Society, Environment and Energy
| Module title | Society, Environment and Energy |
|---|---|
| Module code | GEO1412 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Iain Soutar (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
This module explores the range, nature and implications of society-environment interactions, with a particular focus on past, contemporary, and future energy systems. The module explores the contested nature of interactions in global, national, regional, and local contexts, and the role of different stakeholder groups (e.g. policy makers, interest groups, the media, the public etc.) in shaping them. The module will introduce students to key concepts and theoretical frameworks, as well as real world case studies, for critically examining these interactions.
The content of the module reflects the interconnections between research and teaching by consistent reference to research carried out by the module convenor and colleagues – thus enabling a more joined up pedagogic approach to researching, writing, reading and understanding.
More generally, through attending the weekly lectures and workshops, alongside your own independent learning, you will develop the following academic and professional/employability skills:
- Fundamental problem solving (linking theory to practice with academic guidance),
- Collaboration (learning about the views and values of others), and
- Audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively, persuading others of the importance and relevance of your views, responding positively and effectively to questions).
The module is designed to complement themes presented in GEO1401B Approaches to Geographical Knowledge. However, no a priori knowledge of the substantive issues at stake in this module is assumed. Many of the module themes will be developed in the second and final stages.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is twofold. First, to explore, in broad terms, the range, nature and implications of society/ environment interactions. Second, to examine such interactions in the context of past, contemporary, and future energy systems. The module explores the contested nature of these interactions in global, national, regional, urban and rural contexts, and the role of different stakeholder groups (such as policy makers, interest groups, the media etc.) in shaping them. You will consider the way in which these interactions between society, environment and energy have evolved over time, and provide a framework for critically evaluating the values and assumptions that lie behind them.
The content of the module reflects the interconnections between research and teaching by consistent reference to research carried out by the module convenor and colleagues – thus enabling a more joined up pedagogic approach to researching, writing, reading and understanding.
More generally, through attending the weekly lectures and workshops, alongside your own independent learning, you will develop the following academic and professional/employability skills:
- fundamental problem solving (linking theory to practice with academic guidance),
- collaboration (learning about the views and values of others), and
- audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively, persuading others of the importance and relevance of your views, responding positively and effectively to questions).
The module is designed to complement themes presented in ‘GEO1401B Approaches to Geographical Knowledge’. However, no a priori knowledge of the substantive issues at stake in this module is assumed. Many of the module themes will be developed in the second and final stages.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Discuss basic relationships between society, environmental and energy processes in a geographical context
- 2. Distinguish between competing notions of society, environment and energy and the role of geography within these
- 3. Assess social, environmental and energy priorities in different spatial contexts and at different spatial scales
- 4. Describe and evaluate emerging policy agendas for different society-environment-energy processes at the global and national scale and understand the historical context of these agendas
- 5. Explain how society, environment and energy relations are represented through different media formats
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Describe essential facts and theory across a sub-discipline of human geography
- 7. Identify critical questions from the literature and synthesise research-informed examples into written work
- 8. Identify and implement, with some guidance, appropriate methodologies and theories for addressing a specific research problem in human geography
- 9. With guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis, practical investigation, and enquiry within human geography
- 10. Describe and begin to evaluate approaches to our understanding of human geography with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 11. Develop, with guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with sound conclusions
- 12. Communicate ideas, principles and theories using a variety of formats in a manner appropriate to the intended audience
- 13. Collect and interpret appropriate data and undertake straightforward research tasks with guidance
- 14. Evaluate own strengths and weaknesses in relation to professional and practical skills identified by others
- 15. Reflect on learning experiences and summarise personal achievements
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover the following topics:
- Energy and climate change
- A systems perspective
- Knowledge, information, and mis/disinformation
- Policy, politics and governance
- The environment in the economy
- Democracy and environmentalism
- Energy transitions
- Energy geography
- The water-energy-food nexus
- Energy, climate and development
- Futuring
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 129 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 11 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 10 | Workshops |
| Guided independent study | 129 | Additional research, reading and preparation for module assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer questions during lectures | Ongoing throughout the module | All | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 1250 words | 1-13 | Written |
| Multiple choice test | 50 | 60 minutes | 1-5 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Coursework Essay (1250 words, 50%) | 1-13 | Referral/deferral period |
| Multiple-choice test | Essay plan (500 words, 50%) | 1-5 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The multiple-choice test is not deferrable. If you are deferred in the multiple-choice test, you will be re-assessed by a 500-word essay plan. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Bridge, G., Bouzarovski, S., Bradshaw, M. & Eyre, N. (2013) Geographies of energy transition: Space, place and the low carbon economy. ENergy Policy 53: 331-340.
- Bridge et al (2018) Energy and society: a critical perspective. Routledge. Available as an E-book: http://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3949102;jsessionid=649CF9CC06467FDC88B053DF231E2F08?lang=eng
- Carter, N (2007), The politics of the environment: ideas, activism, policy. Cambridge University Press
- Dryzek, J.S. (2005) The Politics of the Earth. Oxford University Press
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE
Key words search
Environment, society, energy, climate change, technology
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 18/01/2016 |
| Last revision date | 22/04/2025 |
