Chemistry and Sustainable Development

课程简介

/ Indicative Syllabus What the weather forecast never tells you: Acid Rain and Global Warming • Combustion and the major sources of energy • Global Warming and green house gases • Kyoto protocol in the political arena • Acid rain and environmental concerns Burn! Let it burn··· • Renewable energy sources • Solar Energy • Biofuels and other alternatives Water – Scarcity of the abundant • Water and our health • What do we mean by clean water? Ions in water and the concept of pH, conductivities • Water Pollutions due to human activities: sewage and contamination from industries and agricultures • Water cycle – water purification in nature • Water treatment in Hong Kong and common water purification technology Look! There is a hole in the sky • Structure of the earth atmosphere • Effects on ozone layer depletion and ozone hole • Problems arise from the use of halogenated hydrocarbons (a type of refrigerant). • Ozone-friendly materials

目标

This subject offers a chemistry perspective to understand current environmental issues. Key chemical principles involved will be introduced. The upsides and downsides of technology and the impact to our lifestyle will be evaluated critically.

先修要求

/ Co-requisite/ Exclusion None

Teaching Pattern

Methodology Lectures: This is the major teaching method used in this subject. A few questions will be asked for each reading materials to help the students to think about the context before reading the materials as a preparation. Tutorials: Tutorials are designed to guide the students to complete their essays with the support of evidences and data. Students working on similar topics formed groups to discuss and comment on the outline. Tutorials will allow students to more directly engage the material with ready access to the teacher. Scientific publications database will be introduced for literature survey. The students will also learn to cite other information properly. In later stage, the students will also prepare a poster with oral presentation based on their essays. Individual Study: Students will be expected to spend two to three hours on reading outside the classroom. Questions will be given to prepare the students on the issues discussed. Since this may be an area of weakness for Hong Kong students, clear guidelines and checks will be put in place to ensure that it occurs. Exercises with questions on the textbook materials will be used to keep track on the students’ participation in reading assignment. This is also part of their continuous