91159 Environmental Remediation
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91123 Nature and Evolution
Recommended studies:
91154 Ecology; 91107 The Biosphere
Description
This is an environmental science subject focused on the practice and philosophies behind responsibly remediating degraded landscapes across the world. It builds on prior understanding of ecosystem processes and explores the complexities of environmental degradation across terrestrial and marine systems using real-world case studies underpinned by current research findings. Students engage in hands-on laboratory and field practicals, contribute to critical discussion-style lectures, conduct an independent research project of their own design and participate in online learning. They draw links between anthropogenic processes and their impacts on natural environments, conduct local-scale professional site assessments and write professional reports providing potential research-grounded solutions to environmental degradation.
The professional skills developed in the practical, written and online aspects of the subject are applicable to a diverse range of careers, both within and beyond the focus of environmental remediation science.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Identify and contextualise the science that underpins effective, responsible environmental remediation practices across global contexts. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Investigate and summarise evidence of past, current, and future states of sites via desktop research. |
| 3. | Conduct independent field work to assess site health and environmental degradation using safe, ethical, and culturally respectful professional practices. |
| 4. | Design evidence-based remediation projects tailored to improve local contexts and solve environmental problems. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate theoretical and technical knowledge of the principles of biodiversity and ecosystem function and evaluate and integrate principles of sustainability and conservation to protect biodiversity. (1.1)
- Critically evaluate scientific evidence and literature and apply effective and appropriate experimental design and analytical techniques to discover and hypothesise solutions to new and emerging environmental issues. (2.1)
- Demonstrate professionalism, including personal organisation, autonomy, teamwork, literacy and quantitative skills, while ensuring due consideration to ethical guidelines, work health and safety and environmental impact requirements. (3.1)
- Evaluate evolving concepts in environmental science and apply scientific skills to design creative solutions to contemporary or complex environmental issues by incorporating innovative methods, reflective practices, and self-directed learning. (4.1)
- Communicate effectively and professionally (oral, written, visual), generating defensible, convincing arguments for relaying research findings or articulating complex issues, concepts or skill around environmental science, within a multi-disciplinary setting. (5.1)
- Acquire knowledge of Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander people's unique connection to the environment, developing professional cultural capability to work effectively with and for, Indigenous Australians within environmental professions. (6.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to your personal, professional and intellectual development, and the development of the following graduate attributes:
Graduate Attribute 1 - Disciplinary knowledge
The disciplinary focus of the subject is to develop a sound understanding of the practice and philosophies of responsible environmental remediation for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The conceptual underpinnings of this subject make it a nexus between the complex environmental problems that are impacting the Earth’s landscapes and our modern-day methods for assessing and addressing these problems. We examine local-scale as well as global-scale case studies throughout the subject’s main topics.
This knowledge and its application is presented throughout all learning aspects of the subject and assessed in the Independent Research Project as well as the Knowledge and Skills Review.
Graduate Attribute 2 – Research, enquiry and critical thinking
We live in an increasingly urbanised world with a growing human population and usable land, particularly in areas like Sydney, has significant value. Recovering land that has been historically contaminated is a relevant and growing industry for Australia. You will be required to actively seek new and relevant research relevant to your own case study, and critique the efficacy of various remediation strategies to determine the most suitable method for your own case. You will also consider the value of landscapes to humans.
The major research-based assessment for this subject is the Independent Research Project.
Graduate Attribute 3 – Professional, ethical and social responsibility
Throughout the session, you will understand the role that human development and disturbance has had on both natural and developed landscapes, as well as explore the exciting research area of environmental remediation and the process of ethically and correctly restoring ecosystem functioning.
This subject is heavily practice-oriented and you will be engaging with a wide range of professional skills relevant to a career in environmental remediation. The professional skills you will develop include the practice of a site assessment, as well as preparing a detailed EPA-compliant site assessment, testing laboratory remediation methods using small-scale environmental microcosm experiments and applying scientific analysis to determine the efficacy of your chosen methods.
Your professional and ethical skills will be assessed in the Knowledge and Skills Review as well as the Independent Research Project.
