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Geography, Environment and Population is on Facebook
Join our group at: www.facebook.com/groups/AdelaideUniGeography
Discipline information session
Dr John Tibby Senior Lecturer
Geography, Environment and Population
[email protected]: @john_tibby
Field work on Nth Stradbroke Island
Today… What is Geography, Environment and Population? What is the course content at level 1? What do some Upper level courses have to offer? Will it be useful in getting a job?
Core areas of study: Human Geography Physical Geography
Major foci in Discipline: Population and migration Environmental and climate change Environmental management Environment and development Environmental economics
Underpinned by both theory and practical skill development
Staff profile (relatively) young, new, enthusiastic debates in Advertiser about congestion charge advice to SA, Australian government, UN on
population major report on climate change in Mt Lofty Ranges scientific advice on water management
Teaching/lecturing
Research Applied outcomes
(jobs & policy)
Teaching and Research Focus
Environmental change at local, national and global scales. Environmental change – encompassing social forces and biophysical processes – is rapidly altering our cities and suburbs, regional and rural landscapes, our natural heritage and biodiversity, as well as important political and economic aspects of the world as a whole.
1st Year courses:
Globalisation, Justice and a Crowded Planet Footprints on a Fragile Planet Population and Environment in Australia Economy, Environment and Place
Global average temperature
Australian Population in 2006
Footprints topics include… Climate change Health of the Earth’s oceans Impacts of Aboriginal people on the
Australian environment Species loss in Australia and around the
world
Answering tough questions
Should Lake Alexandrina be flooded with sea water? Should Australia have a nuclear power industry? Does Adelaide need a desalination plant? Is the current drought natural?
Low water levels in Lake Alexandrina
Field research
Students doing water quality testing
Learning first hand from the Upper River Torrens Landcare group
Population and Environment in Australia This course focuses on the important and complex two way
relationship between Population and Environment and explores the implications for Australia’s future.
It examines the contemporary dynamics of population growth, composition and spatial distribution and the role environmental factors have had in shaping Australia’s population. Equally too the impact of population on environment is examined .
It explores the changing spatial distribution of the population together with issues like urbanisation, ‘sea change’ and rural depopulation and their inter-relationship with the environment and future issues associated with climate change.
It assesses the impact of internal and international migration in changing the size, structure and distribution of Australia’s population.
A Complex Interrelationship: Population, Environment, Resources and Development
Population and Environment in Australia
Distribution of Australian Population in 2006Source: ABS year book 2008
Distribution of Indigenous Population in 2006Source: ABS year book 2008
Globalisation, Justice &a Crowded Planet
Globalisation, Justice & a Crowded Planet
Focus Increasing interconnections across the globe
Aim to develop students critical understanding of the
key processes of globalisation and evaluate their impacts.
The questions we consider…
What do we mean by Globalisation? Is it a new phenomenon?
How are local places connected into global processes?
What are the impacts of globalisation on people and the places they live in?
Globalisation, Justice &a Crowded Planet
Economy, Environment and Place
Designed to generate a sound understanding of the interface between human economic activities, the natural environment and place.
The course introduces economic concepts, principles and thoughts, which are regarded as a toolkit to interpret and diagnose contemporary environmental and social problems and prescribe appropriate policy responses to these problems.
Economy, Environment and Place
Lecture topics Economic systems and utilitarianism Resource scarcity and opportunity cost Economic decision-making and environmental degradation Environmental externalities Environmental problems and prisoner’s dilemmas Comparative environmental policies in the Asia-Pacific Region Economic growth, unemployment and income inequality Ecologically sustainable economic growth
Assessment?
Varies, but 1st year courses all have: Exam Essay or field report Smaller tasks (e.g. quizzes,
workshop exercises, marks for participating)
Advanced level courses At least 8 courses over 2 years (3 units each)
Environmental Management Urban Futures Resource Scarcity and
Allocation Social Science Techniques Environment and Development Introductory Geographic
Information Systems Biogeography & Biodiversity
Conservation Climate Change Population & Health
Global International Migration Introduction to Environmental
Impact Assessment Environmental Change Managing Coastal Environments Governance & Sustainable
development Geographies of Food and
Agriculture Principles of Environmental
Economics Environmental Policy and
Management Internship
Human Geography
Physical Geography
Environmental Management
Globalisation, Justice and a Crowded Planet (1st Year)
Population and Environment in Australia (1st Year)
Environment and Development
Global International Migration
Mobile Spaces, Mobile Societies
Population & Health
Governance and Sustainable Development
Urban Futures
Foucault, Space and Social Sciences
Housing Policy and Practice in Australia
Footprints on a Fragile Planet (1st Year)
Biogeography & Biodiversity Conservation
Climate Change
Environmental Change
Skills and Techniques Courses
Introductory Geographic Information Systems Advanced Geographic Information Systems Applied Population Analysis Social Science Techniques Environmental Policy and Management Internship (6 units, 3rd year)
Economy, Environment and Place(1st Year)
Environmental Management
Governance & Sustainable Development
Geographies of Food and Agriculture
Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment
Managing Coastal Environments
Resource Scarcity and Allocation
Governance and Sustainable DevelopmentDr Thomas Wanner
Governance can be understood as the rules, mechanisms, processes and institutions through which important decisions are made and implemented. Effective governance is seen necessary for achieving sustainable development which promotes ecological, economic and social sustainability.
This course explores the crucial link between governance and sustainable development by looking at such issues as urban governance and sustainability; reflexive governance and learning; gender and governance; e-governance and sustainability; and global ecological governance in particular in regard to climate change
Climate Change
Dr John Tibby
How much has, and will, climate changed?
What are the best responses at local to global scale?
Biogeography & Biodiversity Conservation
Dr Douglas Bardsley
What are the major patterns of biological diversity?
How and why do we conserve it?
Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the systematic process of
assessing the potential environmental impacts of major development proposals.
• This course explores, using many case studies from Australia and the world, the various legislative requirements and methods of using EIA as a tool for effective environmental management and sustainable development
• It critically assesses the usefulness, strengths and limitations of the EIA process
Resource Scarcity and Allocation This course examines how society makes decisions about
the allocation of scarce resources when human desires for the use of the resources are limitless.
The primary concern of the course is over the economically efficient and ecologically sustainable allocation of non-renewable and renewable natural resources. Natural resources are allocated among people, contemporarily or inter-
temporally, or intra-nationally or internationally.
Opportunities while you’re here
Study abroad in New York, Canada, Spain, Glasgow, Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Chile, Italy, France, etc. – over 100 overseas partnerships to choose from
Internships –to gain hands-on experience, credit and links to potential employers working on a research project together
What sort of job could I get? … this is a huge and crucial growth area
Government Private Sector Environmental Agencies Research Project Management Consultation / Planning Policy Writer / Analyst Media Teaching
Skills you’ll take with you• Critical thinking
and analysis
• Problem Solving
• Planning skills
• Team / fieldwork
• Developing strategies
Government environment jobs 2007-2011
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/green-public-sector-on-the-rise/story-fn59niix-1226095589075
Is this you?
Other useful info...
Our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/AdelaideUniGeography
Undergraduate co-ordinator [email protected]
Discipline administrator [email protected]
In conclusion…
To keep your options open, do a general degree and pick and choose courses
Thanks and questions?
Geography, Environment and Population