Course detail

Introduction to environmental studies

FEKT-NUENAcad. year: 2015/2016

The course introduces students of technological orientation into generic environmental problematics and ecology, from the aspect of humanities and social sciences. After introduction defining the relation between enviromental studies and ecology, the material is subdivided into to fundamental blocks: influencing of man and society by nature and, in contrast, impact of human society to nature as a source of ecological crisis. The course outlines also possibilities of the crisis solution.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

RNDr. Mgr. Michal Bittner, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Biomedical Engineering (UBMI)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Knowledge obtained in the course forms a complementary material to the technical aspect as presented by the course Ecological Engineering

Prerequisites

The subject knowledge on the Bachelor´s degree level is requested.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Requirements for completion of a course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every.

Course curriculum

Not applicable.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Enabling students of technological orientation to see the environmental problematics as seen by environmentalists

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Bittner, M. Úvod do udržitelného rozvoje, 2013, Masarykova univerzita, ISBN 978-80-210-6622-9

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EECC-MN Master's

    branch MN-BEI , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective specialised

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

RNDr. Mgr. Michal Bittner, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Definition and intristic logic of enviromental studies. Relation to sciences and technology
Enviromental studies and ecology, basic concepts and principles, their importance in enviromental discipline
Influencing of man and society by nature: Evolutionary theory
Etology and biosociology, selfish gene theory and the criticism of it in contemporary science
Influencing of nature by man - roots of ecological crisis: Anthropological and psychological determinations of human relationship towards nature
Demographic context, population situation and development of mankind, limits of food source. Malthusianism and its critics.
Relationships between economy and ecological situation. Scarsity and price in economic and ecological perspective. Ecological solutions and job chances.
Ekologically oriented legal interventions, novelty and impassability of ecological problems in traditional concept of law
Environmental problems and politics. Political idea of economic growth contra nature. Enviromentalists as enemies of progress?
Possibilities and limits of technological solutions. History of risky technologies. "American" and "Japanese" way of technology. Technological optimists and sceptics
"Value" solutions of ecological problems. Human and enviromental values. Environmental ethics
Environmentally acceptable way of life. Amount and character of consumption.
Transport, tourism, way of alimentation, urban and rural way of life, deconcentration in settlement