Course Title: Environmental Issues in Chemical Perspective

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Environmental Issues in Chemical Perspective

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
CHEM1014	City Campus	Undergraduate	135H Applied Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016
CHEM1014	City Campus	Undergraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024, Sem 2 2025
CHEM1267	City Campus	Postgraduate	135H Applied Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2016
CHEM1267	City Campus	Postgraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019

Course Coordinator: Dr Selvakannan Periasamy

Course Coordinator Phone: -

Course Coordinator Email: selvakannan.periasamy@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: Book appointment via email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Assumed Knowledge

Prior background in VCE Chemistry will be beneficial but not essential.

Course Description

Many environmental subjects require understanding chemical principles, and this course will introduce the principles of chemistry within an environmental context. Every lecture of this course is structured to start with an environmental issue, then bring the “need to know and understand” the relevant chemistry principles. Through this approach, this course introduces the concepts of chemical measurements, chemical bonding, chemical thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium and organic chemistry into a relevant environmental context with the broader perspective. This course will be run in parallel with the laboratory course to understand the general concepts of measurements, uncertainty and thermochemistry. This structured approach will enable you to develop and practise independent learning skills. This course will also give you an appreciation of scientific methodology and enable you to develop those problem-solving and critical-thinking skills necessary to analyse and discuss chemical and physical phenomena in the environment.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for:

BH080 Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (Honours)
BP192 Bachelor of Environmental Science
BP192P23 - Bachelor of Environmental Science

PLO 1 Apply an interdisciplinary knowledge of scientific theories, principles, concepts, and practices in the environmental sciences
PLO 2 Analyse and critically examine scientific evidence through research with reflection on the role, relevance and significance of environmental science
PLO 3 Apply principles of scientific inquiry, tools, and techniques relevant to environmental science to solve problems informed by evidence-based decision making.
PLO 4 Critically evaluate and communicate concepts and practice relevant to the fields of environmental science to diverse audiences utilising a variety of modes employing integrity and culturally safe practices
PLO 5 Work independently, with agility, safety, and accountability for your own learning and professional future.
PLO 6 Demonstrate knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to environmental science and exhibit safe and ethical conduct
PLO 7 Collaborate and contribute within diverse, multi-disciplinary teams, with commitment to diversity, equity and globally inclusive perspectives and practices including First Nations knowledges and input

BH096 Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering) (Honours)

Bachelor of Environmental Science
PLO1: Apply an interdisciplinary knowledge of scientific theories, principles, concepts, and practices in the environmental sciences
PLO 2: Analyse and critically examine scientific evidence through research with reflection on the role, relevance and significance of environmental science
PLO 3: Apply principles of scientific inquiry, tools, and techniques relevant to environmental science to solve problems informed by evidence-based decision making.
PLO 4: Critically evaluate and communicate concepts and practice relevant to the fields of environmental science to diverse audiences utilising a variety of modes employing integrity and culturally safe practices
PLO 5: Work independently, with agility, safety, and accountability for your own learning and professional future.
PLO 6: Demonstrate knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to environmental science and exhibit safe and ethical conduct
PLO 7: Collaborate and contribute within diverse, multi-disciplinary teams, with commitment to diversity, equity and globally inclusive perspectives and practices including First Nations knowledges and input

Bachelor of Engineering
PLO 1 Demonstrate a coherent and advanced understanding of scientific theories, principles and concepts and engineering fundamentals within the engineering discipline.
PLO 2 Demonstrate a coherent and advanced body of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
PLO 3 Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities, bounds, design practice and research trends of contemporary engineering practice including sustainable practice.
PLO 4 Apply knowledge of established engineering methods to the solution of complex problems in the engineering discipline.
PLO 5 Utilise mathematics, software tools, and techniques, referencing appropriate engineering standards and codes of practice, in the design of complex engineering systems.
PLO 6 Use a systems engineering approach to synthesize and apply procedures for design, prototyping and testing to manage complex engineering projects.

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Understand the fundamental chemical concepts relevant to environmental chemistry and material properties as they relate to the chemical composition, physical state, structure, properties and the chemical aspects of the environment.
2. Describe, explain, and apply fundamental chemical principles within practical applications addressing environmental challenges.
3. Exhibit professional practices in the laboratory to collect, accurately record, interpret, and draw conclusions from scientific data.
4. Evaluate analytical chemistry methods and environmental processes to recommend solutions for large scale environmental monitoring systems.
5. Collaborate across disciplines to address complex environmental problems through solution-focused approaches.
6. Collaborate effectively and ethically in individual and team-based scientific tasks.

Overview of Learning Activities

As part of this Course, you will:

• access the extensive range of on-line learning resources via Canvas
• watch the online lectures in which the syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the topic will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples.
• work through examples and problems during the lectures
• attend weekly tutorials that will reinforce lecture materials.
• be prepared to plan your activities before entering a laboratory.
• learn how to approach a problem using critical thinking and how to design a scientific approach to address a problem.
• learn how to communicate scientific content as an individual and in a team.

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

Weekly learning resources are set up and available in Canvas.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, which may include books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Written assignment - General Chemistry
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 2: Theory Quiz – General Chemistry
Weighting 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

Assessment Task 3: Laboratory practicals and reports
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 4: Organic chemistry test
Weighting 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 2, 3 & 4

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.