Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - REM 445 D100

Environmental Risk Assessment (4)

Class Number: 3648

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Tue, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MATH 151 or 154 or 157; STAT 201 or 203 or 205 or GEOG 251 or equivalent; and 60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Students receive theory and practical experience in the control and management of hazardous substances in the environment. This includes the application of techniques used to assess toxicological, ecological and human health risks of contaminants within the current regulatory framework.

COURSE DETAILS:

The class will be following a synchronous format but can be completed asynchronously.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The aim of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and experience to conduct professional risk assessments, normally carried out by regulators, consultants and scientists.

Students receive theoretical and practical experience in conducting environmental risk assessments for pollutants and hazardous substances.

This course is designed for students in environmental science, resource and environmental management, health sciences, biological sciences, chemistry and other disciplines.  The course is designed to prepare students for professional positions in the environmental field and further study in graduate programs.

The course aims to create a collaborative environment where students are encouraged to support each other in their learning and the completion of the environmental risk assessment project.

Grading

  • Assignments 30%
  • Exercises 36%
  • Final Course Project 34%

NOTES:

Students are evaluated based on (i) 3 assignments (30% of final mark); (ii) 9 exercises (36% of final mark); and (iii) a student-conducted environmental risk assessment presented in an oral presentation (34% of final mark). All students hand in their own work and are evaluated on their own work. All students are evaluated based on their own performance in the course.

 

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

All course related materials, including readings, exercises and assignments, are made available on Canvas.

REQUIRED READING:

Canadian Environmental Protection Act: Preamble & Section 5: Controlling Toxic Substances

The Canadian Toxic Substances Management Policy
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/related-documents.html

Gobas, F.A.P.C. and H.A. Morrison. 1999. Bioconcentration & Bioaccumulation in the Aquatic Environment. In “Handbook of Property Estimation methods for chemicals: Environmental and Health Sciences” (Boethling R. and Mackay, D. eds.), CRC Press. ISBN 1-56670-456-1, p. 139-232.

Mackay D. 2001. Multimedia Environmental Models: The Fugacity Approach. CRC Press. Second Edition

Mackay et al. 2011. Chemical activity as an integrating concept in environmental assessment and management of contaminants. Integ. Environ. Assess. Manag. 7:248-255.

Richards Ira. S. and Marie Bourgeois. 2013. Principles and Practice of Toxicology in Public Health, Edition, 2nd edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2013

UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
https://www.un.org/ldcportal/stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/

USEPA. Integrated Risk Information System. https://www.epa.gov/iris

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).