2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE3112 Environmental Risk: Science, Policy and Management

10 Credits Class Size: 51

Module manager: Dr Yim Ling Siu
Email: Y.L.Siu@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Module replaces

SOEE3111

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The aim of this module is to provide a holistic understanding of the links between environmental risk assessment, risk management and risk communication, and how these three components have effects on environmental risk decisions. The objectives are to provide students the basic concepts of: the definitions of risk; risk calculation and risk assessment approaches and methods; risk perceptions; the contemporary environmental risk management strategies; and the role and technique of risk communication in environmental risk decision-making.

Objectives

The assessment, perception, communication and management of risk are increasingly seen as major components of environmental policy decision-making. The aim of this module is to adopt a systematic approach to explore the links of these major components, examining how environmental risks are assessed, understood, communicated and managed in a range of contexts.

Its objectives are to provide a broad understanding of: the nature of risks; the scientific perspective of risk; using scientific advice for environmental risk management; the social dimension of risk and how risk decisions were made; the contemporary environmental risk management strategies; and the role and technique of risk communication in decision-making.

Learning outcomes

To develop scholarship and skills in the understanding of environmental risks, including aspects of environmental risk assessment, management, perception and communication; to increase critical awareness of the dichotomy of science-based and social values laden environmental risk assessment and decisions; to gain understanding of the need for balancing technical, social and economic issues in managing environmental risks; and to gain understanding of the need for communicating decisions that involve environmental risk and its uncertainty.

Skills outcomes

- To gain analytical skills in the understanding of the role and component of environmental risk assessment;
- To gain confidence in providing a critical evaluation of the science-based or social values laden environmental risk decision;
- To gain understanding of the principles and techniques in communicating decisions that involve environmental risks, including the uncertainty inherent in Science.

Syllabus

- Introduction
- What is risk?
- Risk calculation & risk assessment: approaches and methods
- Scientific uncertainty
- Why different people perceive risk in different ways?
- Environmental risk management strategies
- Communicating risk: models, principles & best practices
- Reflection and revision

Teaching Methods

Private study

Reading – 40 hours (4 hours per week)
Assignment preparation – 40 hours

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 6/3/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team