Description

The course focuses on coastal environment principles with emphasis on processes together with management application, to give an understanding of the ocean and coastal (physical & anthropogenic) environment. The course follows the Sauerian concept of a cultural environment superimposed upon a physical fundament. The physical environment, e,g. waves, currents, sediment movement, beaches (various types), erosion/deposition mechanisms (e.g. cliffs, dunes, etc), and potential consequences of sea-level rise and global warming, is integrated with the anthropogenic dimension, e.g. management, hard/soft engineering, pollution (e.g. persistent marine debris), beach awards and resource exploitation. Additionally, the course introduces quantitative techniques for data processing, measuring principles and data presentation in the field of coastal and marine sciences.

Learning outcomes

• Students will gain an understanding of the complex interrelationships regarding physical and anthropogenic interactions with coastal and marine systems;
• Students will be able to define coastal environments according to physical processes and critically evaluate human influences operating in this complex zone;
• Students will be aware of complementary and competing interests associated with the coastal zone and their consequences;
• Students will be able to develop a research project proposing a solution or an improvement to an existing coastal scenario.

Assessment

Class presentation (20%), seminar participation (10%) and 1 paper written in the format of a named international journal (70%).

Instructor

Mike Phillips has a BSc in Civil Engineering, an MSc in Environmental Conservation Management and a PhD in Coastal Processes and Geomorphology. He is a member of the Severn Estuary Research Advisory Group for future management in response to climate change and sea-level rise and is currently vice-chairman of the Coastal and Marine Working Group of the Royal Geographical Society. He recently participated in the Fourth Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands in Hanoi and in an expert panel at Coastal Zone Canada 2008. Mike has published over 50 research papers and book chapters and has recently been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Coastal Research. He is currently Head of the School of Built and Natural Environment at Swansea Metropolitan University and has taught coastal processes for many years at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Allan Williams gained a BSc (Hons) in Geography, a BSc (Hons) in Geology and as a Commonwealth Scholar, a PhD in Coastal Geology. He has supervised 30 PhD and MPhil students and been external examiner for 25 research students. He has published 300 papers and technical reports, generated over £2M in research grants and coordinated several international coastal and marine research projects. He has been a Research Scholar at the International Hurricane Centre, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA and an Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, as well as a research scientist at the Universities of Massachusetts and Maryland, USA. Allan is also a scientific advisor and consultant to many European universities and EU agencies and is currently Professor of Coastal Management at Swansea Metropolitan University. He brings over 30 years experience of teaching coastal and marine science at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Guest lecturer

Further reading