KJM1700 – Environment and Climate Challenges

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

The course provides a basic scientific introduction to our environmental challenges and several of the UN's sustainability goals, and how environmental authorities use this knowledge. A group project assignment provides an in-depth study of a chosen environmental theme and training in scientific publishing. The course has an interdisciplinary approach that makes it suitable for students from other disciplines who need basic knowledge of our environmental and climate challenges.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, you:

  • are aware of the underlying causes of our environmental challenges and how they exert pressure on the environment
  • have knowledge of the local, regional and global environmental state and change that are about to happen
  • master to see the context of our environmental challenges through biogeochemical cycles of selected substances in the environment
  • are able to assess what are the main impacts these changes have on the ecosystem and our ecosystem services, assume how the environment responds through the loss of ecosystem services and biodiversity, and consider how society best can respond through mitigation measures

You will also get an introduction in how to obtain literature and get informed on an environmental problem, compile the knowledge about it, and write a report on the topic in a scientific format.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Chemistry 1 from high school.

Teaching

The course duration is one semester and consists of:

  • 40 hours of lectures.

Students must in groups write a mandatory project assignment. An approved project assignment is a prerequisite for taking the exam. The project assignment is only valid within the approved semester.

A day excursion is arranged where we look at either an environmental problem or a treatment plant.

There is a compulsory attendance for the first lecture for students who will follow the course, including students on the waiting list. You will lose your spot on the course if your absence has not been reported to the Department of Chemistry before the lecture starts.

As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.

Examination

  • Written midterm exam, in the form of a project assignment, which counts 25 % towards the finale grade.
  • Final written exam, 4 hours, which counts 75 % towards the finale grade.

In this course, both the midterm exam and final exam must be passed in the same semester in order to obtain a final grade.

Examination support material

Calculator. The calculator must fulfill the requirements specified by The Department of Mathematics (only in Norwegian).

Language of examination

The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 4:17:49 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Bachelor
Credits
10
Teaching
Spring
Examination
Spring
Teaching language
Norwegian

Contact

Department of Chemistry