Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
The aim of environmental problem-solving is to avoid the complex psychological biases inherent in decision-making and to allow the engagement of multiple stakeholders, incorporate all available information, and ensure that we know exactly what we are trying to achieve, before making a decision. In this course we will outline a structured approach to problem-solving and decision-making from an environmental perspective and present tools for structuring and solving complex environmental problems. This course is a foundational course for environmental management and should change the way you approach problem-solving both at work and at home.
Albert Einstein once said that if he had one hour to save the world he would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and 5 minutes finding the solution. Of course, he was a genius.
In ENVM4512 –ﾠEnvironmental Problem Solving, you will learn what Einstein pondered about in those 55 minutes before making the decision. You will learn a structured approach to solving problems and making decisions from an environmental perspective. You will learn how to avoid psychological biases in decision-making; how different stakeholders bring in a multitude of values; how to incorporate the available information, and how to ensure that we know our objectives before making a decision. We will give you tools for structuring and solving complex environmental problems. This course is a foundational course for environmental management and should change the way you approach problem-solving both at work and at home.
This innovative course is delivered through an online learning platform with a mix of video and written content for students to follow each week and solidified through expert-led weekly workshops that include online content summary and practical implementation of learning modules.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This is a core course for the BEM Hons program in the capstone (final) year. Therefore students should have successfully completed approximately 40# towards their program to enrol.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ENVM1501
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
AGRC2014, ENVM2205, ENVM7512 (co-taught)
Restrictions
This course is restricted to students enrolled in: Bachelor of Environmental Management (Honours), Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning and Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning (Honours).
Jointly taught details
This course is jointly-taught with:
ENVM4512 & ENVM7512 share activities
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Tutor
Mr Tom Deweerdt
Timetable
Additional timetable information
The course includes a weekly two-hour practical workshop that is designed to assist you in completing the assessments and is core to the learning experience of the course. Completion of weekly online learning content is essential andﾠattendance of practicals is highly recommended to ensure success in this course.ﾠ
This course should require approximately 10-hours of work per week. This time includes completing the online self-guided learning modules, workshops, and other required coursework.
Aims and outcomes
The central aim of this course is to provide students with the essential skills to formulate problems, identify stakeholders, find solutions to complex environmental issues and facilitate decision-making for environmental practitioners.
The content of this course will be based on sound theory and practice and will be delivered by world-leading researchers in this field as well as practitioners from key environmental organizations.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain and justify the benefits of a systematic approach to problem-solving in the fields of environmental management and sustainability.
LO2.
Examine and assess complex environmental problems systematically, and in a manner that is cognizant to the social, economic, and environmental contexts of the issues.
LO3.
Identify, and evaluate stakeholders for the purpose of engagement in problem-solving and decision-making processes.
LO4.
Design and apply transparent and justifiable approaches and tools to find preferential solutions to such problems.
LO5.
Explain and justify the value of monitoring and evaluation for an environmental problem-solving.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Problem context and statement | 20% |
1/04/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Stakeholder Analysis | 35% |
15/04/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Influences and leverage points | 15% |
6/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Finding solutions to Enviro Problem | 30% |
27/05/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Problem context and statement
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
1/04/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L05
Task description
The aim of this assessment is to demonstrate capacity to analyse a problem including identification of components, their relationships and to define suitable boundaries and convey this information to a client in a professional report format.
This assessment should be based on one of the two environmental issues provided.
Assignment 1 builds on concepts outlined early in the course. A key outcome will be a diagrammatic representation of the issue you have selected with clear and logical clustering of the problem components. You are also required to draw boundaries around the part of the problem that can be dealt with by a problem-solving team in an organisation. The diagram should be supported with approximately 1000 words of text.
You must treat the assignment as though it was a consultancy in which a senior decision maker in a government agency or private organisation (NGOs, private enterprise etc.) has asked you to analyse and clarify the policy environment of the problem for them. You must point out the key features and implications of your analysis diagram for the client. Thus, you will have to find out which agencies are responsible for the issue you select.
