99026 Coastal Protection and Restoration
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Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
Coastlines of the world face complex and interconnected environmental problems, including the erosion of environmentally sensitive areas, overfishing pressures, species loss, and the worsening impacts of climate change. Over 40% of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometres of coastlines, so it is important that environmental scientists have a solid understanding of these vulnerable regions.
This subject explores the impacts of anthropogenic forces on our coasts and shallow seas, and innovative solutions to these challenges (e.g., technological, social, economic, political). Topics include direct habitat restoration, threatened species, artificial reefs, sustainable seafood, and highlight research partnerships via industry, government, global eNGOs, and citizen science initiatives. Students connect with key experts across sectors and build industry-valued scientific skills through collaborative online learning complemented by in-person practical training.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Understand and explain the current effects of anthropogenic forces on environmentally sensitive coastlines and efforts to reverse these effects. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Reflect on and discuss current, real-world challenges in this field, as identified by industry experts during hands-on workshops and in online forums. |
| 3. | Explore innovative solutions to these challenges, including technological, social, economic, and political responses. |
| 4. | Communicate the nature of selected challenges and pitch creative solutions in a suitable manner and format for the target audience. |
| 5. | Identify and reflect on the professional capabilities required to work effectively with Indigenous peoples engaged in conservation efforts in the Sydney Basin. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate advanced and up-to-date applications of environmental consultancy and conservation practice and deliver advanced evaluation and interpretations of problems and solutions as a leader in environmental management. (1.1)
- Address the challenge of real-world environmental issues by investigating different solutions to complex problems. Independently research, synthesize, and critically evaluate information from a variety of sources and apply that knowledge to professional contexts. Critique techniques in environmental assessment and conservation practice. (2.1)
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of health and safety requirements, regulatory requirements, ethical conduct, and risk management, in the context of field sites and animal handling. Evaluate and apply ethical solutions to environmental problems, considering the needs of local and global communities. (3.1)
- Design best-practice solutions to complex site problems through creative application of technologies and commitment to self-directed learning. Demonstrate the ability to reflect and make effective judgments about one's own work as a professional environmental scientist. (4.1)
- Communicate across a range of technologies in a rigorous and effective manner, matching the structure and level of communication to target audiences. Examine and articulate environmental problems and solutions within local, regional, and global settings using appropriate media. Judge the use of interpersonal communication skills with scientists, land owners, industry partners, government agencies and global communities. (5.1)
- Critically reflect on Indigenous Australian contexts to inform professional cultural capability to work effectively with and for, Indigenous Australians within Environmental contexts. (6.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
1. Disciplinary Knowledge
Building from foundation knowledge of marine ecosystems and fisheries practices, Coastal Protection and Restoration develops your conceptual understanding and hands-on practical skills relevant to key aspects of coastal restoration. These approaches are in line with conservation goals to better protect threatened and exploited fish species and enhance their ecosystems. You will develop your knowledge through collaborative online workshops with Industry experts, as well as field and laboratory practical classes which are delivered in block-mode. Knowledge and understanding of concepts will be assessed through student-created videos, written pieces, and short quizzes where you can keep track of your progress throughout the session.
2. Research, Inquiry, and Critical Thinking
Field classes, online learning modules, discussion workshops, and lectures are each designed to help you to develop, actively contribute, and reflect on your own scientific viewpoints. In expert-led classes, you will be shown how to develop the ability to follow lines of evidence from basic knowledge to higher-level scientific inference regarding the conservation status and potential future for fish populations. You will be assessed on these elements via reflective exercises, written pieces and a short video submission.
3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility
This subject develops key professional skills for managing coastal ecosystems. Due to the importance and vulnerability of coastal ecosystems, a sound understanding of environmental changes driven by human processes, and the ability to interpret data and respond accordingly is very important. Society requires that human needs and the environment be balanced to secure a sustainable future. Your understanding of anthropogenic impacts on coastal ecosystems, and how these relate to human and ecological risks are assessed through the course engagement activities.
4. Reflection, Innovation, and Creativity
Throughout life, critically evaluating human impacts on the environment will be an important skill. You will have many opportunities to discuss and contribute your ideas, as well as reflect on the topics and your understanding of key environmental and social issues relevant to Australian contexts. You will share your understanding of these key elements and be assessed through the reflective course engagement and the video presentation.
5. Communication
Excellence in written scientific communication is a focus on this subject and is developed through all assessment tasks. These skills are learned through guidance from teaching associates and lecturers in sessions aimed at communication of hypothesis-driven experimental procedure and analysis through scientific writing and reflection of your experiences throughout the semester. Clear and logical writing that follows standard practice in scientific communication is assessed via proposal marking criteria.
6. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges and Connection with Country
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have unique relationships to the land, sea, and waterways. In environmental consultancy, it is important to be aware of Indigenous perspectives and be ready to engage in an appropriate and respectful manner with First Nations people and organisations. During the session, you will explore important and relevant research and perspective pieces focused on Indigenous rights, beliefs, and connections to Australian coastal environments. You write reflective pieces, one focused on the field trips and another focused on the Indigenous components within the course. You will reflect and explain what you have learned and how you would incorporate it into your future professional practice.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is delivered via a 3 day face-to-face block of field trips and workshops with self-paced online learning in Canvas before and after the block days. The online learning includes highly interactive self-paced lessons focused on real world case studies and scientific research from across Australia as well as globally. Zoom workshops enable you to check in with subject experts and receive more information or feedback on any area of particular interest.
Experts within this subject use recent case studies to illustrate key subject concepts, from foundational studies and local stories to cutting-edge findings and research with global impact. Real-life environmental problems and solutions are discussed so that you can evaluate the concepts yourself and consider their utility for future environmental opportunities. This subject is designed to enable student engagement within the online as well as in-person classes to provide you with the opportunity for to generate authentic peer discussion, exchange experiences and perspectives, and draw in other environmental concepts and challenges connected to coastal management and restoration.
Content (topics)
Topics include direct habitat restoration, threatened species, artificial reefs, sustainable seafood, and highlight research partnerships via industry, government, global eNGOs, and citizen science initiatives.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Course Engagement
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 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: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | More detailed information is available in Canvas. |
Assessment task 2: Video Presentation
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: |
|---|---|
| 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 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | Further instructions on this task, and details on recording your video, are available in Canvas. |
Assessment task 3: Media Submission
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: |
|---|---|
| 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 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Project |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | More detailed information is available in Canvas. |
Minimum requirements
You are strongly encouraged to attend the 3-day face-to-face workshops and field trips in the session. There are no alternative field trips if you are not able to attend this block learning experience.