Graduate Attribute 4 - Reflection, innovation and creativity
The Independent Research Project is designed for you to use your own level of initiative and seek out a local-scale degraded landscape in Sydney that you would ideally remediate, and complete a Site Assessment. Using a firm base of scientific research and supporting case studies, you must then develop your own innovative Remediation Plan of how you would design and apply an environmental remediation plan to your site. You can select to use a single proven remediation method and adapt it for your site, detailing why this is the best scenario above all others, or you can combine a combination of potential methods with the aim of achieving a more positive outcome for the site. You have the creative scope to design an entirely new remediation method, as long as you’re able to firmly justify your choices in developing the new design.
The laboratory microcosm projects also provide opportunities for you to select and apply your own creative remediation methods to the small-scale contamination experiments. You will be able to determine the efficacy of your chosen methods and evaluate whether it would be viable at a larger scale scenario.
The Independent Research Project provides the opportunity for professional reflection beyond the four walls of the university classroom. Continued intellectual development will be fostered in the Knowledge and Skills Review.
Graduate Attribute 5 - Communication
This subject has strong focus on refining professional, graduate-level communication skills. You will be expected to present high-quality written work reflecting your individual case study in the Independent Research Project, in line with the current standards of Australian site consultancy firms and the NSW EPA. You will visually communicate your site layout in the Site Report using a scale map, highlighting the features relevant to your environmental assessment.
You will also capture and include clear and unaltered photographs of outdoor features as supporting evidence in your Site Report, understanding that site photos are a critical line of environmental evidence and can be used for legal purposes.
Graduate Attribute 6 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges and Connection with Country
An important site assessment skill taught in this subject is conserving culturally-significant Aboriginal sites and how to identify these sites from trace environmental evidence. You are provided with examples of common evidence that you may encounter during site inspections, what they may mean, and what the next steps are in the line of site conservation.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is delivered through laboratory practicals, lectures, online learning, independent research, and a field trip.
The lecture series explores the science and evidence behind environmental degradation and effective remediation practices. These lectures directly connect to the practical components of the subject, as well as assessments. Engaging with lectures is essential to developing a full understanding of the practical approaches for environmental remediation.
The laboratory practical activities include working in teams to simulate an oceanic oil spill and practice remediation techniques with model ecosystems and real crude oil, independent work to phytoremediate hazardous pollutants from degraded soils, and training to identify a range of highly invasive plant species.
Self-paced online modules are designed to enhance your learning in other aspects of the subject and prepare you to work safely and effectively in your field and laboratory classes.
The full-day field trip provides first-hand experience of a restored and biologically-diverse site in New South Wales with active community connections. Dates and times for the field trip are available in Canvas and will be discussed in detail closer to the trip.
Content (topics)
This subject explores a diverse variety of content including:
- Environmental pollution and degradation
- Conducting site assessments following Australian EPA standards
- Collecting and testing environmental samples
- Terrestrial remediation techniques
- Ecosystem restoration
- Invasive species: Identification and management
- Oceanic oil spills
- Contaminants of emerging concern
- Getting a job as an environmental scientist
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Independent Research Project - Site Assessment
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 5. Communication 6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and connection with Country |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 5.1 and 6.1 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | The Independent Research Project is a portfolio of work submitted in two sections, with feedback being provided for each section following your submission. This subject supports optional consultation where you can receive personalised advice on your site selection, evidence, and potential remediation approaches. More details are available on Canvas and will be discussed throughout the session. |
Assessment task 2: Independent Research Project - Remediation Plan
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 4. Reflection, innovation and creativity 5. Communication 6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and connection with Country |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Criteria: | The Independent Research Project is a portfolio of work submitted in two sections, with feedback being provided for each section following your submission. This subject supports optional consultation where you can receive personalised advice on your site selection, evidence, and potential remediation approaches. More details are available on Canvas and will be discussed throughout the session. |
Assessment task 3: Knowledge and Skills Review
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation and Creativity 5. Communication 6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges and Connection with Country |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Criteria: | To keep track of your progress throughout the session, there will be three knowledge and skills quizzes. These quizzes will be run at the start, mid-point, and end of session with the confirmed dates available in Canvas. |
Minimum requirements
This subject has practical laboratories, a full-day field trip, and online learning activities that are live as well as self-paced. The assessment items are connected with these activities and you will not be able to complete certain tasks if you do not engage with these activities. It is highly recommended you attend all scheduled classes and keep up to date with your self-paced learning activities.
If you are experiencing any difficulties related to class attendance or engagement, please contact the subject coordinator as early as possible so we can support you.
Recommended texts
The recommended readings connected to your classes are available in Canvas.