ES0001: The Physical Environments of Singapore
Dr Shawn Lum
3 AU
This is an introductory course designed to provide you with a broad understanding of the physical environments in Singapore. You will learn about how Earth Systems have affected the physical environment of Singapore over time. The emphasis will be on the natural physical processes by which these environments form, evolve and interact dynamically in the Earth Systems as part of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and anthrosphere. Since Earth Systems Science is interdisciplinary by nature, we will use multi-scientific disciplines, especially geology, chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. Emphasis will be placed on examining the various environments in the field and through exploratory laboratory exercises. The material covered in this course will provide a strong basis for understanding and evaluating potential changes to Singapore's environment in the future.
ES0138: Introduction to Scientific Writing
Dr Pavel Adamek
2 AU
This is an introductory course aimed at equipping you with writing fundamentals, which will be applicable to all your future academic written communication, and which will form the pre-requisite for advanced courses. At the start, you will learn about the central roles of academic argument and referencing (citation practices). Further, the course will emphasise meeting the reader’s basic expectations of a text’s purpose, of where in the text information should appear, and how changes in information placement influence the impact of your text. The course will also provide you with guidance on making engaging presentations without slides to a non-specialist audience. Lessons will be highly interactive, and offer you multiple opportunities to write, present, and get and give feedback.
To reach these aims, the course will be guided by four general tenets:
- Writing is intertwined with thinking. In academic writing, you are expected not to simply display knowledge. You are also expected to demonstrate, firstly, knowledge transformation, which “means, among other things, being able to shape a piece of writing to achieve intended effects and to reorganize one’s knowledge in the process”1, and secondly, knowledge building, which is “the production and continual improvement of ideas of value to a community”.2
- Writing is a process of planning, writing, editing, and revising. These steps are recursive and often non-linear.3
- To make theoretical concepts meaningful, they need to be applied (a.k.a. learning by doing): Writing can hardly be learned by just listening to lectures.
- Teamwork (discussion) sharpens idea formulation and critique (not to mention that most writing beyond the school environment, certainly if you work in academia, is collaborative).
After each lesson, the theory will be applied in a draft group text, which will be revised after feedback and new class material. In some weeks, you will be asked to provide feedback on another group’s writing, since research indicates that peer reviewing improves the writing of those who provide feedback.4 By the end of the semester, you will have gained experience writing a text that can engage your reader more effectively. A secondary benefit of the group assignments is to prepare you for an individual paper at the end of the semester.
1 Bereiter, C., & Scardamalia, M. (1987). The Psychology of Written Composition (p. 6). London: Routledge.
2 Scardamalia, M., & Bereiter, C. (2003). Knowledge building. In Encyclopedia of education (2nd ed., pp. 1370–1373). New York: Macmillan Reference.
3 Mewburn, I., Firth, K., & Lehmann, S. (2019). How to fix your academic writing trouble: A practical guide. London; New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
4 Lundstrom, K., & Baker, W. (2009). To give is better than to receive: The benefits of peer review to the reviewer’s own writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 18, 30-43.
ES1001: E2S2 Environment and Society
Dr Natasha Bhatia
4 AU
This course aims to provide first year ASE students with an introduction to the concepts and theories surrounding the science of how humans and society interact with the environment. Topics will include the key challenges as we move into the Anthropocene, how we created this new epoch, and what we can do to mitigate these impacts.
ES1003: Solid Earth
Prof Aron Meltzner
4 AU
This introductory course aims to provide a broad overview of physical geology, with an emphasis on the materials that make up the solid earth and the physical processes by which these materials are accumulated and transformed. These geological processes operate over a wide range of time scales. For example, earthquakes last only seconds, but over millions of years they result in mountain building. We will explore these processes, the concept of geologic time, and the ways that geologists learn about the earth and earth processes, so that you can begin thinking as an earth scientist.
ES1006: Introductory Field Experience
Prof Benoit Taisne
4 AU
This is a 2-week field course to Bali, Indonesia. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the techniques, strategies, and benefits of conducting field research in the earth systems science discipline. Students apply classroom knowledge and problem solving skills to real world examples in the field. Students study Batur Volcano, rice ecology, and coastal and marine ecology.
