ENV2022 - Environmental field skills and monitoring - 2019

This unit provides an introduction to the monitoring of plants, water and soils. It provides hands-on and industry relevant experience in the tools and techniques for conducting a multi-disciplinary environmental assessment. Techniques for the design, implementation and analysis of environmental monitoring are examined. To increase the successful implementation of monitoring programmes in management protocols, ways to incorporate science in decision-making are explored. During this unit students will implement an environmental monitoring programme to generate reports on the state of the environment at Monash University.

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Articulate the purpose for performing environmental monitoring and the importance of good experimental design and quality assurance in these programmes;
2. Describe environmental monitoring techniques and tools for plants, water and soils and demonstrate the ability to implement a multi-disciplinary monitoring programme;
3. Use quantitative skills to analyse and interpret data derived from environmental monitoring;
4. Evaluate and integrate theory drawn from several disciplines to describe the results of environmental monitoring programmes to a broad audience.

NOTE: From 1 July 2019, the duration of all exams is changing to combine reading and writing time. The new exam duration for this unit is 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Mini quizzes: 15%

Examination (2 hours): 40%

Field report: 45%

• One 1-hour seminar and one 1-hour online activity per week
• Eight 3-hour practicals and two half-day field trips per semester

See also Unit timetable information

Environmental science