The following is a recommended outline for the assignment overall:
- Introduction: aims and outline of the assignment over viewing the purpose keeping in mind that you are writing it as a detailed Ministerial/executive decision-maker briefing.
- Brief explanation of how you determined the context and boundaries of the decision problem.
- Presentation of your problem analysis diagram.
- A summary of the key features and relationships in the analysis that should be brought to the attention of the organisation.
Please be clear that you are not providing solutions to the topic for your client!
The use of AI technologies: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period).
Stakeholder Analysis
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
15/04/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Aims:
- to become familiar with techniques of identifying stakeholders, gathering information on their views and the nature of their interest in an environmental issue, and
- consider the importance of developing appropriate methods of stakeholder engagement and involvement
The assignment task….
…in summary:
Choose one of the two issues used for assignment 1 and write a briefing document that:
- Identifies key relevant stakeholders, and justify the criteria for selecting them
- Explores the nature of the stakeholders’ interests (“analyses” the stakeholders)
- Recommends appropriate techniques to engage and/or involve each stakeholder or stakeholder group
This will be a challenge. By the end of the assignment, you should have considered the difficulties and rewards of identifying, engaging, understanding, and involving stakeholders – an essential component of all problem solving.
…in detail:
In this assignment you should adopt the position that you are responding to a direct request from a relevant decision-maker to the issue you have selected for the assessment. Assume that this person also has the responsibility for organising, facilitating and coordinating stakeholder engagement. Your stakeholder analysis report should provide a sound basis for them to make informed decisions about the nature of stakeholder involvement in resolving and managing the issue.
Remember that the aims of this assignment are about developing skills in stakeholder analysis (as a precursor to participation). Therefore, care should be taken to avoid falling into the trap of simply describing the technical, scientific, or apparently ‘factual’ attributes of the problem. You can assume that the person that you are writing the briefing document for is reasonably familiar with the technical aspects of the issue and is acutely aware of the importance of the issue for future policy decisions.
Start the assignment by briefly introducing the increasing and important role of public participation and why it is imperative to get this ‘right’. Once you have introduced this concept you should explain how the document (assignment) will deal with the issues of identifying and analysing stakeholders in relation to the topic chosen. By starting your assignment in this way there is less chance of losing focus.
In the introduction you should briefly describe the issue you have chosen. Following on from this introduction you should have a section on stakeholder identification and your analysis of them. Toward the end of the assignment present your recommendations for engagement and involvement of the stakeholders.
We will be looking for justification of the “process” (i.e., how you did it and what criteria you used) in selecting and identifying the stakeholders. We will also be looking for justification of your recommended techniques for involvement. This justification should be based on wide reading of the literature and critical thought. Read the assessment criteria.
Word length:
This assignment will be marked primarily on the quality of research, critical thinking, and analysis. You are strongly encouraged to use tables to assist with the identification, analysis and recommendations. Approximately 2,500 words
Suggested guide for an outline:
- Introduction to assignment (including: a brief description of the problem from the decision-maker's perspective)
- A brief summary of the importance of stakeholders and their engagement
- Identification and analysis of stakeholders for between eight and twelve key/relevant stakeholders using a stakeholder analysis table
- Use Mitchell’s stakeholder analysis conceptual diagram to indicate the nature of each stakeholder in your problem.
- Make recommendations for how to engage with three different stakeholders in your problem and justify based on your analysis.
Research and reference material
You will need to read widely on issues of stakeholder involvement, public participation, community empowerment and a range of related topics. You will also need to read in depth on the social, political, cultural, and technical aspects of the case study you choose. This will necessarily require reading a range of sources from academic literature, grey literature through to media, popular press and Internet sites.
Our broad recommendation is that less than 15 cited references are inadequate for this task.
The use of AI technologies: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period).