ES1007: Climate Change
Prof Feng Lujia
3 AU
This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary introduction to the causes, impacts, and solutions of climate change from both the science and society perspectives. The course aims to address the whole complexity of climate change as an issue, by bringing together the science, technology, economics, and policy into one course. It covers the scientific concepts and principles of climate science, the evidence for and denial of climate change, the impacts and risks of climate change on natural and human systems, the mitigation and adaptation of climate change, and the ethical and political dimensions of climate change.
ES2001: Computational Earth Systems Science
Prof Benoit Taisne
4 AU
In this course, you will learn how to choose data visualization and analysis techniques that are relevant to the scientific challenge you are facing, and to create their own functions for performing these analyses. You will also learn to master a programming language that could serve as a basis to learning other languages. The goal is to give you a solid grounding in the basic statistics and programming techniques that will allow you to continue to build on these skills throughout the rest of your undergraduate training and careers, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and developing skills that can be adapted in the future to suit a changing world, rapidly changing technologies, and increasingly varied sources of environmental and geoscience data.
ES2003: E2S2 Biosphere
Prof Alex Cobb
4 AU
E2S2 Biosphere aims to provide a basic introduction to biological systems and to the origin and evolution of life on our planet, its distribution and the importance of maintaining biodiversity. Throughout the class there will be a focus on the relationships between biological and non-biological components of ecosystems and on the effects of human activity on the biosphere, including, but not limited, to the effects on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. By the end of the course, you will gain a fundamental understanding and appreciation of ecological systems, interactions between the biosphere and other earth systems, and how human activities are changing these interactions. The course is a required course for all ASE undergraduate students and is a pre-requisite for ES2303 Introduction to Ecology.
ES2802: GIS and the Earth System
Prof Perrine Hamel
3 AU
In this course, you will become familiar with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Earth sciences. You will use an open-source GIS software to perform common tasks required in the study of Earth systems, including importing and exporting datasets, producing scientific-grade maps, and performing basic to advanced geospatial analyses. Given the rapid progress in GIS science and technology, you will also learn how to find online resources to perform tasks required in diverse industries (urban planning, landscape architecture, scientific research). The course is primarily targeted at Environmental Sciences students, with applications to Earth science, ecology, and society.
ES2301: Principles of Heredity and Ecological Genetics
Prof Kim Hie Lim
3 AU
In this course, you will understand the genetic inheritance which is the transmission of genetic information across molecules, cells, and individuals. You will develop the concepts through studying basic molecular biology and genetics to understand the principles of each level of transmission: first, how to transmit genetic information across molecules in cells, from DNA to RNA, and from RNA to protein, second, how to transmit them between cells, third, how to transmit them between individuals, which is the transmission between generations and eventually populations. You will learn not only classical genetics but also the most advanced techniques to generate and analyze the genomic data since the current genomics became to be significantly important to study ecological genetics. Finally, you will have opportunities to develop your idea on how to apply genetics to ecology through the last part of lectures.
ES2303: Introduction to Ecology
Dr Shawn Lum
3 AU
You will be taught the main theories and concepts of modern ecology, with the course structure following a hierarchy of biological scales from individuals to ecosystems. The most important aim of this course is to provide the fundamental knowledge that all of the subsequent ecology in the programme will build on. The course further aims to introduce you to practical methods of ecological research, and will help to develop your technical writing skills and ability to analyse ecological data.
ES2305: Introductory Statistics and Numerical Thinking
Prof Lam Weng Ngai
3 AU
This course aims to equip you with (1) the foundational knowledge in statistics and statistical tools that are commonly employed in environmental sciences; (2) the ability to think numerically about data in environmental sciences and the world around you; (3) the proficiency in coding and executing statistical analyses in R. The course is a core module for ASE students specializing in ecology or society. It is designed for students of environmental science and those with little to no mathematics or statistics background. Concepts and skills taught in the module are generalizable, and especially useful in the data age we are now living in. The course will help to prepare you to conduct undergraduate research in environmental sciences (e.g., URECA, FYP), and more importantly, equip you with the ability and confidence to think and interact meaningfully with data around you in everyday life.
