[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 521, AMCE 521] The course provides an introduction to the fundamental features of environmental microorganisms and an understanding of their roles in the functioning of our ecosystems and their importance to mankind. Exclusion(s): AMCE 520 (prior to 2008-09), ESCE 520 (prior to 2009-10)

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 525] The course is designed to introduce students to key contemporary concepts in environmental economics and equip them with the approaches in economics that are generally applied to analyze environmental problems and policies.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 526] This course focuses both on how to make and how to study environmental policy and management. It will review major theories related to the formulation of environmental policies, including government regulation and economic incentives, and discuss the types of policy measures implemented in various public and business sectors. The discussion of environmental problems and policies will focus on examples that are relevant for Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, but will also include the experience of other countries and the debate surrounding global environmental issues.

This course prepares graduate students for the development of interdisciplinary research on environmental science, policy and management through a detailed investigation of climate change issues. Based on a review of the scientific research and models that have been developed through international cooperation, students will discuss relevant approaches of atmospheric and oceanographic science and the likely consequences in terms of climate change. In addition, the various technologies of mitigation and adaptation will be surveyed, leading to a discussion of appropriate policies for managing climate change at the global or national level.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 601, AMCE 601] Advanced seminar series presented by postgraduate students, faculty and guest speakers on selected topics in atmospheric environmental science or marine environmental science. This course is offered once a year. Graded P or F.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 602, AMCE 602] Offerings are announced each term. Typical topics in atmospheric environmental science are pollutant transfer in the atmosphere, aerosol chemistry, air quality in Hong Kong, atmospheric modeling, and air-sea interactions.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 603, AMCE 603] Offerings are announced each term. Typical topics in marine environmental science include eutrophication, global warming, biodiversity and conservation, microbial ecology, environmental law, and pollutants in the ocean.

Offerings are announced each term, if deemed necessary, to cover emerging topics of environmental concerns not covered in the present curriculum. Typical topics are carbon audit and management, integrated environmental management systems, air-sea interactions, Life cycle analysis: a system perspective, etc.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 605, AMCE 605] An introduction to the fundamentals of physical, chemical, geological, geochemical, and biological oceanography. It unveils the mystery of the oceans including the formation of the continents, oceanic circulation, and formation of precious minerals in the deep oceans; discovers ocean resources from phytoplankton to fish. The course will lay the foundation for sustainable use of the oceans and discuss human threats such as global warming, overfishing, and coastal pollution. Background: second year Science or Engineering

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 608, AMCE 608] Physical and biological processes are inter-related aspects that govern the productivity of marine ecosystems. This course provides an introduction to the physical processes that control abundance of marine organisms in the ocean. The topics include: turbulence in surface and bottom boundary layers and its roles on the lives of plants and animals; buoyancy-and-wind-induced circulation, mixing, coastal upwelling/downwelling processes, fronts, river plume, zooplankton, fish and the regeneration of nutrients; NPZD (Nutrient, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton and Detritus) chemical-biological model; mathematical and numerical techniques in the coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem model.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 610, AMCE 610] Study on selected topics in environmental science under the supervision of a faculty member. The course may be repeated twice for credits if the topic is different. Graded P or F.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 699, AMCE 699] Master's thesis research supervised by a faculty member. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.

[Previous Course Code(s): ENVR 799, AMCE 799] Original and independent doctoral thesis research. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.

[Previous Course Code(s): EVSM 522, ENVR 522, AMCE 522] The course provides an in-depth coverage of topics on inorganic and organic environmental contaminants, their structures, functions, sources and emissions, distribution, transformation and fate in the environment. Exclusion(s): AMCE 520 (prior to 2008-09), ESCE 520 (prior to 2009-10)

[Previous Course Code(s): EVSM 523] The course will give an overview on environmental health and management, including topics on outdoor and indoor environments, workplace environment, water and sewage, food, solid waste, hazardous wastes, vectors and control, radiation, environmental health standards, natural and manmade disasters, risk assessment and management, etc. Each topic will include nature of the issue, known and potential health effects, control and regulatory approaches. More in-depth discussions will be given to occupational health hazards, with emphases on current control methods and technology.

[Previous Course Code(s): EVSM 524] Introducing GIS concepts, working with spatial data, managing GIS data, integrating GIS data with Google Earth/Map, remote sensing and model data, applying GIS technology to support environmental planning and management.

[Previous Course Code(s): EVSM 527] The course will provide students with the basic legal concepts which include the hierarchy of courts in Hong Kong, the difference between civil and criminal proceedings and their possible redresses or remedies available from the courts. Some important provisions of the basic environmental legislation in Hong Kong, environmental prosecution policy of Hong Kong and how to instigate a judicial review against a ministerial decision relating to the environment will also be covered in the course.

Atmospheric aerosols, also known as, airborne particulate matter, are important air pollutants affecting our health, visibility, and global climate change. This course aims to provide a survey of the physical and chemical properties, the source identification, the atmospheric transformation, the sampling of atmospheric aerosols, and the determination of their chemical compositions.

[Previous Course Code(s): EVSM 607, ENVR 607, AMCE 607] Introduction to environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the EIA process in Hong Kong. The components of an EIA report including air, noise, water, waste management, environmental risk, ecological impact, and socio-economic impact assessments will be analyzed. Environmental law, environmental management and the importance of public participation will also be discussed. Case studies from Hong Kong will be used and comparison with EIA in Mainland China will be made.

[Previous Course Code(s): EVSM 695, ENVR 695, AMCE 695] An independent project on selected topics in environmental science under the supervision of a faculty member. Participation of external organizations in these projects will be particularly encouraged. The responsibility of control, administration and assessment of the projects rests with the University. The course may be repeated once for credits. This course is for MSc students only. Approval from instructor is required.