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Is it necessary -- and is it possible -- for the UK and other countries to make the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources? And what sort of changes would be involved, on a global, national and personal scale? Is there any one renewable energy source that can provide most or all of the UK's energy needs? Can we continue to expand air travel indefinitely by making planes much more fuel efficient?

Questions like these are becoming increasingly common and important, but clear answers can seem disappointingly rare. Against this background, the goal of this course is to develop a clear understanding of the physical principles that govern the key modes of energy generation and usage. This will then allow us to explore if and how our current energy needs can be supported by different types of energy sources (from fossil fuels to renewable to nuclear).

We will also look carefully at the motivations for moving away from fossil fuels, considering both climate change and the finite nature of non-renewable resources. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on developing insight, rather than on memorizing specific numbers or factoids. We will do this by learning how to develop simple, highly approximate, but nevertheless quantitative models of physical processes. These will allow us to find surprisingly clear-cut and definitive answers to seemingly difficult questions, including those posed above.

Please note that although there are no formal pre-requisites, the mathematical skills required for this module are:
- Manipulating and solving algebraic equations
- Simplifying expressions using approximations e.g. the binomial approximation
- Calculating basic geometrical properties: area, volume, surface area
- Applying simple trigonometric functions: sine, cosine, tangent
- Working with exponential and logarithmic functions
- Interpreting graphs of functions or data on linear and logarithmic scales
- Using and converting units for physical quantities such as length, time, energy, etc.

No calculus is used in the module.

Is it necessary -- and is it possible -- for the UK and other countries to make the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources? And what sort of changes would be involved, on a global, national and personal scale? Is there any one renewable energy source that can provide most or all of the UK's energy needs? Can we continue to expand air travel indefinitely by making planes much more fuel efficient?

Questions like these are becoming increasingly common and important, but clear answers can seem disappointingly rare. Against this background, the goal of this course is to develop a clear understanding of the physical principles that govern the key modes of energy generation and usage. This will then allow us to explore if and how our current energy needs can be supported by different types of energy sources (from fossil fuels to renewable to nuclear).

We will also look carefully at the motivations for moving away from fossil fuels, considering both climate change and the finite nature of non-renewable resources. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on developing insight, rather than on memorizing specific numbers or factoids. We will do this by learning how to develop simple, highly approximate, but nevertheless quantitative models of physical processes. These will allow us to find surprisingly clear-cut and definitive answers to seemingly difficult questions, including those posed above.

Please note that although there are no formal pre-requisites, the mathematical skills required for this module are:
- Manipulating and solving algebraic equations
- Simplifying expressions using approximations e.g. the binomial approximation
- Calculating basic geometrical properties: area, volume, surface area
- Applying simple trigonometric functions: sine, cosine, tangent
- Working with exponential and logarithmic functions
- Interpreting graphs of functions or data on linear and logarithmic scales
- Using and converting units for physical quantities such as length, time, energy, etc.

No calculus is used in the module.

Is it necessary -- and is it possible -- for the UK and other countries to make the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources? And what sort of changes would be involved, on a global, national and personal scale? Is there any one renewable energy source that can provide most or all of the UK's energy needs? Can we continue to expand air travel indefinitely by making planes much more fuel efficient?

Questions like these are becoming increasingly common and important, but clear answers can seem disappointingly rare. Against this background, the goal of this course is to develop a clear understanding of the physical principles that govern the key modes of energy generation and usage. This will then allow us to explore if and how our current energy needs can be supported by different types of energy sources (from fossil fuels to renewable to nuclear).

We will also look carefully at the motivations for moving away from fossil fuels, considering both climate change and the finite nature of non-renewable resources. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on developing insight, rather than on memorizing specific numbers or factoids. We will do this by learning how to develop simple, highly approximate, but nevertheless quantitative models of physical processes. These will allow us to find surprisingly clear-cut and definitive answers to seemingly difficult questions, including those posed above.

Please note that although there are no formal pre-requisites, the mathematical skills required for this module are:
- Manipulating and solving algebraic equations
- Simplifying expressions using approximations e.g. the binomial approximation
- Calculating basic geometrical properties: area, volume, surface area
- Applying simple trigonometric functions: sine, cosine, tangent
- Working with exponential and logarithmic functions
- Interpreting graphs of functions or data on linear and logarithmic scales
- Using and converting units for physical quantities such as length, time, energy, etc.

No calculus is used in the module.

Meeting the world's growing energy demands while reducing environmental impact is one of the defining engineering challenges of the twenty-first century. This module explores the technologies and principles of energy conversion while considering the wider social, environmental and economic factors that shape sustainable energy systems.

You will examine how different energy technologies convert, store and utilise energy, developing an understanding of their efficiency, environmental performance and long-term sustainability. Alongside the technical aspects of energy engineering, you will consider the broader challenges associated with energy policy, resource management, climate change and economic decision-making. Throughout the module, you will strengthen your ability to evaluate engineering solutions within the wider context of sustainable development.

By the end of the module, you will be able to assess energy technologies from both engineering and sustainability perspectives, preparing you to contribute to the development of cleaner, more resilient and more efficient energy systems.

This module covers energy conversion fundamentals and technologies whilst relating these elements to sustainability. This module looks at energy from social, environmental and economic perspectives.

Meeting the world's growing energy demands while reducing environmental impact is one of the defining engineering challenges of the twenty-first century. This module explores the technologies and principles of energy conversion while considering the wider social, environmental and economic factors that shape sustainable energy systems.

You will examine how different energy technologies convert, store and utilise energy, developing an understanding of their efficiency, environmental performance and long-term sustainability. Alongside the technical aspects of energy engineering, you will consider the broader challenges associated with energy policy, resource management, climate change and economic decision-making. Throughout the module, you will strengthen your ability to evaluate engineering solutions within the wider context of sustainable development.

By the end of the module, you will be able to assess energy technologies from both engineering and sustainability perspectives, preparing you to contribute to the development of cleaner, more resilient and more efficient energy systems.

This course explores how the key materials and elements that are essential to life are cycled through the biosphere and the Earth system.

This course explores how the key materials and elements that are essential to life are cycled through the biosphere and the Earth system.

This course explores how the key materials and elements that are essential to life are cycled through the biosphere and the Earth system.

Pollution is a major global environmental challenge, shaped by the growth in human population, industrial activity, urbanisation, and intensive agriculture. As societies have expanded and become more resource intensive, the release of contaminants to water, land, and air has increased both in scale and complexity, creating widespread risks to ecosystem and human health. Understanding pollution therefore requires more than simply identifying contaminants. It involves examining their sources, the pathways through which they move, and the impacts they have on sensitive receptors. This knowledge is essential for developing effective strategies to help monitor, manage, and mitigate pollution in a wide range of contexts.

The module introduces students to the sources, behaviour, impacts, and management of environmental pollution, with emphasis on water pollution and contaminated land/soil, while also providing an introduction to air pollution to support a broader understanding of environmental contamination.

Taught content will be delivered via lectures, workshops, fieldwork, and laboratory sessions to develop both conceptual understanding and practical competence, whilst also developing valuable transferable skills including teamwork, problem solving and communication. This varied approach is designed to strengthen students’ analytical, problem-solving, and employability skills through engagement with real-world environmental issues. This will be further enhanced by drawing on both UK-based, and global case studies.

Students will consider how pollutants are identified, monitored, and assessed in different environmental settings, and will explore current approaches to investigation, regulation, and remediation. The module is intended to provide a strong foundation for further study in environmental science and related applied environmental careers.