ES3301: Plant & Animal Physiology
Dr Shawn Lum
4 AU
You will synthesise information in two ways: (1) you will be expected to link physiological processes across various levels of organisation from genes to populations and ecosystems, and (2) to take a comparative approach to the study of physiology. Moreover, you will be expected to see physiological processes through the lens of natural selection in order to understand how physiological mechanisms evolve and diversify in response to the physical and biotic environments in which organisms live.
ES3302: Tropical Ecology
Prof Eleanor Slade
3 AU
Tropical forests are the most diverse ecosystems on earth, supporting over 50% of all biodiversity. They play a major role in regulating global climates and are key to the livelihood of a substantial proportion of the world’s human population. However, they are also among the most threatened of all biomes. Understanding the ecology and evolution of tropical forests, and people’s dependence on these habitats is fundamental to their future management and conservation. This course will help you appreciate how conducting experiments and surveys in the field is critical to understanding and using the theory you learn in the classroom. The course presents the natural history and ecology of tropical forests through practical exercises, lectures, site visits, tutorials, small group project work and (most importantly), day to day experience in the field. You will learn survey techniques for monitoring plants, vertebrates and invertebrates and ecosystem functions, visit and discuss large-scale experiments, forest management and restoration sites, and explore the importance of evidence-based science for conservation and management of tropical ecosystems.
ES3307: Experimental Design & Analysis for Ecology
Prof Eleanor Slade
4 AU
This course introduces you to the basic principles of experimental design and analysis of ecological experiments. It introduces you to methods and key concepts for designing and implementing experiments in both the field and laboratory. You will learn how to plan and execute an experiment, key concepts in designing experiments, and how to analyse and present your results. This course builds on the statistical and R skills you should have learned in BS1008, ES0002, and MH311, and you will learn how to apply these statistical methods to real-life ecological field and lab experiments. This course uses R, and assumes some introductory knowledge of statistics and the R language.
This course is a pre-requisite for ES4002 Final Year Project Ecology specialization students.
ES2002: Earth Materials
Prof Euan Mutch
3 AU
The course aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of magmatic, sedimentary, and metamorphic petrology, including the processes that form different rock types in various tectonic settings. It also seeks to develop practical skills in microscopic and SEM analysis, enabling students to identify rocks and minerals, interpret their origins, and connect observations to theoretical concepts. Additionally, the course introduces the societal and industrial relevance of rocks and minerals, including implications for human health and environmental issues.
This course is designed for students in Geosciences, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or related fields who want to build essential skills in petrology and mineral identification. It is suitable for learners who need both theoretical understanding and hands-on analytical experience with microscopes and SEM.
Students should take this course because it provides:
- Core knowledge required for advanced studies in geology, mineralogy, tectonics, geochemistry, or Earth materials.
- Practical laboratory skills (microscopy, SEM) that are fundamental for careers in geoscience research, environmental assessment, natural resource exploration, and materials analysis.
- An understanding of the societal and industrial importance of rocks and minerals, useful for careers in mining, energy, environmental consultancy, and public health–related geoscience fields.
- Insight into how rock and mineral properties influence environmental pollution, human health, and industrial processes, making the course relevant for applied and interdisciplinary pathways.
ES2004: Sedimentary Geology
Prof Adam Switzer
3 AU
This course aims to develop a rigorous and practice‑oriented understanding of sedimentary geology by integrating laboratory learning with progressive field‑based investigations. Through laboratory exercises, students will build foundational skills in sediment description, analysis, and scientific documentation, while three complementary field trips (for example clastic ornamental rock characterization in Singapore, sediment logging in Sentosa and modern sediment coring at Pulau Ubin) cultivate proficiency in field observations, facies interpretation, stratigraphic reconstruction, and collaborative scientific work. Students will apply these competencies in both group and individual assignments that emphasise methodological rigour, critical thinking, and high‑quality reporting. Mastery of core concepts and practical techniques will be further reinforced through a comprehensive laboratory practical quiz and mid‑term and final quizzes designed to assess conceptual understanding, analytical skills, and the ability to communicate geological interpretations through structured writing and scientific illustrations.
