Online
Students will be required to attend a live seminar for a Q&A session on assessment task 3. The assurance of learning task necessitates that our staff have a chance to interact with you directly, so students are required to join the online session using a device with a microphone and camera setting. Contact the unit coordinator prior to enrolment to discuss ways in which you can access a place with a microphone and camera setting if you do not have access to these where you reside.
Introduction
Human-induced climate change is the most serious problem currently facing our planet - a global problem with increasingly obvious local impacts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that the next 10 years will be critical to averting catastrophic climate change. The science is complex, but there is strong international consensus around much of our climate change knowledge. Gaining an understanding of the science of climate change and appreciating where the certainty and uncertainty lie are important first steps to more confidently engaging in the action that is so urgently required. In this unit, you will learn why scientists are so certain that climate change is occurring, is caused by humans, and is causing impacts on human and other natural systems. Tasmania has a global reputation as a centre for climate research, and UTas has many internationally renowned researchers working in diverse disciplines with relevance to climate impacts and adaptation. We will hear from many of these experts, including IPCC authors, regional climate modellers and climate impact scientists.
Summary
| Unit name | Introduction to the Science of Climate Change |
| Unit code | KGA104 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Sciences and Engineering School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences |
| Discipline | Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences |
| Coordinator | Doctor Nicholas Earl-Jones |
| Available as an elective? | Yes |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Introductory |
Sustainable Development Goals
The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.
Availability
Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 | 4/7/2027 | 26/7/2027 | 29/8/2027 | 23/10/2027 |
| Semester 1 | 21/2/2027 | 15/3/2027 | 18/4/2027 | 12/6/2027 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the drivers and impacts of climate change and climate variability at different times-scales, using key climate science concepts
- Describe the information we get from global and regional climate models and the importance of accounting for uncertainty in planning for the future
- Explain the science of climate change using evidence-based information in a range of formats (verbally, short written pieces and graphically).
- Discuss the impacts of climate change on physical, biological and human systems on local and global levels.
Fee Information
2027 fee information will be available in August.
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | Fully online unit with asynchronous online activities and one live session with compulsory attendance. |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Timeline (20%)|5-minute Video (40%)|Short report (40%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes. |
|---|
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.