New ESS course starting next year! The new environmental systems and societies course will be launched in February 2024 for first teaching in August 2024. First assessment will take place in May 2026. Starting in 2024, it will be offered at both standard level (SL) and higher level (HL). Overview Environmental systems and societies (ESS) is a group 3/4 interdisciplinary course that combines a mixture of methodologies, techniques and knowledge associated with both the sciences, a bit of maths, and individuals and societies. ESS is a complex and contemporary course that engages students in the challenges of 21st century environmental issues. It requires students to develop a diverse set of skills, knowledge and understanding from different disciplines. Students develop a scientific approach through explorations of environmental systems. They also acquire understandings and methods from Individuals and societies in social, cultural, economic, political and ethical contexts of sustainability issues. Course Aims To empower and equip students to: 1. develop understanding of their own environmental impact, in the broader context of the impact of humanity on the Earth and its biosphere 2. develop knowledge of diverse perspectives to address issues of sustainability 3. engage and evaluate the tensions around environmental issues using critical thinking 4. develop a systems approach that provides a holistic lens for the exploration of environmental issues 5. be inspired to engage in environmental issues across local and global contexts.
Who is this course for? This course is for students who wish to develop a holistic appreciation of the complexities of environmental issues, in which the interaction between environmental systems and societies is central. The ESS course requires that students consider the costs and the benefits of human activities, both to the environment and to societies, on a local and global scale and over the short and long terms. In doing so, students will arrive at informed but personal viewpoints.
Course Content sample - full details and syllabus should be available in February 2024
Experimental Component
Assessment - External The external assessment for SL and HL comprises two papers. Paper 1 comprises a resource booklet that presents data in a variety of forms as they relate to a previously unseen case study and a question paper that contains questions based on the analysis and evaluation of the data. Paper 2 is made up of short answer and data-based questions with an additional section asking structured essay questions. The assessment model for HL will be similar with an expanded model that reflects the greater amount of content. Questions will require students to demonstrate additional insights connected with the HL lenses: environmental law, environmental and ecological economics, environmental ethics.
Assessment - Internal The ‘individual investigation’ (internal assessment) is the opportunity for students to collaborate and support each other within small groups. Where appropriate, students will be able to share similar methodologies, provided that the independent or dependent variable differ, and the qualitative or quantitative data collected is unique to each student.
An additional criterion has also been introduced requiring students to explore tensions that exist between perspectives. They are asked to describe and explain how these perspectives impact the environmental or societal outcomes of a strategy, addressing an issue central to the student’s investigation. Students will submit an individual report with a maximum word count of 3,000 words.
Future Pathways ESS is an excellent subject for students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the life sciences. It is particularly relevant for future pathways such as environmental law, conservation biology, and environmental engineering.
Furthermore, ESS develops students' ability to use systems thinking. This highly transferable skill is fantastic preparation for a wide range of disciplines including medicine, engineering, law, science, architecture, social studies, business studies, tourism and agriculture.
Finally, it is an interdisciplinary subject and recommended for students interested in an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree in any field.