ES3002: Structural Geology and Tectonics
Prof Euan Mutch/Prof Aron Meltzner
3 AU
The course aims to introduce students to the deformation of Earth materials and the fundamental principles of structural geology and tectonics. It teaches how rocks respond to stress and strain under different conditions, covering topics such as mountain building, plate tectonics, faulting, folding, fractures, ductile deformation, and regional tectonic histories. Students will learn to analyze geological structures using tools like geologic maps, cross-sections, seismic data, stereonets, microscopic rock fabrics, and field observations. The course also aims to build practical skills through labs and a field trip, developing the ability to interpret structural features in both academic and applied settings.
This course is intended for:
• Undergraduate or graduate students in Earth Sciences, Geology, Geophysics, or related fields.
• Students needing a foundational or intermediate course in structural geology and tectonics.
• Learners who will benefit from hands-on experience with mapping, seismic interpretation, field methods, and geological analysis tools.
Students should take this course because it provides:
• Foundational knowledge essential for careers in geology, geophysics, geotechnical engineering, natural resources (oil, gas, geothermal), environmental consulting, and earthquake hazard assessment.
• Skills needed for advanced courses in tectonics, structural analysis, geomechanics, and geological field methods.
• Training in practical industry-relevant tools such as balanced cross sections, seismic reflection data, satellite imagery, and analog experiments.
• Field experience that strengthens a student’s ability to collect, record, and interpret real-world geological data.
• A strong understanding of Earth structure and deformation processes, which is crucial for understanding earthquakes, mountain formation, and crustal evolution.
ES3003: Introduction to Geochemistry
Prof Wang Xianfeng
3 AU
This course is designed to introduce you the principles of chemistry related to geology (therefore, geochemistry) and their applications to understand processes taking place on and within the Earth. The aim is to provide you with a powerful toolbox and the related skills, more than a static bank of knowledge. You will become familiar with the principles of geochemistry, including analytical chemistry, governing equations and typical applications in the Earth Systems Sciences (e.g., atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, solid earth, anthroposphere). You will have experience to work with geochemistry analytical equipment, learn to collect, organize and present geochemical data, including presenting and writing a research report on a problem of your choice. With this set of tools and knowledge, you will have the mind skills and technical know-hows to answer a range of practical problems in geochemistry, including some that may not have been addressed in the class.
ES3004: Introduction to Geophysics
Prof Luca Dal Zilio
3 AU
The aim of this course is to introduce the fundamental concepts of the solid Earth, providing students with a theoretical foundation and exercises that incorporate basic computational methods to quantitatively explore subsurface Earth structures. Building on this background, the course will then focus on near-surface geophysical imaging, covering a range of techniques including active and passive source seismology, gravity, magnetic, geoelectric, and electromagnetic surveys. Students will learn the physical principles behind these techniques, practice how they are applied, and review and interpret results through a mixture of lectures, computational exercises, and practical examples. Whenever possible, field-based data collection within Singapore will be included to offer direct, hands-on experience; where this is not feasible, real-world datasets will be used for classroom exercises and labs. Throughout the course, students will develop an understanding of the complementary perspectives each method offers and how, when combined, they provide a coherent view of the subsurface, with an emphasis on precision, interpretation, and the distinction between results and their implications.
ES3005: Advanced Field Geology
Prof Aron Meltzner
5 AU
This course will provide you with the essential skills required by all Geoscience based careers, and therefore benefit whichever career path you choose. The course aims to provide you with the knowledge to describe and map geological and geomorphic features in the field, reconstruct detailed histories of geological events from multiple lines of evidence, and link the observable rock record with active Earth processes. This course will challenge you to develop practical field skills in order to document and understand a wide variety of tectonic settings, time periods, and geological processes.
