Prerequisits:

Second-cycle Bologna degree in the relevant track or a university (level VII) degree

Content (Syllabus outline):

1. Environmental geochemistry:
   • • beginnings and development,
   • • meaning for humans,
   • • modern orientations,
   • • sustainable development
2. Risk assessment:
   • • definitions and purpose,
   • • examples
3. Geochemical markers of the Anthropocene
4. Urban geochemistry
5. Methods of identifying and defining environmental impacts
6. Basics of environmental forensics
7. Basics of environmental mineralogy

Readings:

Selected chapters from books and papers:

• Mcsween Jr., H.Y., Richardson, S.M., Uhle, M.E. 2003. Geochemistry: pathways and processes. Columbia University Press, 363 p., New York
• Andrews, J.E., Brimblecombe, P., Jickells, T.D., Liss, P.S., Reid, B. 2003. An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry. Wiley-Blackwell, 336 p., Malden-Oxford-Victoria
• Vaughan, D.J., Wogelius, R.A. 2000. Environmental Mineralogy, University textbook (EMU Notes in Mineralogy). Eotvos University Press, 434 p., Budapest
• Goudie, A. 2000. The Human Impact on the Natural Environment. MIT Press, 511 p., Cambridge
• Hester, R.E., Harrison, R.M. 2008. Environmental Forensics. The Royal Society of Chemistry, 175 p., Cambridge
• Fortescue, J.A.C. 1980. Environmental Geochemistry, A Holistic Approach. Springer, 342 p., New York

Objectives and competences:

The students become familiar with modern methodological and analytical approaches and techniques for collecting and interpreting data on pollutants in various environmental media. They learn to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources of pollutants in the environment based on the chemical and mineral composition and morphological properties of pollutants in the environment. They are trained in describing various anthropogenic impacts that affect the ecosystem and in describing specific evidence that can be used as indicators of anthropogenic impacts on the local environment.

Based on the acquired knowledge, students will be able to solve concrete pollution cases and risk assessments. They will also acquire the ability to research environmental problems independently and find relevant literature and methods to solve the problem.

Intended learning outcomes:

Students will learn about the field of environmental geochemistry and its connection with other sciences. They should be able to understand the dynamics of pollutants in the environment, their transport routes from sources to sinks in various natural and anthropogenic spheres of the environment, and the processes that affect the properties of pollutants from their formation to deposition in the environment. They will acquire the ability to use different assessment methodologies to identify and assess human impacts on the environment. Students will learn about methods and techniques for identification and interpretation of anthropogenic impacts on the environment and processes that affect the transfer of pollutants in the environment.

Learning and teaching methods:

• Lectures
• Lab work/tutorials
• Field work
• Seminar
• Independent work assignments
• Consultations
• e-Learning

Assessment:

• Seminar paper with defense 100 %