EAE3342 · Biogeochemical cycles

Overview

The biogeochemical cycling of elemental nutrients controls earth's climate, the health of ecosystems and the sustainability of human societies. This unit explores how environmental cycling of the elements (1) shapes the nature of earth's surface (2) sustains our living planet and (3) may be managed to solve environmental and industrial challenges. Topics including earth's major nutrient cycles, anthropogenic cycling of commodity elements, and the influence of mineral-microbe interactions on environmental cycles will be covered in detail and applied to pressing, real world problems in contaminant mitigation and sustainable stewardship of natural systems.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Explain the processes that underpin earth's major nutrient (ie. C, N, P and S) cycles.
2. Comprehend the importance of metal cycling in the earth system.
3. Describe the roles of microorganisms and minerals in environmental cycles.
4. Develop an understanding of how anthropogenic influence on environment cycles can either cause pollution or be used to remediate it.
5. Use geochemical tracer methods to identify sources and sinks for elements in natural and contaminated systems.
6. Analyse and interpret geochemical datasets from natural and contaminated environments.

Workload

• One 2-hour workshop; • One 3-hour practical class and • Seven hours of private study/research time per week

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.