Department of Geography

St. Margaret Ward Catholic School and Arts College

 Environmental Science in the 6th Form

"At the current rate and if present trends continue, we will lose half the plant and animal species on Earth by the end of the century.

The best estimate on the human population has us levelling off at 9 or 10 billion people by the end of the century, and that's just about the absolute limit, without some radical new way of producing food or generating energy.

The pressures on the remaining natural resources - the coral reefs, the rain forests and the arctic tundra - may become totally devastating."

E.G. Wilson (scientist and conservationist).

Course Outline

As Level A2 (A Level)

The first half of the A Level qualification. You can take just the AS on its own. This consists of three units of assessment:

Energy, the Atmosphere and Hydrosphere - climate changes, ozone depletion, water shortage, and renewable energy.

The Lithosphere - biogeochemical cycles, soil erosion, mineral resources and land management strategies.

The Biosphere - conditions for life on earth, life processes, ecological fieldwork and wildlife conservation.

Made up of the 3 AS units plus 3 more units studied at a higher level.

Biotic Resource Management - genetic engineering, energy efficiency, deforestation and the environmental impacts of agriculture and forestry.

Pollution and Physical Resource Management - air pollution, noise pollution, radiation, waste disposal, recycling and the role of the Environment Agency.

Practical coursework - you carry out an investigation of your own choosing.  This is based on an environmental theme, using the practical and analytical techniques introduced during AS.

The Specification        Environmental Science at UEA

The following was written by Clare Rudebeck and published in the Independent.co.uk website on 06 December 2001

What is it? It's the study of the local and global environment ­ from the problems of building or an incinerator next to the school playground to acid rain and global warming. It's inter-disciplinary, and students dip into ecology, geography, economics and biology, before pulling them all together to solve environmental problems.

Why do it? Because you're passionate about the planet. You might have an interest in saving the seals or in the plight of the indigenous people of the Amazon. You might just want to know how to use a chainsaw so that you can work in forestry.

What skills do you need? This subject is all about problem-solving. In the exams, you might have to combine something you learnt in geography in December, a topic from your GCSE biology and an article that you read in the newspaper the day before. The ability to separate fact from fiction is also vital.

How much practical work is there? Tons. It's a practical subject, and students are encouraged to do a long piece of coursework, which is field-study based.

Ratio of coursework to exams: It's up to you. If you choose to do the long field-study, it's 20:80. If you do the written practical paper, it's 100 per cent exams.

Is it hard? No. "It's regarded as the most accessible science subject available," says Kevin Byrne, chief examiner in environmental science for AQA. "Compared to physics, it's a doddle."

Who takes it? Increasing numbers of arts students who want to take one science subject. It's a very popular choice as a fourth A-level. It's pretty evenly spread between the sexes ­ of those who took it last year, 52 per cent were girls.

How cool is it? "It's super-cool," says Kevin Byrne. "You've got to know what's going on with the planet ­ it's the basis of all life."

Added value: Great field trips. A third of all environmental science students go abroad on trips every year. Plus, if you are taking geography as well, your coursework can be easily modified for use in both subjects.

What subjects go with it? Pretty much anything, but geography and biology are both particularly complementary.

What degrees does it lead to? Environmental science, forestry, geography, conservation ­ and it's popular with students planning to do medicine.

Will it set you up for a brilliant career? Yes, there are lots of jobs in conservation in local or national government, and for charities. There are also plenty of careers in environmental management, such as becoming a recycling manager, or a ranger for a national park. And if you work for a private company, you may be handsomely rewarded for your efforts.

What do the students say? "I've always been interested in how pollution affects the environment, and how to solve the problem," says Neal Roye, who studies environmental science at Abbey College, Birmingham. "I really enjoy the subject ­ the only downside is all the definitions you have to learn."