The document summarizes several courses taken related to environmental studies and sustainability: Environmental Concepts: Energy covered sustainable energy solutions like solar, wind and hydroelectric power as well as environmental impacts of different energy sources. Ecology focused on population dynamics, species distribution, and animal and plant communities. GIS and Remote Sensing taught GIS and remote sensing techniques used in environmental sciences. The Sustainable Society discussed concepts of sustainability historically and in Australia. Environmental Legislation and Planning examined Australian environmental law and regulations. Sustainable Design incorporated life cycle assessment and environmental impacts into design processes. Cities and Regions analyzed urban and regional economic and development issues. Volunteering - Perspectives and Management explored volunteer management practices and skills.

1. Classes taken:
Environmental Concepts: Energy
This course searched sustainable solutions with respect to energy in the
environment. This course considered aspects such as thermal, nuclear, solar, wind
and hydroelectric power generation. Also atmospheric pollution, coal mining, and
waste disposal associated with various energy sources.
Ecology
This course focused on population and community dynamics. Also looks at factors
affecting the distribution of species, population growth, behavior and resource
utilization, predator – prey and competition models, community structure and
analysis, and had field and laboratory work on animal and plant communities, linked
with use of statistical analysis.
GIS and Remote Sensing
This course provided geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing
application techniques used in environmental and life sciences. The course used
Mapinfo (GIS) and IDRISI (remote sensing) software. The course covered data input
and transformation, database compilation, spatial modelling, capture and processing
of satellite images.
The Sustainable Society
Covered topics of sustainable society today,historically, in global and in Australian
context. Discussed topics of Australia as a sustainable society taking account
mining, forestry and peak oil. Likewise, democracy and green citizenship, radical
activism, environmental movements and the politics of sustainability.
Environmental Legislation and Planning
Overlay of Australian legal and political systems and their relation to environmental
control, the role of international agreements for environmental law in Australia and
federal env. legislation. NSW (New South Wales) land use and planning system,
development control and environmental assessment. And many other regulations
related to ecologically sustainable development, legislation, threatened species,
biodiversity, pollution control, native title, cultural heritage legislation, protected areas
(marine & terrestrial), aquatic/wetland legislation, conservation on private land,
marine and fisheries legislation's, resource management frameworks and
regulations.

2. Sustainable Design
This course looks at interrelationship between the designer, their designs, and the
natural and constructed environments. Concepts of taking a "cradle to grave"
perspective of design and the assessment of the impact of design solutions using life
cycle assessment techniques. It also looks at marketing, ethics, environmental
influences, green technology, recycling, reusing and disassembling, redundant
packaging and waste, design integration. All design processes for prototypes were
mapped and justified in terms of commercial, environmental, functional acceptability,
involving resource management and material selection.
Cities and Regions
Examines economic, social and cultural dynamics of cities and regions in
international and Australian context. Topics covered included urban economic and
socio-cultural diversity, changes in urban environment, sustainable, urban and
regional development, policy challenges for the management of urban, regional
growth and decline.
Volunteering - Perspectives and Management
This course examined the key perspectives on volunteerism, and explored the
experience of working as a volunteer. Covered critical debates relating to
volunteerism, volunteer management practices including policy, recruitment, training,
supervision, support and development. Lastly, skills in volunteer management,
ethical issues in volunteer work, critical reflection on volunteer experience,
application of learning from volunteer work to professional practice.