Society and the Earth System
ES2203: Global Environmental Politics and Governance
Dr Natasha Bhatia
3 AU
This course aims to provide students with the tools to be able to apply scientific, political, economic and social knowledge to help society resolve issues surrounding the use of natural resources and the conservation of the environment. This understanding will be crucial for Environmental Science majors who wish to work in Government bodies, NGOs or Private Companies in this field.
ES2305: Introductory Statistics and Numerical Thinking
Prof Lam Weng Ngai
3 AU
This course aims to equip you with (1) the foundational knowledge in statistics and statistical tools that are commonly employed in environmental sciences; (2) the ability to think numerically about data in environmental sciences and the world around you; (3) the proficiency in coding and executing statistical analyses in R. The course is a core module for ASE students specializing in ecology or society. It is designed for students of environmental science and those with little to no mathematics or statistics background. Concepts and skills taught in the module are generalizable, and especially useful in the data age we are now living in. The course will help to prepare you to conduct undergraduate research in environmental sciences (e.g., URECA, FYP), and more importantly, equip you with the ability and confidence to think and interact meaningfully with data around you in everyday life.
ES3201: Coupled Human and Natural Systems
Prof Janice Lee
3 AU
The course will introduce the study of coupled human and natural systems drawing primarily from land systems science research, which is the study of past, current, and projected state and dynamics of land use.
The course will focus on identifying social and ecological components and processes in coupled human and natural systems (used interchangeably with socioecological systems) and apply established frameworks to the study of connections and linkages across social and ecological realms.
The aims of this course are to apply established socioecological frameworks, develop a working knowledge of social science research methods and spatial analyses when studying coupled human and natural systems. Graduate students interested to make their research more applied and policy-relevant can consider taking this course.
ES3202: Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Systems
Prof Perrine Hamel
3 AU
The urban population is growing globally, creating or exacerbating major global environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. To understand the role that cities can play in mitigating these issues, this course aims to equip students with the basic knowledge and tools to analyze urban landscapes using the frameworks of resilience and ecosystem services. We will cover the major challenges that cities face in the 21st century and the role that nature-based solutions –promoting forests, parks, trees, green roofs– can play in addressing these challenges.
Through a group project, students will apply this knowledge in practice by articulating the potential for nature-based solutions and presenting an urban ecosystem services assessment for a case study of their choice.
ES4905: Environmental Science and Policy
Prof Zeng Yiwen
3 AU
Global environmental issues, such as pollution, deforestation, invasive species, biodiversity loss and climate change, affects nature and people alike. Environmental policy is crucial to address such issues. This course explores the history and fundamental principles of key environmental policies. This course will also delve into the relationship between environmental science and policy-making, examining how regulatory frameworks across various geographies adopt, interpret, and accommodate scientific information. Through a series of case studies, you (students) will gain insights into the science-policy interactions that arise in the management of natural resources and environmental risks. Key topics include air and water pollution, invasive species, the protection and management of natural ecosystems, global wildlife trade, and climate change. This is crucial for both environmental science and/or public policy majors intending to work in environment-related private, public or NGO sectors.
ES0002: Fundamentals of Data Science for Earth and Environmental Systems Science
Prof Luca Dal Zilio
3 AU
The goal of this class is to develop a working knowledge of data science and its use in earth systems research and practice. The course is split evenly between key concepts / theory and practical experience writing code and analyzing outputs. Some introductory knowledge of statistics is assumed, and some familiarity with programming is helpful but not required.
ES0238: Scientific Writing for Non-Scientists
Dr Pavel Adamek
2 AU
This course, which builds on ES0138, is designed to provide you with tools for writing in more engaging and impactful ways, and to familiarise you with authorial positioning. During the course, you will analyse written texts, and experiment with stylistic features, vocabulary choices, and grammatical structures to better understand how you can craft effective scientific messages for both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
To reach these aims, the course will be guided by four general tenets:
- Writing is intertwined with thinking. In academic writing, but also in writing beyond academia, you are expected not to simply display knowledge. You are also expected to demonstrate, firstly, knowledge transformation, which “means, among other things, being able to shape a piece of writing to achieve intended effects and to reorganize one’s knowledge in the process”1, and secondly, knowledge building, which is “the production and continual improvement of ideas of value to a community”.2
- Writing is a process of planning, writing, editing, and revising. These steps are recursive and often non-linear.3
- To make theoretical concepts meaningful, they need to be applied (a.k.a. learning by doing): Writing can hardly be learned by just listening to lectures.
