52715 Environmental Communication
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10359 Bachelor of Communication (Digital and Social Media) Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10361-C10364, and Category Type = Bachelor's Degree OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10365-C10368, and Category Type = Bachelor's Combined Degree OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10369 Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10370 Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) Bachelor of International Studies OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10371 Bachelor of Communication (Digital and Social Media) OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10372-C10377, and Category Type = Bachelor's Combined Degree OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10434-C10439, and Category Type = Bachelor's Combined Degree OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10451 Bachelor of Communication (Media Business) OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10452 Bachelor of Communication (Media Business) Bachelor of International Studies OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10454 Bachelor of Communication (Media Business) Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10399 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10411 Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10412 Bachelor of Management Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment OR 30 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10445 Bachelor of Economics Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 54094 Environmental Communication AND 58328 The New Economy of Post-Nature
Description
This subject explores the strategies through which citizens, corporations, public officials, journalists, artists, environmental groups and Indigenous people strive to influence public debate and shape important decisions that affect the environment. While many environmental controversies hinge on expert knowledge, decisions about what to do turn on how scientific evidence is communicated in the public sphere, on public perceptions of science and technology and the responsibility of individuals, organisations and governments to act. Addressing a range of environmental problems, this subject focuses primarily on planetary heating as a fundamental challenge in environmental communication across a range of media and professional practices.
Students are introduced to key theories, concepts and practices in science communication, risk anticipation, environmental policy and environmental studies. They analyse how knowledge of existing and anticipated environmental hazard is communicated in public forums, the often unexamined cultural and ideological commitments embedded in talk about the environment, and the ways that ignorance and uncertainty (lack of knowledge, secrecy, disinformation) can be manipulated, even manufactured to shape public opinion and set policy agendas. Students research and analyse case studies and/or develop their own environmental communication projects across a range of local and international environmental issues.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Analyse the processes whereby environmental issues are communicated in the public sphere and influence public policy |
|---|---|
| b. | Identify the social, political, economic and cultural interests which shape the communication of climate change |
| c. | Develop critical literacy in evaluating strategies of environmental communication |
| d. | Reflect on the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities of citizens and communications professionals in the communication of environmental issues |
| e. | Comprehend international and intercultural dimensions of environmental communication |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Apply theoretically informed understandings of communication industries to independent and collaborative projects across a range of media (1.2)
- Act as reflexive critical thinkers and innovative creative practitioners who evaluate their own and others' work (2.2)
- Analyse and act ethically in the personal, political and professional contexts of civil society (5.1)
- Exemplify effective and appropriate communication in different communication industry contexts (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
Face-to-face (or online) classes incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, group discussions and presentations, and discussion of readings and case studies in environmental communication drawn from a range of media, e.g. television and radio , online multimedia, and PR campaigns. Students engage in independent reading and activities, supported by online resources. They are provided with opportunities to engage with a range of media and independently research case studies in environmental communication as preparation for in-class discussion and assessment. Students attend lectures and read course material/view short media clips etc. before tutorials. A non-assessed online quiz in week 4 provides students with formative feedback on their initial understanding of key concepts prior to the census date.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Weekly Participation and Case Studies
| Objective(s): | a, b and e | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 45% | ||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1600 wds (approx. 400 wds per submitted post) not including reference list (APA style). | ||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Environmental Communication Project
| Objective(s): | a, b, c, d and e | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 55% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | c. 2000 words for written texts: research essay, public communication intervention or environmental journalism For creative or media work, equivalent length and format to be negotiated prior to submission with tutor, plus 350-word exegesis. NB: Reference list not included in word counts. Please use APA style (See library website). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Required texts
There are no required textbooks for this subject. Weekly readings will be available via UTS Library and through the subject site
Recommended texts
Cox, R. 2013, Environmental communication and the public sphere, Sage, Thousand Oaks.