Melbourne School of Land and Environment

Animals in Society (208-108)|

Offered in Semester 2 - First Year Subject.

This subject will examine and evaluate society's use of domestic animals, and highlight the ethical, scientific and economic impact of human interactions with animals in production, research and amenity systems.

Australia in the Wine World - (208-168 & 208-297): Dookie | (208-170 & 202-244): Burnley

Offered in Semester 2 - First & Second Year Subjects.

This subject will introduce students to the Australian wine industry and its role in world wine production.

Food for a Healthy Planet (800-121) / (800-202)

Offered in Semesters 1 & 2 - First & Second Year Subjects.

Food is a basic human need. But what should we eat? Not all food is good for us, and a balance between diet and exercise is required for a healthy life. Likewise, not all food production methods are good for the environment. Again, a balance between human needs and the health of our environment is required, especially as the world's population grows and global climate patterns change.

Governing Environments (880-105)

Offered in Semester 1 - First Year Subject

In this subject students will be introduced to the ecological and economic theories and practices that relate to the use and management of natural resources and built environments and to the approaches governments use to resolve the conflicts that arise.

Introduction to Climate Change (800-191)

Climate Change II (800-201) | Climate Change III (800-300)

Offered in Semester 2 - First, Second and Third Year Subjects

The issues around climate change are evolving rapidly, both politically and within the wider community, and already have international and global implications.

Natural Environments (880-101)

Offered in Semesters 1 & 2 - First Year Subject.

An understanding of natural systems is crucial for sustainable management and design. This subject introduces students to the main systems that shape the natural world. The subject examines the evolution of the planet Earth, our climate and global weather and the formation and processes of our present landscapes and associated ecosystems.

Human Animal Interactions (208-280)

Offered in Semester 2 - Second Year Subject.

The interactions between humans and animals will be examined using soundly-based principles and practices developed for the management and care of animals. The subject will emphasize the complex roles and responsibilities, and ethical requirements in human contact with animals, as well as develop skills in measuring behaviour. We will draw actual examples from species managed as companions, in zoos or in livestock production.

Vine to Wine (208-295)

Offered in Summer Semester - Second Year Subject

The subject begins with freshly harvested wine grapes. Students will then follow the journey through fermentation to winein the bottle, gaining an understanding of the chemical and biological processes involved and the multitude of options to manipulate the process.

The journey then revolves, tracing cardinal events in the vineyard that result in the formation of fruit and ripening in the lead up to harvest. This inclludes an appreciateion of the effectsof season and climate, and a particular emphasis on how vines are managed to grow the fruit required to produce the diversity of wines that we drink

Water for Sustainable Futures (800-268)

Offered in Semester 1 - Second Year Subject.

Water is fundamental to life on our planet, shaping landscapes, natural ecosystems and civilizations. Whether the subject of conflict or a source of creativity, there is nothing more important in the Australian landscape than water, and we face no greater challenge than its sustainable management.

China in Transition (121-323)

Offered in Semester 1 - Third Year Subject.

This subject is about the changing geography of 'Red Capitalist' China. The focus of the subject is the ongoing social, economic and political transformation and the impacts of the reforms on China's people and environment.

Designing with Plants (207-298)

Offered in Semester 1 - Second Year Subject.

This subject explores plants in designed landscapes. Based at the Burnley Campus on a Thursday afternoon the subject will discuss how to select, identify and use plants for a range of applications through lectures, practicals, field trips and guest seminars.

Wines of the World (800-321)

Offered in Semester 1 - Third Year Subject.

This subject traces the history and culture of the modern wine industry through the evolution of premium wine grape varieties and international wine. The innovations in grape-growing and winemaking leading to development of the great wines of the world are explored from historical, cultural, economic and sensory perspectives. Regional climate and terrior will be examined in the light of climate change.

The sensory and philosophical perceptions of wine quality and the health implications of wine consumption will be explored, and students will educate their palate to the sensory characteristics of major grape varieties and great wines styles of the world.

