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Lecturer(s)
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Janíková Lenka, Ing. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Week 1 Introduction to Environmental Theory. Ecology and Environmental Science - differences and common themes. Sustainability as an approach rooted in ecology. Development of the concept of sustainable development. Week 2 Historical and contemporary changes in human population growth and related environmental changes. Fundamentals of sustainable human societal development. Week 3 Global environmental issues - disruption of global systems, biodiversity loss, and carbon footprint. Current status and trends. Week 4 The Atmosphere - structure, composition, and properties. Fundamentals of atmospheric chemistry. Climate. Climatic ecological factors. Week 5 The self-purification capacity of the atmosphere. The ozone layer. The greenhouse effect and carbon footprint. Major atmospheric pollutants and their impacts on natural ecosystems. Application of nature-based approaches to improve environmental quality. Week 6 The Hydrosphere - components, the water cycle as a global cycle, the importance of water for humans and the environment. Hydrological ecological factors. Week 7 The self-purification capacity of the hydrosphere. Major hydrospheric pollutants, including emerging contaminants (microplastics, nanoparticles, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, detergents, etc.) and their impacts on natural ecosystems. Water eutrophication. Week 8 Energy Systems - renewable energy sources and their impacts on natural ecosystems. Carbon footprint of energy sources. Transportation and its carbon footprint. Week 9 The Pedosphere - significance, ecological and productive functions, composition, and properties. Pedogenesis - soil-forming macro- and micro-processes. Humus formation. Soil biota (edaphon) and edaphic ecological factors. Week 10 Negative impacts on soil - mechanical degradation (erosion, soil compaction), chemical degradation (heavy metals, pesticides, salinization, acidification, nitrates, eutrophication, etc.), and other forms of degradation (land take, desertification, deforestation). Environmental and biosphere changes caused by anthropogenic activities (e.g., agricultural production). Sustainable approaches to agricultural land management (alternatives to chemical pesticides, precision agriculture, renewable energy use in agriculture, etc.). Week 11 Waste Management - waste hierarchy (prevention, reuse, energy recovery, disposal). New approaches and technologies in sustainable waste management. Waste management-related environmental disasters (e.g., Love Canal) and their impacts on human health and natural ecosystems. Microplastics in the environment and ocean garbage patches. Week 12 Physical Environmental Pollution - noise, vibrations, ionizing radiation, thermal pollution, and light pollution. Impacts on human health and natural ecosystems. Week 13 Environmental Protection - approaches to environmental protection in the Czech Republic and at the international level. Assessment of environmental degradation - the ecosystem services concept. Sustainable practices in public spaces and everyday life.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), Work with text (with textbook, with book)
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Learning outcomes
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This course should provide a comprehensive view of the environmental pillar of sustainable development. Students should acquire sufficient theoretical knowledge of ecology and environmental science supported by real examples from nature, waste management, agricultural or production practice.
After completing this course, students should have a comprehensive idea of the functioning of natural processes and phenomena, but also of their transformation by anthropogenic action. In addition, this course should introduce students to the possibilities of applied ecology in the development of sustainable approaches applicable not only in the protection of the environment but also in the creation of public space, etc.
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Prerequisites
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Basic knowledge of ecology and environmental protection at secondary school level.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Oral examination, Home assignment evaluation
Elaboration of the assigned topic of the semester project. Successful completion of the oral exam.
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Recommended literature
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Antropocén. Praha: Academia, 2020. ISBN 978-80-200-3129-7.
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Environmentální výzkum a hrozby 21. století. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, Nakladatelství Karolinum, 2022. ISBN 978-80-246-4954-2.
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Příležitosti a výzvy environmentálního výzkumu. Praha: Karolinum, 2015. ISBN 978-80-246-2667-3.
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Antonio A. R Ioris. Agriculture, environment and development : international perspectives on water, land and politics. 2016. ISBN 978-3-319-32254-4.
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Frouz, Jan. Aplikovaná ekologie. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, nakladatelství Karolinum, 2021. ISBN 978-80-246-4577-3.
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Marek, Michal V.. Klimatická změna - příčiny, dopady a adaptace. Praha: Academia, 2022. ISBN 978-80-200-3362-8.
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Šantrůčková, Hana. Ekologie půdy. České Budějovice: Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, 2018. ISBN 978-80-7394-695-1.
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Townsend, Colin R.. Základy ekologie. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého, 2010. ISBN 978-80-244-2478-1.
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