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Methods of Environmental Assessment

Lecturer (assistant)
Isabel Augenstein
Isabel Augenstein
Number 0240702600
Type seminar
Duration 2 SWS
Term Wintersemester 2025/26
Language of instruction English
Position within curricula See TUMonline
Dates See TUMonline

Admission information

See TUMonline
Note: The number of participants is limited. To join the course, attending the initial sessions is mandatory, as is selecting a topic for your assignment. You will need to secure a topic early and be ready to actively engage in sessions organised by your fellow students. Please note that topic availability is limited, and while preferences will be considered, there is no guarantee you will be assigned your first choice. The second part of the module "Sustainable and Environmental Regulations" is formed by Prof. Stefan Wurster's seminar "Sustainable Development and Regime Type". Students are expected to take the entire module.

Objectives

At the conclusion of the course, the students are able to: appreciate the purpose of EIA and SEA and their role in the decision-making process; explain the major principles and procedural steps of EIA and SEA; know options for estimating environmental impacts; reflect critically on the strength and limitations of the instruments; communicate findings in class and comment on the work of fellow students.

Description

The seminar introduces Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as worldwide established instruments for assisting sound environmental management. Being integral parts of spatial planning and decision-making, the assessment procedures integrate biophysical and socioeconomic information to predict and evaluate the environmental consequences of proposed projects, plans and programmes and to suggest means to avoid or mitigate significant impacts. The seminar gives an overview of the concepts, methods, procedural elements of EIA and SEA and stimulates discussion on key aspects of environmental assessment.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of landscape ecology.

Teaching and learning methods

The seminar includes lectures, presentations, class discussions and assigned readings. Presentations by the lecturer and the students provide the basis for exploring and discussing the concepts, methodology, current practice and potentials of EIA and SEA. Class discussions engage students in critical thinking and analysing the scope and limitations of the presented material. They are a core element of the MEA seminar. Therefore, students are expected to take part and contribute to the discussions.

Examination

Attainment of learning outcomes will be assessed based on the presentation the students give in class and the accompanying executive summary. By preparing and delivering a well-researched and instructive oral presentation, the students demonstrate their ability to explore and understand key issues of EIA and SEA and to communicate their findings in a clear and comprehensible manner to an audience. The accompanying executive summary of major findings and conclusions indicates the capacity of the students to summarise the presentation in a clear and concise manner. In addition, the students are expected to show their oral communication skills by responding competently to questions and comments by the audience as well as by contributing to class discussions. Depending on the number of seminar participants, the presentation may be given either individually or in groups.

Recommended literature

Morris, P. & R. Therivel (Eds., 2009): Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment. 3rd edition. Routledge, London and New York; Sadler, B., Aschemann, R., Dusik, J, Fischer, T.B., Partidário, M.R. & R. Verheem (2011): Handbook of Strategic Environmental Assessment. Earthscan, London, Washington, DC. Additional material will be provided.

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