Fundamentals of Environmental Sciences

Code: PAO14986L

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Environment and Ecology Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Erradicar a fome - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

Saúde de qualidade - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Proteger a vida marinha - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Proteger a vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

Understand how living beings relate to each other and to the environment.
Develop the ability to critically analyze human intervention in the environment in order to transmit to others an attitude of environmental defense and conservation.

Populations and communities of living beings.
Types of ecological relationships between living beings
The structure and dynamics of natural systems.
The main types and classifications of natural systems.
Natural and semi-natural ecosystems: main threats and conservation strategies.
The decline of biodiversity.
Invasive species and their connection with human activity
The main environmental problems.
Water quality. Main pollutants and their origins. Water treatment.
Air quality. Main pollutants and their origins. Measurement of atmospheric pollutants.
Climate change. Consequences and Forecasts.
How do humans deal with waste?

Teaching Methods

Theoretical-practical sessions where specific topics are addressed within the scope of the program contents and where knowledge consolidation exercises are also carried out.

Assessment

Written test 95%
Attendance 5%
The student is approved if he/she obtains a minimum global classification of 9.5 (47.5%)
The written test consists of 2 frequencies or exam, and 1 appeal.
The minimum grade for taking the second test is obtaining 8 points in the 1st test