E0313 Environmental chemistry

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/1. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Lisa Emily Melymuk, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Jana Klánová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jana Klánová, Ph.D.
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Lisa Emily Melymuk, Ph.D.
Supplier department: RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 9:00–10:50 D29/252-RCX1
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
This course provides a discussion-based forum to study current topics in environmental chemistry, intended for science students or those with a background in environmental and health research . This course will highlight current issues in environmental chemistry, covering major categories and types of pollutants, and examples of ways in which data on environmental pollutants is used by selecting recent environmental chemistry topics of general interest and researching the underlying scientific issues.
Learning outcomes
After this course, students should be able to: - have a scientific overview of the major environmental chemistry issues, properties of major pollutants, their sources and occurrence in the environment;
- understand relations between the chemical structure of substances, their physical-chemical properties and their fate in the environment;
- understand the link between environmental pollution and regulatory/policy issues;
- understand the importance of chemical pollution to global environmental challenges (e.g. climate change, biodiversity loss)
- critically evaluate literature describing environmental chemistry issues
Syllabus
  • The course is taught weekly using a hybrid of lecture and discussion based format. Specific topics will be identified at the start of the semester, selected from the most relevant and timely environmental chemistry issues. Students will gain experience in critically reading both news and scientific literature, strategies for researching environmental science topics, and gain a scientific overview of the major environmental chemistry issues (for example, but not limited to, PFAS, microplastics, waste disposal).
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BEARD, James M. Environmental chemistry in society. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis, 2009, xvii, 345. ISBN 9781420080254. info
Teaching methods
Education is given in weekly lecture/discussion hybrid format. Active participation from students is expected. Each week, a new topic is introduced, and students participate in the discussion, identification of key issues, and selection of topics for further research.
Assessment methods
Students are required to lead the discussion for one research topic, selected based on their interest in consultation with the instructor. Evaluation is based on the background research and presentation of the topic presented by the student, including presentation of topic to class (50% of final grade), and oral examination (50% of final grade).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught each semester.
General note: www.recetox.muni.cz.
Teacher's information
http://www.recetox.muni.cz
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2023/E0313