Please click on any specific module below to see its description.
Modules
Year 1
This module aims to introduce students to the different topics and issues related with the Environmental Sciences. The module starts by providing students with an overview on what is environmental sciences and how to apply the scientific method to environment-related topics. The main categories of environmental problems, both at a global and regional level, their interconnectivity and the drivers of environmental degradation are discussed. Management strategies for the sustainable use of both renewable and non-renewable resources are investigated. This general overview is followed by a more detailed analysis of some of the major environmental challenges, including climate change and energy sources, biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, ocean health and fisheries, different categories of pollution, the sustainable production of clean water and food, and environmental legislation. For all topics, both worldwide and local views are considered and examples where innovation and technology are providing solutions to these challenges given. Hands-on exercises in the classroom and in the lab are used to expose students to common research methods in environmental sciences. Laboratory quantification of microplastics and water quality monitoring methods are used as examples.
Throughout the module students are requested to critically analyze data from scientific articles and technical reports related to environmental issues.
This module deals with the concepts and principles in ecology, the physical and biological factors that influence the distribution and dynamics of organisms in the various terrestrial and aquatic environments, processes and dynamics of interactions within and among populations of organisms, communities and ecosystems (from populations to ecosystems). Specific examples of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in Macao such as the forests in Coloane, the wetlands in Taipa and mangrove forest in the Coloane-Taipa area will be discussed and compared to other ecosystems in the world. The ecological, economic and social benefits given by these different ecosystems are also valuated. This is followed by identification of approaches and strategies in ecosystems conservation, primarily relating these to the various services that the natural ecosystems provide. Emphasis is given on current issues on conservation, especially in the Macao context. Students will experience practical field activities to the different ecosystems in Macao, Hong Kong and other parts of the Greater Bay Area and are expected to develop conceptual conservation proposals for specific ecosystems in the region.
This module will start by providing a historical perspective on Ecotoxicology as a field and the current research challenges in a changing world. This introduction will be followed by a description of the sources, risks, and effects of pollutants in the natural ecosystems and human health. The major classes of pollutants, their environmental sources, transport and resilience in the environment, and the routes for human and animal exposure will be presented and discussed. Basic concepts of toxicology will be covered, including dose-response relationships and specific case studies. The potential impact of the major classes of pollutants on human health will be addressed by explaining concepts related to organ toxicity, carcinogenesis, and endocrine disruption.
A strong emphasis will be given to the analytical procedures and hands-on training for testing the toxicology effects on laboratory model species.
The development of new environmental technologies is of paramount importance to answer the global environmental challenges such as climate change or energy supply and to face the increasing population pressure on urban areas. This module will start by describing the established technologies available for environmental management, including water treatment, soil rehabilitation, solid waste management, gas emissions and energy production, but also the approach with nature-based solutions. Emphasis will be given to environments function and tools compatible as alternative technologies and policies for sustainable environmental management, as also having in consideration social and economic context. The study and potential of the technologies will be discussed as their adequacy to real problems which constitute a challenge worldwide. The programme intends that students have a multidisciplinary approach of problem-solving frameworks where environmental issues are addressed. Understanding the interconnectivity and dynamics between technology, environmental pollution and environmental protection that will lead to conceive effective solutions based on the best available techniques. International and local case-studies will be analyzed to promote a broader view of application. Different scales of action will be considered from the building perspective to the integration in the territories. The module includes laboratory training in some analytical techniques (e.g., determination of physical-chemical parameters in water samples) and field visits to relevant facilities. The presented platform sets environment and sustainability as foundation for a strategic and integrated approach on the use of available resources and mitigation of human activities impact on ecosystems.
The module will explore the major causes of environmental degradation, the rationale behind environmental regulation, the approaches to environmental regulation and Macau's approach to environmental regulation, the global nature of environmental problems and the need for global action, and Macau international environmental law commitments.
EIA is a key instrument for environmental policy and decision making on sustainable investment. EIA provides the overarching framework for the integration of environmental principles into environmental decision-making. It includes the use of several environmental assessment and management tools that are appropriate for the various levels of decision-making. This Module on Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Standards is an overview on the concepts of, and approaches to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and environmental performance standards.
The aim of this module is to provide general information on techniques, tools and processes for environmental assessment and management. The main objective is to learn the international theory, the practical process, terminology and methods of performing an EIA.
The EIA framework at a regional (Macau, Hong Kong and Mainland China) and international level will be discussed. The different steps of an EIA study, including Screening, Scoping, Impact analysis, Mitigation and Impact Management, Reporting, Reviewing, Decision-Making, Implementation, and Monitoring will be reviewed.
The concepts of Strategic Environmental Assessment and Cumulative Effects Assessment as tools for sustainability will be discussed.
IFI performance standards and environmental management systems (eg ISO14001) will be discussed in the context of EIA.
In addition, the module aims to give practical training to students on EIA via hands-on analysis of case studies.
Students will go through the major practical steps of an EIA process in the context current projects in Macao, including data collection, data analysis and EIA reporting.
