Duration
12h Th, 4h Pr, 0,5d Vis.
Number of credits
| Bachelor in chemistry | 2 crédits |
Lecturer
Caroline Collette, Gauthier Eppe, Catherine Henrist, Jean-Christophe Monbaliu
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course addresses the interactions between chemistry, the environment and society through thematic modules, guest lectures, and a field visit.
Modules and topics:
Module I - General introduction (1 h)
- Context and objectives of the course (presentation of the program, pedagogical commitments, and visits)
- Introduction to scientific literature: information literacy, search and reference tools (with links to the English course, year 2)
- Major industrial accidents, public health crises related to environmental pollution, and lessons learned
- Concrete examples: waste management, food safety
- Risk assessment
- EU directives and regulations and their implementation in Member States
- Example: REACH regulation
- Historical context
- The principles of Green Chemistry according to Paul Anastas, with illustrations
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- Environmental metrics (air, water, soil)
- Metrics of chemical processes
- Tutorial session: guidance for bibliographic research in preparation for the guest lectures and support for formulating questions
- Comfort and life expectancy
- In-class debate
- Individual bibliographic research in preparation for the guest lectures
- Preparation of at least one question per lecture
- Lecture 1: to be determined
- Lecture 2: to be determined
Visit to an industrial site (e.g. wastewater treatment plant, incineration/biomethanation facility, industrial or metallurgical recycling). The choice of site will be made in consultation with the coordinators to avoid redundancy with other master-level visits.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Describe the main environmental threats related to chemistry and their historical context.
- Identify the legal and regulatory frameworks concerning pollution and the management of chemical substances.
- Explain the principles of green chemistry (qualitative and quantitative).
- Use bibliographic tools to search for and analyze scientific information.
- Understand the positive impacts of chemistry on society.
- Interact critically during guest lectures by asking relevant questions.
- Relate theoretical knowledge to concrete issues through a field visit.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
prerequisites
General chemistry
Basic scientific english
corequisites
Analytical chemistry, chemical methods of analysis
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Language of instruction
French
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
- Interactive lectures with theoretical input and case studies.
- Debates and critical discussions.
- Tutorials and guided personal work.
- Guest lectures with active student participation.
- Field visit to an industrial site.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
The theoretical component will be delivered in person as lectures, complemented by problem-based learning sessions on environmental cases and issues. Lectures will be supported by slides (PowerPoint), which will be made available to students.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Further information:
Additional information can be found in the following books:
- CHIMIE DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT (in French), Baird et Cann, De Boeck Université, 5th Edition
- An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry, ANDREWS, BRIMBLECOMBE, JICKELLS and LISS, Blackwell Science Ltd.
- 100% Information Literacy Success, Solomon A. , Wilson G. , Taylor T. , Wadsworth, 2nd, Boston, 2012.
- The hands-on guide for science communications, Christensen L.L. , Springer, Munich, 2007.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Exam(s) during the examination period
All sessions combined
- In-person
- Written exam - Multiple-choice questions (MCQ)
Overall Grade
The assessment consists of three parts:
- A: Attendance at mandatory activities: 30%
- B: Preparation of questions for the guest lecture: 30%
- C: Written examination during the examination period in the form of an MCQ: 40%
M = 0.3A + 0.3B + 0.4C
where A, B and C are grades expressed out of 20.
Grade A is awarded according to the following scale:
- attendance at all mandatory activities: 20/20;
- one unjustified absence: 10/20;
- two unjustified absences: 0/20;
- three or more unjustified absences: 0/20 and the student is not permitted to sit the examination.
Important: Mandatory Examination Attendance and Absorbing Grade
Sitting the examination during the examination period is mandatory. If a student does not attend the examination, or any constituent part of the examination, the overall result for the learning unit is recorded as "A - absent" for the examination session concerned, irrespective of the grades obtained for Parts A and B or the number of points already accumulated through these components. In particular, accumulating more than 50% of the available points through the other assessment components does not allow the student to pass the learning unit without sitting the examination.
In addition, in the event of more than two unjustified absences from mandatory activities during the teaching period, the student is not permitted to sit the examination. The learning unit therefore cannot be passed.
For a student who has actually sat the examination, the following rules apply:
- if C < 10/20, grade C becomes the absorbing grade and constitutes the final grade for the learning unit, irrespective of the weighted average M;
- if C = 10/20, the final grade corresponds to the weighted average M;
- to pass the learning unit, the student must therefore have sat the examination, obtained C = 10/20, and obtained a weighted average M = 10/20.
Second Examination Session
The same rules apply in the second examination session.
If the student obtains C < 10/20 for the MCQ examination in the first session, they must retake the MCQ examination in the second session.
If the student does not attend the examination in the first session, the result for that session is recorded as "A - absent". The student may sit the examination in the second session, unless the attendance requirements for mandatory activities prevent them from being eligible to sit the examination.
The grades obtained for Parts A and B are automatically carried over to the second session, as they relate to activities organized during the teaching period.
When the examination is taken in the second session, the weighted average is recalculated using the same formula:
M = 0.3A + 0.3B + 0.4C
taking into account the grades carried over for A and B and the new grade obtained for C.
The same passing requirements and absorbing-grade rule then apply.
Examples
Example 1: two unjustified absences, but successful completion of the learning unit
A = 0/20, B = 16/20, C = 13/20
M = 0.3 × 0 + 0.3 × 16 + 0.4 × 13 = 10/20
Final grade = 10/20.
The student has two unjustified absences and therefore receives 0/20 for Part A. However, the MCQ examination is passed and the weighted average reaches 10/20. The learning unit is therefore passed. Two unjustified absences strongly affect the attendance grade but do not, by themselves, result in failure of the learning unit.
Example 2: excellent results in the other components, but failed MCQ examination
A = 20/20, B = 20/20, C = 8/20
M = 0.3 × 20 + 0.3 × 20 + 0.4 × 8 = 15.2/20
As grade C is below 10/20, it becomes the absorbing grade.
Final grade = 8/20.
Despite a weighted average of 15.2/20, the learning unit is not passed. The MCQ grade cannot be compensated for by the results obtained for Parts A and B. The MCQ examination must be retaken in the second examination session.
Work placement(s)
Mandatory visit to an industrial site related to waste management, recycling, or water treatment.
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Prof. Gauthier Eppe
Tel. +32-4-3663422
e-mail. g.eppe@uliege.be
Dr. Caroline Collette
Tel: +32-4-3663439
e-mail. C.Collette@uliege.be
Dr. Catherine Henrist
Tel: +32-4-3663438
e-mail. Catherine.Henrist@uliege.be
Prof. Jean-Christophe Monbaliu
Tel: +32-4-3663510
e-mail. jc.monbaliu@uliege.be