What is it and why should I do it?

Our generation is living through a historic Earth System crisis that demands sustainable and far-reaching solutions. Environmental Science seeks to understand the social and environmental causes of today's environmental crisis, on a local and global level. In unit 3 you will use biodiversity as a lens through which to investigate the management of a single Earth system – the biosphere. You will examine the categories of biodiversity, the role of biodiversity in sustaining ecosystems, the provision of ecosystem services for human well-being and the strategies employed to counteract threats, both natural and human-induced, to maintain biodiversity in the short-, medium- and long-term. 

In Unit 4 you will will investigate how climate change and the impacts of human energy use can be managed. You will compare sources, availability, reliability and efficiencies of renewable and non-renewable energy resources in order to evaluate the suitability and consequences of their use in terms of upholding sustainability principles. You will also analyse various factors that are involved in responsible environmental decision-making and consider how science can be used to inform the management of climate change and the impacts of energy production and use.

If you are passionate about the environment, maintain biodiversity and managing climate change this is the subject for you!  

How much homework/study will I have?

All Unit 3 and 4 subjects require 3-5 hours of study per week.

The homework for this subject will be predominately self guided. It is expected that students maintain/develop a set of notes and resources for their own revision purposes. You will be set textbook and biozone questions, which will be expected to be completed outside of class time. 

What contributes to my study score?

Unit 3 SACs will contribute 20% to your study score: 

• Unit 3 outcome 1: The importance of Earth’s biodiversity and how it has changed over time
• Unit 3 outcome 2: How do sustainability principles relate to environmental management?

Unit 4 SACs will contribute 30% to your study score:

• Unit 4 outcome 1: What are the major factors that affect Earth's climate? 
• Unit 4 outcome 2: Evolution of energy sources and their suitability. 
• Unit 4 outcome 3: Student designed experiment.  

The Exam will contribute 50% to your study score 

How do I satisfactorily complete the unit?

To pass any VCE unit you need to demonstrate that you have met the Outcomes.

To meet the outcomes in 3/4 Environmental Science students must:

• Engage in class discussions, experiments, and class based activities
• Complete interactive notes (provided in class and on wiki) on a weekly basis
• Satisfactorily engage in the SAC tasks OR demonstrate content knowledge through the completion of textbook and Biozone exercises. 

Give me all the details I want to know more:

VCAA page (note: new study design for 2022 - see bottom of webpage)