Course code:
524S2		 Course name:
Natural Resources

Academic year:

2024/2025.

Attendance requirements:

There are no requirements.

ECTS:

12

Study level:

basic academic studies

Study program:

Environmental Chemistry: 4. year, winter semester, elective (E13S2) course

Teacher:

Ilija D. Brčeski, Ph.D.
full professor, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Assistant:

Slađana D. Savić
teaching assistant, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, Beograd

Hours of instruction:

Weekly: three hours of lectures + five hours of labwork (3+0+5)

Goals:

Through the subject of Natural Resources student should master the terms of natural resources. Namely, the natural resources are the basis for the survival of man and the ignorance of the ways of access to natural resources and their over-exploitation will certainly lead to endangering the survival of human kind. Students should understand the basics of rational approach to natural resources and concepts of sustainable development. Also, the aim of this course is introduction to the international conventions in this field, whose observance should enable the maintenance of balance and exhaust resources only by a few generations. In this course students will:

  • learn the basic concepts of natural resources;
  • master the concept of sustainable development in relation to resources;
  • learn the approach of the modern world so that natural resources are saved;
  • become aware of the international conventions on conservation of natural resources;
  • master the methods for determining the best ways of using resources.

Outcome:

Consideration of the importance of natural resources. Renewability of natural resources, As well as comparing the ways of consumption and ways of renewal. Hazards of excessive consumption and the development in a sense of saving natural resources.

Teaching methods:

Lectures,experimental and theoretical exercises.

Extracurricular activities:

Fieldtrip.

Coursebooks:

Main coursebooks:

  1. McNeely, J. A.; Miller, K.; Mittermeier, R. A.; Reid, W. V.; Werner, T. B. Conserving the World’s Biological Diversity; IUCN, 1990.
  2. Pradinaud, C.; Northey, S.; Amor, B.; Bare, J.; Benini, L.; Berger, M.; Boulay, A.-M.; Junqua, G.; Lathuillière, M. J.; Margni, M.; Motoshita, M.; Niblick, B.; Payen, S.; Pfister, S.; Quinteiro, P.; Sonderegger, T.; Rosenbaum, R. K. Defining Freshwater as a Natural Resource: A Framework Linking Water Use to the Area of Protection Natural Resources. Int J Life Cycle Assess 2019, 24 (5), 960–974. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-018-1543-8.
  3. Matthew, R.; Brown, O.; Jensen, D. From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment; UNEP, 2009.
  4. Perman, R.; Ma, Y.; Common, M.; Maddison, D.; Mcgilvray, J. Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, 3rd edition.; Pearson: Harlow Munich, 2003.
  5. Sverdrup, H. U.; Ragnarsdóttir, K. V. Natural Resources in a Planetary Perspective; 2014; Vol. 3.
  6. Lynch, D. R. Sustainable Natural Resource Management: For Scientists and Engineers; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511816222.

Supplementary coursebooks:

  1. Ilija Brčeski. Elements of rare earths, chemical and ecochemical properties. University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Dosije Studio, Belgrade, 2017. ISBN 978-86-6047-250-4.
  2. Roberto Schroeder; Luís Kluwe Aguiar; Richard Baines. Carbon Footprint in Meat Production and Supply Chains. JFSE 2012, 2 (11). https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5828/2012.11.005.
  3. Radwan, H. Global Water Resources; 2010.
  4. Lederman, D.; Maloney, W. F. Natural Resources: Neither Curse nor Destiny; World Bank: Washington, DC, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-6545-8.
  5. Koistinen, L.; Pouta, E.; Heikkilä, J.; Forsman-Hugg, S.; Kotro, J.; Mäkelä, J.; Niva, M. The Impact of Fat Content, Production Methods and Carbon Footprint Information on Consumer Preferences for Minced Meat. Food Quality and Preference 2013, 29 (2), 126–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2013.03.007.
  6. Water for a Sustainable World; UNESCO, 2015.
  7. Tundisi, J. G. Water Resources in the Future: Problems and Solutions. Estudos Avançados 2008, 22 (63), 7–16.
  8. Pimentel, D.; Berger, B.; Filiberto, D.; Newton, M.; Wolfe, B.; Karabinakis, E.; Clark, S.; Poon, E.; Abbett, E.; Nandagopal, S. Water Resources: Agricultural and Environmental Issues. BioScience 2004, 54 (10), 909–918. https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0909:WRAAEI]2.0.CO;2.
  9. Subsidiary legislation, regulations on protected sites.

Additional material:

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  Course activities and grading method

Lectures:

10 points (3 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  • The concept of resources.
  • Defining natural resources.
  • Water as a resource. Consumption of water resources. Endangering water resources.
  • Aquatic organisms and exploitation of the sea.
  • Forests as a resource.
  • Mineral wealth as a resource. Strategic ore raw materials. The exploitation of ore raw materials.
  • Natural energy resources. Oil as a natural resource.
  • Key concepts of biodiversity. The importance of conserving genetic resources.
  • The importance of preserving known natural protective mechanisms (ozone, atmospheric equilibrium...).

Labwork:

20 points (5 hours a week)

Syllabus:

  • Natural resources – key concepts and classification
  • Case study – determining the cause of pollution based on the consequences
  • Life cycle – key concepts and example work
  • Carbon footprint – key concepts and example work
  • Sources and evaluation of scientific information
  • Writing and presenting results on natural resources
  • Representative sampling of some natural resources
  • Specifics of environmental sampling

Written exam:

35 points

Oral exam:

35 points