Environmental Challenges: Human Impact in the Natural Environment

Complex patterns in ecology are not always causal and predictable. Populations have their own dynamics that can be independent of external environmental conditions. In this course we look at the way that natural systems are organised; although living systems are complex, there are also some fairly constant patterns and relationships.

This course explores three approaches to the causality and dynamics of environmental systems, and how humans are involved and affected by these systems world-wide. It also includes an introduction to correlation and the limitations of statistical testing.

The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in nature and environmental decision-making; no previous knowledge or experience is required.

If you are working in environmental management, or wish to learn more about it, this course is designed to support you as a professional. By completing all aspects of the course you will have achieved 14 hours of CPD time.

• The principles of human impact in the natural environment
• Welcome
• Causality
• Internal drivers vs external dynamics
• The mathematics of human ecology
• Revision
• Summary
• Applying the principles
• About week 2
• Case study: ecocentric vs anthropocentric
• Discussion: the mathematics of natural dynamics
• Focusing on – statistics and correlation
• Revision
• Summary