University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5

The module is future oriented and explores the intersection of global change, nature and public health from a resilience perspective. It encompasses a wide range of theory and debate spanning social and environmental issues, and links international examples to local context and relevance. The module will challenge students to use an interdiscipli-nary approach, drawing especially from resilience thinking, to critically reflect on current academic and public, civic, policy debates for a range of social-environment-development topics. Students will be introduced to theoretical concepts and methods of resilience thinking, and will conduct group and individual assignments that utilise these concepts and methods. The module supports topics within SDGs 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and focusses on targets within SDGs 3 11, 13, 14, 15, 17.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Define and explain key aspects of resilience thinking that relate to SDG 2, SDG3, SDG4, SDG6, SDG7, SDG8, SDG11, SDG13, SDG14, SDG15, SDG16, and SDG17.
  2. Critically assess existing evidence in relation to how interacting systems of people and nature can best be managed in the face of uncertainty and shocks in support of SDG2, SDG3, SDG6 SDG7, SDG9, SDG11 SDG13, SDG14, and SDG15.
  3. Evaluate the importance of the approaches employed to communicate social-environmental issues and how that impacts on stakeholders’ responses. This relates to inclusion and education (SDG4, SDG16 and SDG17)
  4. Apply and appraise resilience techniques that are used to help to reduce work/life-based pressures and promote health and well-being in the context of SDG3, SDG4 and SDG8.
  5. Demonstrate use and application of interactive formats, dialogue techniques and reflective practice to explore concepts, understand lived realities or identify knowledge gaps as they apply to the SDGs.
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "Navigating Social-Ecological Systems" by Fikret Berkes,Johan Colding,Carl Folke
    ISBN: 1139434799.
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  2. "Principles for Building Resilience" by Reinette Biggs
    ISBN: 9781107082656.
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press
The above information outlines module MI5106: "Environmental Resilience" and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.