- Teamwork (discussion) sharpens idea formulation and critique (not to mention that writing beyond the school environment may well be collaborative).
After each lesson, the theory will be applied in a draft group text, which will be revised after feedback and new class material. In some weeks, you will be asked to provide feedback on another group’s writing, since research indicates that peer reviewing improves the writing of those who provide feedback.4 By the end of the semester, you will have gained experience writing a text that can engage your reader more effectively. A secondary benefit of the group assignments is to prepare you for an individual paper at the end of the semester.
1Bereiter, C., & Scardamalia, M. (1987). The Psychology of Written Composition (p. 6). London: Routledge.
2Scardamalia, M., & Bereiter, C. (2003). Knowledge building. In Encyclopedia of education (2nd ed., pp. 1370–1373). New York: Macmillan Reference.
3Mewburn, I., Firth, K., & Lehmann, S. (2019). How to fix your academic writing trouble: A practical guide. London; New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
4Lundstrom, K., & Baker, W. (2009). To give is better than to receive: The benefits of peer review to the reviewer’s own writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 18, 30-43.
ES4003: Professional Internship
Prof Janelle Thompson
10 AU
This 20-week Professional Internship programme is offered as an optional course for all Environmental Earth Systems Science undergraduate students in Year 3 and Year 4.
The purpose of this Professional Internship is to enable the application of knowledge and skills you have learned in the university in an authentic work environment. This is such that you can gain relevant exposures and develop practical industry experiences and skills that will facilitate your career decision and future transition into your selected vocation. It aims for you to develop professional competencies that will enhance your employability and lifelong learning capabilities to support your career and life endeavours and your readiness for the future of work.
ES4007: Professional Attachment
Prof Aron Meltzner
5 AU
This 10-week Professional Attachment programme is offered as a compulsory course for all Environmental Earth Systems Science undergraduate students in Year 2, 3 and/or Year 4.
The purpose of this Professional Attachment is to enable the application of knowledge and skills you have learned in the university in an authentic work environment. This is such that you can gain relevant exposures and develop practical industry experiences and skills that will facilitate your career decision and future transition into your selected vocation. It aims for you to develop professional competencies that will enhance your employability and lifelong learning capabilities to support your career and life endeavours and your readiness for the future of work.
ES3008: E2S2 Research
Prof Janelle Thompson
3 AU
The goal of this course is to have you participate in research in close collaboration with a faculty, post-graduate student, or researcher. You will learn laboratory methods, about the scientific method, and about the specific project you are working on. You will gain a background in a specific scientific problem or research topic, learn about how this will be addressed, and participate in the research required to address this topic. This course will include a self-contained research project that can be completed over one semester. Continuing research over more semesters must include discrete projects that can be part of a greater whole. You may work on a project designed by your faculty supervisor or of your own design, with approval from their faculty supervisor. As part of this course, you must design a research-style report or poster for display, and deliver a short presentation regarding your research.
ES4002: Final Year Project
Prof David Lallemant
10 AU
Completing a Final Year Project provides the advanced research and project management training required to work in the Environmental Sciences field, either as a postgraduate, or in industry. Over a period of 1 or 2 semesters, students will learn to assess possible environmental issues and develop potential research questions. You will conduct research and collect data in field, lab or data collecting/processing settings, quantitatively analyses the data and interpret the results, taking into consideration wider issues and implications. The results will be presented both as a written report and as an oral presentation. The written report can then be used as part of your research portfolio for future job applications.
