Subject Description Form
Subject Code ABCT1D09
Subject Title Green House Gases and Life
Credit Value 3
Level 1
Pre-requisite NIL
Co-requisite NIL
Exclusion
Objectives This subject aims to introduce the scientific aspects of atmospheric gases,
environmental impact and ethical issues in our society.
Intended Learning Upon completion of the subject, students will be able to:
Outcomes 1. understand the basic constituents and fate of the atmospheric
gases,
2. identify the sources of green house gases and their environmental
impact, such as climate change and their biological interaction,
3. demonstrate analytical and critical thinking for the impact of
green house gases via scientific, technological and business point
of view,
4. realize the industrial, social and national responsibility in
reducing green house gases production, advanced technology to
handle green house gases,
5. appreciate current issues, including impact from society,
environment, economy as well as ecology related to green house
gases,
6. appreciate the importance of lifelong learning, teamwork, and
communication skills.
Subject Synopsis/
Basic principles and fundamentals of environmental science and
Indicative Syllabus
technology will be introduced in this course. Common ideas of green
house gases and their impact on environment will also be introduced.
(a) Essentials of green house gases (carbon dioxide and others)
- sources and industrial revolution
- air pollution issues
- chemical/biological reactions and environmental interaction
- market of carbon/green house gases
(b) Role of government, industry and society
- technology to handle green house gases
- law and regulation
- education
- global warming and Kyoto Protocol
(c) Impact to ecology
- introduction
- unpredictable climate changes
- What controls the carbon balance of ecosystems?
- How do ecosystems influence climate?
- other consequences
Teaching/Learning
Lectures: Basic principles and fundamentals of environmental science,
Methodology
technology and trade market for carbon/green house gases will be
introduced and discussed. Students can acquire basic chemical and
biological knowledge to further develop analytical skills as well as
critical and creative thinking.
Tutorials: Students are required to look at information and they are
encouraged to discuss for selected topics. Tutorial questions and cases
will be used to draw students’ interest and discussion. Through the
tutorial questions, logical thinking will be developed.
Laboratories: Simple experiments for green house gases analysis will be
introduced. For the laboratory, students are required to collect scientific
data, and they can acquire analytical skills as well as critical and creative
thinking for conducting experiments and writing scientific reports. For
report preparation, lifelong learning skills will be implemented, and
students are required to search for information from literatures and
reference books. In addition, students will develop team spirit through
the laboratory activities.
Group presentation: Students are required to deliver a presentation
based on selected topics. Through group presentation, students can
consolidate their higher order thinking, such as problem identification
and solving skill, analytical mind, as well as critical and creative thinking
for conducting experiments and report writing. Creative ideas can be
solicited through the preparation of group presentation and discussion
among the students. For group presentation, the students can apply their
lifelong learning skill and can draw conclusion and recommendation. In
this subject, students are required to do extensive reading (such as
published literatures, reference books and government reports/websites
and internet) and analyze information for possible action formulation via
self-study and group communication. Students are also required to write
an individual report on their findings for consolidation and elaboration of
concept. These training elements will strengthen the literacy and
communication skills of students.
Assessment Methods
in Alignment with Specific assessment % Intended subject learning
Intended Learning methods/tasks weighting outcomes to be assessed (Please
Outcomes tick as appropriate)
1 2 3 4 5 6
1.Test 30%
2.Laboratory work 20%
3.Group Project
a. Presentation 10%
b. Individual written report 15%
c. Reflective journal 5%
4.In-class tutorials 20%
Total 100 %
Explanation of the appropriateness of the assessment methods in
assessing the intended learning outcomes:
Test:
To assess the students’ understanding of the basic principles of science
and technology related to environmental protection. The students’ higher
order thinking, such as analytical and problem solving skills, critical
thinking and creative thinking, will be evaluated. [Outcomes 1-6]
Laboratory work:
Student performance during the laboratory classes will be assessed, and
their report will be graded. The students’ higher order thinking, such as
the analytical mind, data collection as well as report writing skill will be
assessed and evaluated. Students will develop their teamwork skill during
practical classes. [Outcomes 3 and 6]
Group presentation:
Students will be assessed based on their individual performance, such as
presentation skill, creativity and critical thinking. Their grades will also
be evaluated based on their team spirit, the prepared content as well as
their response to questions raised by subject lecturer(s) and peers.
[Outcomes 1-6]
Student Study Class contact:
Effort Required
Lecture 20 Hrs.
Tutorial 11 Hrs.
Laboratory 8 Hrs.
Other student study effort:
• Preparation of presentation and report 22 Hrs.
• Self study (reading on literature, reference
70 Hrs.
books, textbooks and reports)
Total student study effort 131 Hrs.
Reading List and 1. Lecture notes and support materials will be provided
References 2. Ecology, 2011, Michael L. Cain, William D. Bowman, Sally D.
Hacker, Sunderland, Mass. : Sinauer Associates, ISBN
9780878934454 (hb)
3. Air pollution : health and environmental impacts, 2010, Bhola R.
Gurjar, Luisa T. Molina, Chandra S.P. Ojha, Boca Raton, CRC
Press, ISBN 9781439809624
4. Environmental and regional air pollution, 2009, Dean Gallo and
Richard Mancini, Hauppage, Nova Science, ISBN
9781606928936
5. Essentials of environmental management, 2004, Paul Hyde and
Paul Reeve, Wigston : IOSH, ISBN 9780901357366
6. Green Business, 2011, Nevin Cohen, Green Society ISBN
9781412996846
7. Relevant website where information on most of the topics
covered in the syllabus are available: http://www.epd.gov.hk;
http://www.epa.gov/; http://www.environment.gov.au/;
http://www.eea.europa.eu/; http://www.environment-
agency.gov.uk/
