seminars corresponds with the lecture topics, students will thus apply chosen case studies on information base provided by the foregoing lectures. The collective and also individual work will result in the capability to search, interpret and critically discuss particular topics (problems) from the view of the solutions (alternatives and visions).
Learning outcomes
After completing the course student will be able to:
- describe individual global environmental issues
- identify the causes and impacts of specific global environmental problems
- discuss and explain the context and interdependence of global environmental problems
- formulate and characterize solutions to global environmental problems
- critically evaluate and compare proposed solutions
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Consumption
  • 3. Population
  • 4. Anorganic resources
  • 5. Energetics
  • 6. Climate change (guest)
  • 7. Air pollution
  • 8. Summary workshop + test 1
  • 9. Biodiversity (guest)
  • 10. Soil degradation and deforestation
  • 11. Food resources
  • 12. Water resources
  • 13. Summary workshop + test 2
Literature
    required literature
  • MYERS, Norman and Scott SPOOLMAN. Environmental issues & solutions : a modular approach. International edition. Australita: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. 509 stran. ISBN 9781435462328. 2014. info
  • MOLDAN, Bedřich. Podmaněná planeta. Druhé, rozšířené a upra. Praha: Karolinum. 511 stran. ISBN 9788024629995. 2015. info
    recommended literature
  • MIDDLETON, Nick. The global casino : an introduction to environmental issues. Fifth edition. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. xxiii, 614. ISBN 9781444146622. 2013. info
  • HITE, Kristen A. and John L. SEITZ. Global issues : an introduction. Fifth edition. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell. xviii, 335. ISBN 9781118968857. 2016. info
Teaching methods
The course is composed of 1 introductory lecture, 10 blocks consisting of lectures and seminars dedicated to specific global environmental problems and 2 workshops with tests, focused on solutions for these problems.
Lectures, seminars with active participation, group presentation, individual work, group discussions, tests expert lecture(s)
Assessment methods
The evaluation of the course will be based on continuous work over the semester. Attendance at seminars is obligatory, with three absences allowed. Active participation in the form of critique and discussion on the alternatives and visions is expected. In preparation for the seminars, it is essential to get familiar with the texts for each seminar in the interactive syllabi.

The evaluation comprises of:
1) Presentations in seminars
A compulsory condition for attending a course is one group presentation (will be specified according to the number of students enrolled in the course). A total of 20 points can be obtained for the presentation.
2) Two tests
The tests will take place at the beginning of the summary workshop sessions. For one test, a maximum of 15 points can be achieved, i.e. 30 points for both tests.
3) Final exam
The final exam will be in the exam period, and you can achieve 50 points with obligation to achieve at least 25 points
Classification:
A - 91 - 100
B - 81 - 90
C - 71 - 80
D - 61 - 70
E - 51 - 60
F - 0 - 50
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2023/ENSb1124