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SUST10020

Academic Year 2025/2026

Sustainability Challenges (SUST10020)

Subject:
Sustainability
College:
Science
School:
Science Admin Office
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ruth Leeney
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Building on GEOG 10150 Introduction to sustainability, this module focuses on three selected sustainability challenges and explores them in more detail. The focal challenges are Energy and Climate, Future Cities and Water. Each will be analysed from the perspectives of each of the three dimensions of sustainability: environment, economy and society. They will be considered from the perspectives of individuals, communities, regions, nations and at a global scale. The emphasis will be on interdisciplinary approaches to developing strategies and solutions and the module will involve group work in interdisciplinary teams, drawing on input and guidance from a range of relevant experts.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the broad nature of selected sustainability challenges and the factors that underpin them
• Articulate the interplay between the dimensions of sustainability: environment, economy, society
• Evaluate the role of different disciplines in understanding and addressing sustainability challenges
• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to develop solutions to sustainability challenges

Indicative Module Content:

The course will be built around independent working by teams of students with varied disciplinary interests to address the sustainability challenges specified in the course outline. There will be 24 one hour sessions in Active Learning Environments over the twelve weeks in the semester. In the first two weeks, the sessions will be primarily instructor-led, providing explanation of the module and approaches to be used and background to the key concepts and approaches to addressing sustainability challenges. Teams will be established and work plans developed. Each focal challenge will then be addressed in turn, and after guest lectures on each topic, sessions will be primarily built around group work, with advice and input from instructors from different disciplines. Groups will collaboratively write policy briefs on two of the three challenges over the course of the module, and each group will also make a presentation based on one of their policy briefs. All class members will be asked to provide feedback on these presentations and will be expected to participate in class discussions and quizzes. In the final week, the group as a whole will review the activities and outcomes and reflect critically on approaches to identifying and addressing sustainability challenges.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Lectures

6
Small Group

18
Total

114

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Learning will be primarily based on interdisciplinary team-work to explore and address sustainability challenges. All contact hours will be in Active Learning Environments, enabling group-based engagement guided by input from academic staff and tutors. These sessions will be supplemented by some introductory lectures and an end of semester review and discussion.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

GEOG 10150 Introduction to Sustainability provides essential background material for this module


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Co-requisite:
GEOG10150 - Introduction to Sustainability, SUST10010 - Introduction to Sustainability

Equivalents:
Sustainability Challenges (SCI10060)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Brightspace quiz on lecture materials. Week 3, Week 7, Week 14 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 2 policy briefs on the module's major topics: Energy and Climate, Water, Future Cities.
Produced as a group.		 Week 5, Week 10 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
60
 No
Group Work Assignment: Group presentation about one of the three main topics: Energy and climate, Water, Future cities Week 5, Week 10, Week 11 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Participation in lectures including lecture quizzes.
 Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Oral individual and group feedback in classes. Peer assessment of presentations. Written feedback on group reports and presentations.

Brinkman R. (2016) Introduction to Sustainability. Wiley.

Name Role
Dr Serena Sgarzi Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 24 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 25, 30, 33 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 26, 29, 32 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 31 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
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