SUST5003: Semester 1, 2022

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Units SUST5003 Semester 1 2022 [Normal evening]

Unit outline_

SUST5003: Energy and Resources

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal evening] - Remote

Overview

This unit will examine the critical roles that energy and resource usage play in global, national and local sustainability. The need for developed economies to decarbonise their energy supply and for developing countries to have access to clean energy and sustainable resources will require major changes in technology, policy and business systems. This unit of study will cover the fundamentals of energy and resource supply; sustainable supply and use of energy for industry, business and consumers; life cycle analysis; energy security and alternative energy systems. Students will gain an understanding of: different sources of energy and their uses; the economic, environmental and societal contexts of energy and resource use; the need and scope for a transition from conventional energy sources; sound principles for analysing different resource and energy supply options; the role of international agreements and federal policy in influencing resource and energy use.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Science Faculty
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Gordon Weiss, g.weiss@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Gordon Weiss, g.weiss@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	National energy policy Detailed written report	30%	Week 09	Refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Journal Written journal plus short presentations	40%	Week 12	Refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Board presentation Short written report plus accompanying presentation.	30%	Week 13	Refer to Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Attendance Lectures - 10 out of 13	0%	Weekly	2 - 2.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

National energy policy: Each group will be required to write the energy policy for a selected country. This will require your group to research the existing energy mix for the nation, understand its renewable resources, find or develop economic projections for the nation and then propose a mix of energy types to meet the projected demand. This will test your understanding of the component of the course that covered energy systems (Weeks 1 to 8).
Journal: You will need to find some material in the media or the literature that answer questions that are posed at the end of each lecture. Students may be called upon to discuss their findings during the lectures.
Board presentation: You are answering the following question posed by a company that your work for: “If we are to invest in one resource for the future, which one will it be and why”. The response is to be done from the perspective of an investor of private capital not from the perspective of society. The deliverables are a brief report and associated slide deck.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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	Introduction to the course and an overview of energy and its role in society.	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 02	Understanding energy systems	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 03	Generating and supplying electricity now and in the future	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 04	The future of electricity and the role of electrification and storage	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 05	Stationary energy including fuels as feedstocks	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 06	Transport now and in the future	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 07	Energy and emissions	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 08	The role of government policy in developing and managing energy systems	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 09	Water resources	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 10	The energy-water nexus	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 11	Resources for the future	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 12	Critical minerals and energy	Lecture (2.5 hr)
Week 13	Review of the course	Lecture (2.5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: This course has no final exam so it is a requirement for passing that you attend, as an absolute minimum, 10 of the 13 lectures.

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 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 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. Demonstrate an understanding of energy production & use, sustainable energy resources & technologies, relevant policy matters, climate change, & energy security.
LO2. Demonstrate an understanding of water resources and the relationship between water and energy.
LO3. Demonstrate an understanding of key mineral resources and the relationship between mineral extraction and energy use and production
LO4. Ability to research a variety of sources of market information, critically assess and form a judgement in the context of energy resources.
LO5. Demonstrate an ability to argue a position on an energy related matter or topic in a convincing and well researched manner.

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.

First time offered by new unit coordinator. Update of current content and relevant market topics added such as Hydrogen.

Additional information

Science student portal

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

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

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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