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Study undergraduate certificate online through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

Science of Gardening

Our Blue Planet

A Primer of Marine and Antarctic Science

Backyard Biodiversity

Living with Fire

Construction Environmental Science

Introduction to Spatial Information

Introduction to the Science of Climate Change

Introduction to Marine and Antarctic Science B

Science of Fishing 1

You will critically explore conservation issues from a psychological perspective, and apply psychological principles of advertising and behaviour change to facilitate behaviour change in support of conservation of threatened species and environments.You will will develop an advanced understanding of the conservation and biodiversity crisis in the 21st century; and theories and psychological principles of behavioural change and ethical issues associated with the application of these principles. You will apply their understanding of wicked problems in conservation to develop new ways of thinking to address these problems by the use of science and communication through new media to portray conservation issues accurately and effectively in order to facilitate community action and behaviour change to support conservation of threatened species and environments. They will develop the ability to tailor messages to suit expert and lay audiencesUniSA Online’s 10-week short courses give you the flexibility to upskill in a certain area, stay current with developments in your field, diversify your knowledge, or even explore a new direction in your career – without having to commit to the time and cost of a full university degree. This is a third-year course from UniSA Online’s Psychology degree. When studying this course as a &quot;single subject&quot;, prior knowledge from BEHL 2017 or equivalent will support your success.Delivered 100% online, you’ll be able to study where and when it suits you. Access online academic and student support seven days a week, fit study around work and life commitments, view learning resources 24/7, and log in to the interactive online environment anywhere, any time and on any device.Should your course have an exam it will be scheduled for Australian Central Standard Time or Australian Central Daylight Time, depending on the time of the year.

Conservation Psychology

Understanding our natural world and the basic systems that regulate our lives will be critical to engaging with issues like climate change and natural disasters, which affect our current living conditions and will continue to do so in the future.The aim of this subject is to introduce you to physical landscapes and the processes that shape them. You will examine the many processes that shape landscapes, learn how to read and interpret landscapes, understand how different materials and processes influence landscapes and learn about the way landforms and processes can be incorporated into environmental understanding.Questions posed throughout the subject are: what are the key components of a landscape and what are the processes that act and interact to shape landscapes over a range of temporal and spatial scales.

Earth Surface Systems

Fire has shaped the evolution of the world we see around us and is fundamental to life. Yet wildfire can also be devastating to human and ecological communities. Today, more and more of us are living in fire prone areas, and wildfires are behaving in new, less predictable ways.  So how do we live with fire - as individuals, and as communities? How do we plan for fire, and how do we respond when fires happen? How do we ensure that we are using fire in a sustainable way? What are the trade-offs involved in fire management? And what might we learn from indigenous Australians, who have used fire skilfully on this continent for over 40,000 years?  Living with Fire is for anyone interested in these complex but practical and fascinating questions about fire in our lives today. You will learn what causes fire and why wildfires behave the way they do. As well as the science of fire, you will learn about the human dimensions of fire and the complex trade-offs involved in fire management between the needs of culture and society, and ecology and biodiversity. You will learn how to evaluate your own level of fire risk and what you can do to plan for fire as an individual. You will also become more empowered to participate in conversations about how we plan for and respond to fire in our local communities.

Biodiversity is a critical component of sustainable living and is central to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At a local scale, biodiversity is important for healthy and sustainable living, and due to the complexity of biodiversity issues in urban areas, requires well informed and strategic management. Focusing on the biodiversity present in urban areas, especially your own backyard, you will learn about the importance of biodiversity to human and ecosystem health and how biodiversity supports sustainable living. You will develop skills and knowledge in identification, quantification and management of both vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity, and learn how to modify your environment to facilitate greater biodiversity. You do not have to be a scientist to take this subject, all you need is curiosity for the natural world and the desire to support the native biodiversity of your area.

Learn about the different bird, reptile, mammal and insect species that live in your local environment, so that you can take action to protect them. Explore the habitat changes you can make in your own backyard to support more biodiversity.

In this subject, we are going to explore the science underlying what you do in your garden, why your plants respond to your gardening, and how plants grow and reproduce. What we hope that you will gain, is a much clearer understanding of the fundamentals:<ul><li>how to identify plants - what the critical features are that enable you to recognise some of the more common plant families</li><li>how plants grow - the relationship between the internal structure of plants and their use of water and light to grow</li><li>what plants need from the soil – what are the properties of soil and its inhabitants that contribute to healthy growth of plants?</li><li>how plants know when to grow – what are the signals that tell the plants when to germinate, when to flower, when to burst leaf buds and when to shed their leaves?</li><li>how plants know ‘how’ to grow – what are the underlying controls that shape plants? How do plants respond to pruning, to espaliering, to cutting back and deadheading? and lastly</li><li>how do we multiply plants – how does vegetative propagation work? How does grafting work? What are the differences between heirloom varieties and F1 seed? Why do some apple varieties need cross-pollination but others don’t, and why don’t fruit trees breed true from seed? And perhaps even more importantly, we hope that you will gain an appreciation of the role of science in testing gardening lore, to dispel myths, and to learn more about the plants that make our lives possible and more enjoyable.</li></ul>Science of Gardening is for anyone seeking to cultivate not only plants but also a greener future, by integrating sustainable practices into their gardening.

