Environmental Chemistry and Systems

This course will provide students with the skills and knowledge to understand and explain the complex biogeochemical cycles that drive environmental systems and processes. The course will provide a foundation in modern environmental chemistry, exploring interactions between the hydrosphere, geosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Students will apply this knowledge to land management decision making across a range of contexts, including agriculture, mining, contaminated land remediation, native vegetation systems, and urban design. The course includes laboratory and field-based components, giving students practical experience in environmental sampling and analysis. Building upon these foundational topics, the course will investigate the chemical behaviour of polluting compounds and explore their partitioning within the environment. Students will develop skills valued in an array of professions, including environmental sample collection and preservation, laboratory analysis techniques, field testing, and applying conceptual environmental models. Students will be able to draw on course materials that provide diverse gender, cultural, and geographical perspectives on these topics.