The material in this course draws upon experience and knowledge from international practitioners and authorities, and published literature on international best practice. This module is aimed at a broad readership, which includes government authorities (who are responsible for reviewing and commenting on environmental reports and interacting in environmental processes), environmental professionals (who undertake or are involved in environmental assessments as part of their professional practice), academics (who are interested and active in the environmental assessment field from a research, teaching and training perspective), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and interested parties.
All creatures benefit from humans’ sustainable use of the Earth’s resources and from environmental amenities, such as a clean environment or high biodiversity. However, the economic incentive for individuals, institutions, and companies to contribute towards these goals is low in our current economic-political system where end-of-pipe solutions largely still prevail. To overcome this challenge, and in the failure of conventional approaches, governments have been increasingly using law and market-based instruments in order to protect the environment. Companies taking extra steps in incorporating environmental strategies as a tool to increase competitiveness have been growing.
Environmental Management (EM) has to draw from many relevant subdisciplines to find and implement consistent & sustainable solutions for complex eco-social challenges: biological sciences; soil science; chemistry; energy and climate science; engineering; remote sensing; statistics; architecture; mobility science; economics; business and marketing; environmental philosophy and ethics; media and public relations.
Environmental Management proper includes environmental restoration and involves 5 necessary stages which will be trained throughout the module in theory and in practical terms: Stage 1: define the system; Stage 2: identify target conditions; Stage 3: collecting data; Stage 4: management proper; Stage 5 adaptive management;
The fundamentals of the driving forces that influence different human activities and policies, within the context of environmental protection, will be analyzed and discussed. The traditional role of governments, companies and NGOs in environmental protection will be compared with the latest strategies adopted by the different players in different markets (Europe, USA, Asia). The analysis of particular market-based strategies, such as tradable pollution credits, will be used to demonstrate the economic rationale behind using markets for environmental protection. Thus, the module will analyze the costs and benefits of environmental protection and sustainable development. The success of these strategies will be debated and compared with traditional centralized approaches.
Case-studies of corporate, municipal, and national environmental strategies will be presented in order to understand how companies or political entities - beyond following laws and regulations - apply environmental management to meet sustainable goals. The module intends to focus on how interaction between different stakeholders (government, private sector, civil society, individual consumer) is shaping environmental decisions and how their levels of interaction and outcomes vary in different systems.
It includes topics on sources, identification and characterization of pollutants, effects of pollutants on the physical and natural environment and on public health, abatement techniques, control and management of pollution. Different sources and types of wastes and the corresponding methods of management will be assessed and compared. This will be complemented by visits to facilities such as the Macao Incineration Plant and Macao Waste Water Treatment Plant. Environment-friendly waste management strategies such as reduction, recycling and reuse are evaluated in terms of their use/application in the region. Existing rules and regulations in Macao, Hong Kong, China and other countries, regarding pollution monitoring and control, environmental sanitation, solid and liquid waste management, quality control and standards are also included. Students are expected to develop a conceptual plan or proposal for pollution and waste management in Macao, Hong Kong or a city of their choice at the end of the module.
This module provides students with a basic understanding on the major coastal processes and systems with relevance to coastal zone management. Topics include the coastal geomorphology and morphodynamics (genesis and evolution), coastal landform classification (estuaries, deltas, beaches, barriers, dunes etc), the complex coastal processes (wind, tides, currents, waves and climate), sea-level fluctuations (causes and consequences on the coastal zones) and human-coastal interactions.
Coastal hazards and their management related with sea-level rise, erosion, storms, tsunamis and other natural phenomena will also be highlighted.
Year 2
This interdisciplinary module provides training in the most common methods and tools for environmental projects. The module covers the basic principles of the scientific method, including the formulation of research questions, hypotheses, and objectives, as well as the selection of appropriate methodologies and study designs for investigating environmental phenomena. The module offers a foundation in descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and multivariate analysis. Various workshops will introduce tools for producing and publishing scientific documents, including vector graphics editor software, document preparation system, geographic information system (GIS), and statistical software. The students will learn data collection methods, including field sampling techniques, laboratory analysis, remote sensing and physical computing, data mining, and GIS. The module will offer training for enhancing the students' ability to communicate research findings effectively to diverse audiences and participating in scientific discussions.
This module explores the intersection of business innovation and environmental sustainability, empowering students to become agents of positive change in the face of global environmental challenges. This course combines principles of entrepreneurship, environmental science, and sustainable development to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, develop, and implement sustainable business solutions.
Throughout the course, students will examine case studies of successful environmental entrepreneurs in Macao, the region and the world, and analyze the strategies they employed to address pressing environmental issues while creating value for society. By analyzing real-world examples, students will gain insights into the diverse range of opportunities and challenges faced by environmental entrepreneurs across various industries and sectors.
The master dissertation consists of a one-year individual research project on any area of Environmental Science and Management. Students will apply the concepts learned in the first year to a specific issue in Environmental Sciences and Management. Each student will be assigned with a thesis supervisor (co-supervision is also possible).
