Health and Global Environment

This module provides key skills and knowledge to pursue academic research at the postgraduate and professional level, looking at big issues in environmental sciences. The module also introduces ethics and bioethics and will aim to enhance students critical thinking.

This module provides an overview of the key issues and debates in global environmental development like climate change, exposures to environmental hazards, secure and fair stewardship of food, water, and energy. You will explore the inter-relationships between challenges to human health and environmental changes and will critically appraise relevant policies and theories to formulate and evaluate intervention strategies.

This module provide an insight into and critical awareness of environmental, technical, economic and political factors influencing policies and mechanisms for the sustainable management of energy and environmental resources. It will enhance the skills required to formulate strategies for reconciling conflicts between development and environmental protection in the context of energy and resources management.

This module will explore trends in occupational health and wellbeing at work. You will explore the nature and properties of workplace contaminants and mode of entry to the body; methods of assessment of workplace environmental hazards; design and analysis of exposure measurement surveys and the biopsychosocial model of illness and its relevance to prevalent work related illnesses. You will develop a detailed understanding of the intervention strategies which may be used to manage occupational health risks and to promote well-being.

This module covers the toxic characteristics of major environmental pollutants (heavy metals/metalloids, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, nitrogen, phosphorus etc.), and their chemical behaviour, transport and environmental fate in various environmental compartments, including air, water and soils. Remediation technologies for key environmental pollution problems such as acid rain, smog, acid mine drainage, contaminated lands, eutrophication, greenhouse gas emission etc. are introduced.

This module aims to enable you to design, plan and execute a programme of research through active enquiry and to undertake appropriate analysis of research results. You will have the opportunity to use research skills acquired in the applied context of ‘real world’ project work in a variety of professional settings and to develop the skills necessary for successful delivery of project outcomes. You will work as part of a team with an external organisation or company relevant to your degree discipline on a project defined by a client. The module provides you with opportunities to develop a range of skills and aptitudes including negotiation of project terms of reference, research design, data collection and analysis, professional communication, project management and professional networking.

This module will prepare you for your dissertation by enabling you to design, plan and execute a programme of research and to analyse research results appropriately. It will provide opportunities for you to acquire essential research skills relevant to your discipline in both a field and laboratory setting. The experience in applying these skills will be invaluable in planning and undertaking your dissertation.

This module explores the impact of infectious disease on global health and the factors that contribute towards their outcomes. You will use problem-based-learning to investigate key infectious diseases and the current developments in diagnostics and control options, with particular focus on challenges in tackling antimicrobial resistance. You will develop practical knowledge and skills in basic and molecular microbiology techniques and in the effective communication of science to wide audiences.

This module explores the epidemiology of infectious and non-infectious diseases, investigating why diseases occur in populations. Global changes in the environment,human population and travel are rapidly changing when and where new epidemics occur with often devastating consequences. Using real-world examples, you will explore the key role of surveillance in detecting and monitoring epidemics and how current surveillance systems can be improved by epidemiological information.

This module aims to enable you to contribute to the body of knowledge in your area by devising and conducting an independent research project and through independent, self-motivated critical thinking, to develop as a reflective practitioner.