The handbook entry link for this subject will be available in mid January, contact Professor Snow Barlow, s.barlow@unimelb.edu.au

Forests in a Global Context (220-291)

Offered in Semester 2 - Second Year Subject.

This subject introduces the world’s forests from social, historical, environmental and economic perspectives. It will describe the evolutionary development of forests, classification of forest types, factors determining forest distribution, how people have interacted with forests during human history and the many values and benefits of the forest including forest products and trade and environmental services, aesthetic functions and forests in literature and art. Impacts of global change, policies for sustainable forest management, the role of plantations and the use of forest products in architecture and construction.

Leaves to Landscapes (220-290)

Offered in Semester 1 - Second Year Subject.

Why are leaves the most important things on the planet? This subject introduces students to the essential properties of leaves and plants and how these interact with landscape, climate, and production systems. While the subject deals with plant basics, it focuses on knowledge required for managing vegetation.

Agricultural Resource Economics (208-259)

Offered in Semester 2 - Second Year Subject.

This subject covers the marketing of agricultural and food products, benefit cost analysis of using and conserving natural resources, and the analysis of agricultural and natural resource policy decisions

Human Behaviour & Environments (207-299)

Offered in Semester 1 - Second Year Subject.

This subject examines the ways humans experience and behave in regard to the physical environment. It explores psycho-social dimensions of human-environment interactions and examines frameworks for understanding landscape perception and environmentally significant behaviour. Topics include: psychological bases for environmental values and aesthetics; management and design implications of human experience of natural and semi-natural settings; understanding environmental concern and environmentally significant action; strategies for enabling conservation behaviours.

Greening Landscapes (207-250)

Offered in Semester 2 - Second Year Subject.

This subject explores biological, ecological and technical aspects of plant reproduction, horticulture, and forestry in relation to planning and design issues for vegetation establishment in parks and amenity settings, restoration and habitat creation, commercial horticulture, and forestry. It will address critical stages in the successful establishment of vegetation, including seed quality (genetic variability, integrity and development) plant growth and propagation techniques (seed germination, vegetative and micropropagation), production requirements and strategies (media and materials, crop scheduling, plant quality, and commercial practice) and plant establishment issues and methods (site preparation, planting, natural regeneration and direct seeding).

Sustainable Food Systems (202-210)

Offered in Semester 2 at Dookie - Second Year Subject.

This subject introduces students to food production systems and challenges them to create more sustainable approaches to this production. Topics include, food production in Australia - where it happens and why - how it is changing to meet both the needs of the environment and society, associated impacts on the sustainability of regional communities, trade and policy issues which impact on distribution, global food movements and ongoing changes and innovations in global food markets, as well as resource economics implications in developing and developed countries. Future implications of policy and legislative and other changes will be assessed in terms of their impact on the changing structure of food production in Australia.

Fire in the Australian Landscape (220-332)

Offered in Semester 2 - Third Year Subject.

This subject introduces students to bushfires in Australia. The effects of fuel, weather and climate on the nature and periodicity of bushfires; the history of fire in Australia; the importance of fire to aboriginal culture and life; the effect bushfires have on fauna, flora, soils and hydrology; the importance of bushfire as an ecological process; the social and economic impact of bushfires; the role and impacts planned fire in the landscape; bushfire smoke and greenhouse gas production; design and planning of houses and towns in bushfire-prone environments.

Food & Water: Global Issues Local (202-315)

Offered in Semester 2 at Dookie - Third Year Subject.

Globally there is a broad range of issues identified as impacting on the future of our planet. These issues include climate change, water availability and quality, waste and recycling, energy, biodiversity, salinity and land degradation, biotechnology and genetically modified organisms, changing demographics, human and animal welfare issues. In order to bring about change globally these issues must be addressed at the regional and national level.
The long term future of our rural communities will depend on how we meet these challenges. This subject will explore these issues at the catchment level analyzing how these issues impact on the catchment, practice change requirements, and develop strategies for decision making and implementation as well as critically evaluating environmental, social and economic implications of change