Outline

Overview

Are you addicted to fossil fuels? What are the wider impacts of the forms of energy that power your life? What is the nature and scale of the problems spawned by current practices, and can we chart a pathway to a sustainable, clean future? This OLE will inform climate and energy questions with real-world data, deconstructing propositions that are constantly thrown around in the media. It will provide quantitative information to counter the morass of misinformation surrounding the supply and demand for energy and resources, raising issues of who wins and who loses when it comes to energy supply and its impacts on society and the environment. Our world faces major challenges in resource sufficiency and impacts on our biosphere, yet misinformation often drowns out fact-based reason in the public discourse. This OLE will arm you to understand and influence that debate.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	OLET1672
Academic unit	Physics Academic Operations
Credit points	2
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Fabian Sack, fabian.sack@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Fabian Sack, fabian.sack@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Online task	Module 1 Quiz Online quiz; 5 questions	5%	Week 02	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Module 2 quiz Online Quiz; 7 questions	10%	Week 03	20 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Module 3 quiz Online quiz, 10 questions	10%	Week 04	20 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Written Report 300 word simulated letter to the editor 700 word literature review	30%	Week 05	1000 words total submitted material
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Module 4 quiz Online Quiz; 5 questions	5%	Week 06	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Module 5 quiz Online Quiz; 5 questions	5%	Week 07	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group Multimedia Project Multimedia submission.	35%	Week 07	3-4 min video / 200 word submission
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment with individually assessed component ?

Assessment summary

Online Quizzes (1-5): Weekly online quizes covering topics in the lectures. Each quiz has between 5-10 questions and you can have multiple attempts at each quiz. Completing each module’s quiz is required to proceed to the next module. For full credit, the quiz must be completed by the due date.

Written Report: This consists of a 300 word simulated “letter to the editor” on a relevant climate/sustainability topic of your choosing, together with a 700 word literature review with supporting information.

Group Multimedia Project: A multimedia submission from work in teams of 3-4, with a 200-word individual reflection. The submission could take the form of a 3-4 minute video or podcast, a conference style poster presentation (single A0 page), or a 1000 word (with images) print or online magazine article or blog.

Assessment criteria

HD	High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
DI	Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
CR	Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
PS	Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
FA	Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.
AF	Absent fail	0 - 49	When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.
CN	Cancelled	No mark	When your enrolment has been cancelled.
DC	Discontinued not to count as failure	No mark	When you discontinue a unit after the relevant census date but before the DC deadline.
DF	Discontinue – fail	No mark	When you discontinue a unit after the DC deadline but before the DF deadline
FR	Failed requirements	No mark	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard, for units which are marked as either Satisfied requirements or Failed requirements.
SR	Satisfied requirements	No mark	When you meet the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard, for units which are marked as either Satisfied requirements or Failed requirements.
WD	Withdrawn	No mark	When you discontinue a unit before the relevant census date. WD grades do not appear on your academic transcript

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Module 1: What's the problem? Introduction and overview of contemporary issues in climate change.	Independent study (2 hr)
Week 02	Module 2: Evidence Based Policy for Future Generations	Independent study (2 hr)
Week 03	Module 3: Meeting our Energy Needs Sustainably	Independent study (2 hr)
Week 04	Workshop: climate change in the media.	Workshop (1.5 hr)
Week 05	Module 4: The Affluence Addiction	Independent study (2 hr)
Week 06	Module 5: Quantifying Energy Provision	Independent study (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Workshop attendance is mandatory (either in-person or online attendance options)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 2 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 40-50 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Explain the current state of climate change science debate and how and why it differs from public perception.
LO2. Analyse the drivers of global energy needs and how they could be met sustainably.
LO3. Analyse the influence of individual consumption choices on global economic, environmental and social systems
LO4. Integrate multiple interdisciplinary perspectives on climate change
LO5. Communicate the urgency and need for humans to adopt sustainable practices

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

OLET1672: Sustainability: Climate and Energy

Semester 1a, 2022 [Block mode] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect