Overview
An examination of contemporary environmental issues using concepts of scientific understanding, social, political and cultural construction and contestation, and intervention and transformation strategies.
Want to understand the big environmental issues shaping your future and how to do something about them?
From climate change, biodiversity loss and natural hazards to the politics of energy and land use, this course tackles the “wicked problems” of environmental sustainability — problems with no easy answers, only competing values, uncertain science, and difficult trade-offs.
In ENVI311, you won’t be told what to think. Instead, you’ll build the tools to critically explore environmental problems like climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainability. What does the science tell us, how do social and political debates shape what we do (or don’t do), and what kinds of solutions are out there? There is always more than one way to think about complex environmental issues and this course gives you skills to recognise and apply these different perspectives.
Taught from within Geography but drawing from disciplines across the Sciences and Humanities, this is a problem-based paper that brings together science, politics, culture and community to explore how different perspectives shape the way we understand and respond to environmental problems. You’ll explore current case studies and learn how to communicate complex environmental problems to others through in-class discussion, essays and short films.
Whether you’re passionate about sustainability, curious about how environmental knowledge is produced, or just want to understand how change happens, this paper helps you make sense of the issues — and decide where you stand.
About this paper
| Paper title | Understanding Environmental Issues |
|---|---|
| Subject | Environment and Society |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,318.20 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- ENVI 111 or 108 points
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Eligibility
This paper is open to students from any discipline, whether you're into physical science, social science, policy, or just want to understand environmental issues better. All you need is a willingness to learn, think critically, and participate in discussion.
- Contact
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator: Dr Teresa Konlechner
This paper is team-taught, involving staff with expertise in the physical and social sciences, environmental policy, planning and management.
- Paper Structure
Each year, ENVI311 explores three environmental topics. These change from year to year depending on current issues and staff expertise. For each topic, we take a three-part approach that reflects how environmental knowledge is developed and used in the real world:
- First, we examine what the science tells us — what’s known, what’s contested, and where the uncertainties lie.
- Second, we explore how the issue is shaped by politics, culture, and society — including who gets to speak, act, and decide.
- Finally, we look at what kinds of responses or interventions are possible — from government policy and international agreements to activism, market solutions, and community-led action.
This structure brings together different ways of understanding environmental problems and helps you build the skills to navigate that complexity — preparing you for the kinds of challenges you'll face in further study or a career in environmental research, policy, or practice
- Teaching Arrangements
One lecture and one workshop per week.
Assessment comprises individual and group-based coursework assignments (40%) and a final exam (60%
- Textbooks
There is no set textbook: readings are prescribed as necessary for the various modules.
- Course outline
https://www.otago.ac.nz/_media/papers/Envi311-Course-Outline.pdf
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Communication, Critical thinking, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
By the end of this paper, students will be able to:
Engage critically how science and social science shape our understanding of environmental issues
Recognise the varied processes by which new knowledge about the environment is created and developed
Understand how people drive political change, using intervention strategies, tools for action, and policy development
- Assessment details
Assessment is 40% internal (on-going during the semester) and 60% external (final examination)
Overview
A critical examination of contemporary global and local environmental issues through scientific, social, political and cultural perspectives, with a focus on applied approaches to environmental sustainability.
Want to understand the big environmental issues shaping your future and how to do something about them?
From climate change, biodiversity loss and natural hazards to the politics of energy and land use, this course tackles the "wicked problems" of environmental sustainability - problems with no easy answers, only competing values, uncertain science and difficult trade-offs.
In ENVI 311, you won't be told what to think. Instead, you'll build the tools to critically explore environmental problems like climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainability. What does the science tell us, how do social and political debates shape what we do (or don't do), and what kinds of solutions are out there? There is always more than one way to think about complex environmental issues and this course gives you skills to recognise and apply these different perspectives.
Taught from within Geography but drawing from disciplines across the Sciences and Humanities, this is a problem-based paper that brings together science, politics, culture and community to explore how different perspectives shape the way we understand and respond to environmental problems. You'll explore current case studies and learn how to communicate complex environmental problems to others through in-class discussion, essays and short films.
Whether you're passionate about sustainability, curious about how environmental knowledge is produced, or just want to understand how change happens, this paper helps you make sense of the issues - and decide where you stand.
About this paper
| Paper title | Environmental Sustainability: Science, Society, and Practice |
|---|---|
| Subject | Environment and Society |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- ENVI 111 or 108 points
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Eligibility
This paper is open to students from any discipline, whether you're into physical science, social science, policy, or just want to understand environmental issues better. All you need is a willingness to learn, think critically and participate in discussion.
- Contact
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator: Associate Professor Daniel Kingston
This paper is team-taught, involving staff with expertise in the physical and social sciences, environmental policy, planning and management.
- Paper Structure
Each year, ENVI 311 explores three environmental topics. These change from year to year depending on current issues and staff expertise. For each topic, we take a three-part approach that reflects how environmental knowledge is developed and used in the real world:
- First, we examine what the science tells us - what's known, what's contested and where the uncertainties lie.
- Second, we explore how the issue is shaped by politics, culture and society - including who gets to speak, act and decide.
- Finally, we look at what kinds of responses or interventions are possible - from government policy and international agreements to activism, market solutions and community-led action.
This structure brings together different ways of understanding environmental problems and helps you build the skills to navigate that complexity - preparing you for the kinds of challenges you'll face in further study or a career in environmental research, policy or practice
- Teaching Arrangements
One lecture and one workshop per week.
Assessment comprises individual and group-based coursework assignments (40%) and a final exam (60%).
- Textbooks
There is no set textbook for this course; readings are prescribed as necessary for the various modules.
- Course outline
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Communication, Critical thinking, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
By the end of this paper, students will be able to:
- Engage critically how science and social science shape our understanding of environmental issues
- Recognise the varied processes by which new knowledge about the environment is created and developed
- Understand how people drive political change, using intervention strategies, tools for action and policy development
- Assessment details
Assessment is 40% internal (on-going during the semester) and 60% external (final examination).