Influences and leverage points
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
6/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L04
Task description
Assessment Aim:
- Demonstrate your understanding of an influence diagram to map the complexity of an environmental problem;
- Use your understanding of the system to identify leverage points and potential actions to be considered in future alternative and strategy development.
Task Description:
You will be required to present a short document on an environmental problem based on a provided Influence diagram for this problem.
This document should contain:
1) Highlight at least three potential leverage points on the diagram and associated potential actions at these points (as an image/figure)
2) A short reasoning for each of the three including the objectives addressed and the related stakeholders that might benefit (max 200-words total).
The assessment must use one of the two case studies provided. The use of an alternative topic will result in a mark of zero.
Submission: This is an individual assessment and each student should submit. Instructions for submission will be provided closer to the due date.
The use of AI technologies: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period).
Finding solutions to Enviro Problem
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
27/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Assessment Aim:
- Demonstrate your understanding of the importance of trade-offs within an environmental problem and how to analyze them;
- Articulate recommendations for an environmental problem and consider stakeholder preferences;
- Improve your written communication of an environmental problem.
Assessment Task:
Students are to work as individuals to write a report of approximately 800 words (including illustrations, figures, and references). This report should present an analysis of the decision problem from the perspective of at least two stakeholder groups based on the consequence table provided, further it will articulate recommendations and conclusions based on this analysis.
Submission: Each student is required to submit a report. Submission details will be provided closer to the time
Suggested structure for project report
- Title and case study
- Provided consequence table
- Description of at least two stakeholders and how they have been included in the analysis (~150 words)
- Decision analysis (with the application of appropriate tools) including excel spreadsheet of calculations (as a separate file) and figures of results (including figure legends)
- Discussion of results (~300 words)
- Recommendations (~150 words)
- Cited Literature (if any)
The use of AI technologies: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit report via Turnitin on Blackboard and Excel spreadsheet via Blackboard link.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date. For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period).
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Work of a very poor quality showing a very limited understanding of subject matter and a very low level of appreciation of issues covered in lecture and laboratory programs.ﾠ The minimum percentage required for aﾠgrade of 1 is: 0%. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Work of poor quality showing a very limited understanding of subject matter and a low level of appreciation of issues covered in lecture and laboratory programs.ﾠ The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass.ﾠ The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Work of fair quality demonstrating a basic understanding of most aspects of subject matter and a modest appreciation of issues covered in lecture and laboratory programs, but with serious deficiencies in some areas, at least good laboratory skills and a sound ability to interpret experimental results.ﾠ The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Work of a good quality demonstrating a good understanding of most subject matter and a competent level of appreciation of issues covered in lecture and laboratory programs, although possibly with some lapses and inadequacies, at least good laboratory skills and a sound ability to interpret experimental results.ﾠ The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Work of a very good quality demonstrating a strong understanding of a wide, but not complete, range of subject matter and a good level of appreciation of issues, although not necessarily of the finer points, covered in lecture and laboratory programs, very good laboratory skills and a very good ability to interpret experimental results.ﾠ The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Work of exceptional quality showing a deep understanding of a wide range of subject matter and a clear appreciation of issues covered in lecture and laboratory programs, very good laboratory skills and a very good ability to interpret experimental results.ﾠ The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Assessment Submissionﾠ
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the on time, correct and complete submission of all assessment items.ﾠ
Please ensure you receive and save the submission confirmation for all submitted items, you may be asked to produce this as evidence of your submission.ﾠ
Turnitinﾠ
All written assessment must be submitted via the appropriate Turnitin submission portal, which can be found within the Blackboard site. You are responsible for ensuring that your submission is complete. It is wise to re-enter the Turnitin portal and confirm that your submission is there and that it has not been altered during the submission process.ﾠ
By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment”.ﾠ
In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.ﾠ
Assessment/Attendanceﾠ
Please notify your Course Coordinator as soon as you become aware of any issue that may affect your ability to meet the assessment/attendance requirements of the course. Theﾠmy.UQﾠwebsite and the Electronic Course Profile (ECP) for your course also provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.