An exploration of plants in your garden. You’ll learn about soils, plant growth, and propagation. Find out how to identify plants. Do some plant myth busting and apply the scientific method.

Have you ever wanted to know how our planet came to be? From archaeology to agriculture, geography to biology, an understanding of our planet adds an invaluable dimension to your knowledge across many scientific disciplines. This subject offers you a broad introduction to important questions about how our planet works, what it is made up of, and why. With opportunities to delve into Earth’s life history, you will learn about the geological forces that have shaped life on earth, and the planet, as we know it today. You will build a foundation in the key principles of geology, learning about its influence on life, water, soil and environmental issues in a rapidly changing world. Exploring the solid earth through geological time and space, you will examine Earth’s gross structure, plate tectonics, volcanism, earthquakes, the materials that make up Earth’s crust and the processes by which these materials are formed.

Get a grounding in geology and geography with this broad introduction to the inner workings of our planet. Suitable for anyone looking to understand more about Earth, this subject provides a good basis for further study in the natural sciences. 

This subject introduces students to the science disciplines underpinning the study of marine and Antarctic environments and the application of science to solve problems in marine and Antarctic disciplines. It provides the foundational skills and knowledge for students in the Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science for specialised study in years 2 and 3.Topics that are covered include:• an understanding of Gondwana and geology of Antarctica, sub-Antarctic islands and the surrounding ocean;• ice and climate studies;• the physical and chemical nature of the Southern Ocean;• the terrestrial and marine environment of the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and cool temperate areas, including plants, animals, birds and fish;• the impact of humans on marine and Antarctic environments, including the study of global climate change.The students will benefit from lectures delivered by experts in their field, including guest lecturers, and further develop their understanding through in-class debates and hands-on fieldwork and laboratory practicals (available online).

A deeper scientific exploration of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Dive into the science of ice, climate, and oceanography. Take a look at the geology of Antarctica and the plants, animals, birds and fish that inhabit the region.

Without the geologic environment – the rocks, soil, air and water – that surrounds us, there would be no life on Earth. Environmental and geological processes shape human life, while human activity impacts the environment in significant ways. This subject introduces you to current topics and controversies in environmental geology. You will explore geological hazards, and a range of issues related to human impacts on the environment, including land use and resource management. Learning about volcanic hazards, earthquakes, tsunami, flooding, ground water resources, mineral resources and mining, soil resources and aspects of earth’s climate, you will be ready to apply your knowledge to community and industry-based problems. A research project and a forum where you present your findings offers you the opportunity to investigate an environmental geology problem of your choice, in a location that suits you. Fine tune your critical thinking, analytical and scientific communication skills.

Delve deeper into science to explore human interaction with the Earth’s rocks, soil, air and water. You’ll investigate human impacts on the environment, like mining and climate change. Conduct a research project on a real environmental geology problem.

Environmental Geology

Seventy percent of the planet is covered by ocean. This subject introduces students to Planet Ocean through four modules, covering key topics on marine life and the ecology of temperate and high latitude marine ecosystems (Module 1); the ocean system as interactions between physical, chemical, geological and ecological features (Module 2); the role of the oceans in climate change and how climate change affects ocean life and ocean processes (Module 3); and finishes up by considering the responsibilities of humans in the stewardship of the oceans; how human activity impacts the oceans and the challenges and approaches to ocean stewardship (Module 4). We cover the origins of life in the oceans, iconic and ‘weird’ marine life, ‘a day in the life’ of an oceanographer, and a number of topics highly relevant to modern society including technologies for ocean science, responding to climate change, threatened species, and sustainable management of marine resources including fisheries.

KSA101 will provide a background to the science and management of the seas with focus on Antarctic and Southern Ocean. On the completion of this subject, students will demonstrate a knowledge and comprehension of the contemporary issues facing Antarctic, marine and coastal environments, and the management strategies used to optimise the value (market and non-market) of these areas.

Explore Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. You’ll learn how governments manage the southernmost coasts and seas of the world. Cover contemporary issues as well as some historical, legal, and political topics.

Introduction to Marine and Antarctic Science A

Undergraduate Certificate Environmental science Courses & Degrees | Open Universities Australia

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