A note for repeating students in this courseﾠ
Any student who enrols in a courseﾠmust notﾠbe given exemption or partial credit from theirﾠpreviousﾠattempt(s) for any individual piece of assessment.ﾠInstead,ﾠthe student must successfully completeﾠall ofﾠthe learning activities and assessment items within the study period of enrolmentﾠ(PPL Assessment - Procedures).ﾠ
Artificial Intelligence use (AI)
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates
Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.
Please note:
- Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
- Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
- If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
- If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
- If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
- For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for timeframes. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
- An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
- If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
- Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
- There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.
Applications to defer an exam
In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.
Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.
Please note:
- Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
- There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
- Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
- All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
- You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 1 - Introduction to Environmental Problems In this week you will learn to: 1) Appreciate the need to approach environmental problem-solving & decision making as a process 2) Identify & minimize biases in problem-solving 3) Recognise decision types and articulate processes Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content There is no workshop this week - ALL LEARNING THIS WEEK IS SELF-PACED ONLINE ONLY. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 2 - Problem context I This week you will learn to: 1) Understand barriers to effective problem solving 2) Classify problems as wicked or tame, reactive or proactive 3) Learn how to identify and define problems 4) Articulate problem context and problem statement Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 3 - Problem context II This week you will learn to: 1) Understand what is an environmental problem 2) Break down an environmental problem 3) Identify problem boundaries Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 4 - Stakeholder engagement I In this week you will learn to: 1) Appreciate the importance of good stakeholder insight & involvement to improve environmental problem-solving 2) Describe key issues when identifying & clarifying stakeholders in complex problems Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 5 - Stakeholder engagement II In this week you will learn to: 1) Evaluate & analyze stakeholders to improve understanding of their positions & roles 2) Determine key questions & evaluate appropriate methods to engage a diverse range of stakeholders Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 6 - Values and objectives In this week we will learn to: 1) Appreciate the importance of objectives in decision-making 2) Describe the different types of objectives 3) Use appropriate tools to distinguish between objectives Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Assessment due: Assessment 1 - Problem Context and Statement - see "Assessment" for more details. DUE Tuesday 25/03/2023 at 2pm AEST. Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 7 - Performance measures In this week you will learn how to: 1) What makes a good performance measure for objectives 2) Understanding the pros and cons of scales 3) Introduce influence diagrams Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L02, L04, L05 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 8 - Alternatives This week you will learn to: 1) Revisit means objectives and more on biases 2) Generating good alternatives for an environmental problem 3) Tools for identifying alternatives and developing strategies Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Assessment due: Assessment 2 - Stakeholder Analysis - see "Assessment" for more details. DUE 15/04/2025 at 2pm AEST. Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 9 - Consequences In this week you will learn to: 1) Why it is important to link objectives to actions and approaches for doing this 2) Consequence tables as a tool for making these connections and summarising information 3) Using a consequence table to simplify a problem Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 10 - Data for understanding consequences This week you will learn to: 1) Identify types of data 2) The role of models 3) The role of experts Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Assessment due: Assessment 3 - Assessment of Alternatives - see "Assessment" for more details. DUE 6/05/2025 at 2pm AEST. Learning outcomes: L02, L04, L05 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 11 - Tools for finding solutions In this week you will learn how to: 1) Understand key solution methods to environmental problems 2) Understand the concept of return on investment 3) Understand the difference between cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis and how to implement in environmental problem solving 4) Implement a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) 5) Appreciate the importance of stakeholder and decision-maker preferences in guiding decisions. Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Week 12 - Uncertainty and monitoring In this week you will learn to: 1) Understand what is uncertainty 2) Understand the different reasons to monitor and those that relate to decision-making 3) Understand the importance of balancing the cost of information with its use Learning activities for this week will be comprised of a self-guided online learning content and a two-hour timetabled workshop. Learning outcomes: L02, L05 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.