ES4111: Overseas Final Year Project
Prof David Lallemant
12 AU
Completing an 8-month research attachment in a reputable overseas university allows students to gain insights into the breadth and diversity of research work in an international environment, and build a global network. Students will work with distinguished researchers in world-class laboratories, and develop an understanding of the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a research project. Students will learn to critically review scientific literature, systematically collect data, and logically analyse results in a specialized area of study.
They will also develop and polish their oral and written communication skills. After going through the rigorous research process, students will be well-prepared for higher degree studies (Ph.D.).
ES4010: Teaching in E2S2
Prof Natasha Bhatia
4 AU
This course introduces you to academic teaching through hands-on practice acting as a teaching assistant for a class in E2S2 that you have previously taken. You will attend lectures, run labs or sections, respond to questions, prepare teaching materials, grade selected assignments, and assist in other duties as necessary (including field trips, etc.). The faculty in charge of the class will provide you with guidance and support. An additional 1-hour meeting will be held every other week by the course coordinators for all students to attend and discuss teaching strategies, expectations, challenges, and solutions.
ES5915/ES5916: Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus
URECA
4 AU
More information on the Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) can be found here.
ES1006: Introductory Field Experience
Prof Benoit Taisne
4 AU
This is a 2-week field course to Bali, Indonesia. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the techniques, strategies, and benefits of conducting field research in the earth systems science discipline. Students apply classroom knowledge and problem solving skills to real world examples in the field. Students study Batur Volcano, rice ecology, and coastal and marine ecology. This is a core class for ASE students in their first year.
ES3005: Advanced Field Geology
Prof Aron Meltzner
5 AU
This course will provide you with the essential skills required by all Geoscience based careers, and therefore benefit whichever career path you choose. The course aims to provide you with the knowledge to describe and map geological and geomorphic features in the field, reconstruct detailed histories of geological events from multiple lines of evidence, and link the observable rock record with active Earth processes. This course will challenge you to develop practical field skills in order to document and understand a wide variety of tectonic settings, time periods, and geological processes.
ES3201: Coupled Human and Natural Systems
Prof Janice Lee
3 AU
The course will introduce the study of coupled human and natural systems drawing primarily from land systems science research, which is the study of past, current, and projected state and dynamics of land use.
The course will focus on identifying social and ecological components and processes in coupled human and natural systems (used interchangeably with socioecological systems) and apply established frameworks to the study of connections and linkages across social and ecological realms.
The aims of this course are to apply established socioecological frameworks, develop a working knowledge of social science research methods and spatial analyses when studying coupled human and natural systems.
Graduate students interested to make their research more applied and policy-relevant can consider taking this course.
ES3302: Tropical Ecology
Prof Eleanor Slade
3 AU
Tropical forests are the most diverse ecosystems on earth, supporting over 50% of all biodiversity. They play a major role in regulating global climates and are key to the livelihood of a substantial proportion of the world’s human population. However, they are also among the most threatened of all biomes. Understanding the ecology and evolution of tropical forests, and people’s dependence on these habitats is fundamental to their future management and conservation. This course will help you appreciate how conducting experiments and surveys in the field is critical to understanding and using the theory you learn in the classroom. The course presents the natural history and ecology of tropical forests through practical exercises, lectures, site visits, tutorials, small group project work and (most importantly), day to day experience in the field. You will learn survey techniques for monitoring plants, vertebrates and invertebrates and ecosystem functions, visit and discuss large-scale experiments, forest management and restoration sites, and explore the importance of evidence-based science for conservation and management of tropical ecosystems.
ES3304: Advanced Placement in Ecology and Society
Dr Shawn Lum
2 AU
This course aims to support you in developing the requisite skills to interpret patterns and processes in the field, and perform successful field work. During a field trip in Taiwan, combined with follow-up activities, you will learn to assess the factors that drive the structure and functioning of ecosystems, help frame research questions, conduct field work, process the data and interpret the results, as you would do working in an Environmental Sciences field. As such it will help put principles learned in the classroom into practice. Through this project you will essentially learn the importance of project management including prioritisation, time and resources management and liaising between different people.
ES4004: Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme (12 months)
NTU Entrepreneurship Academy
20 AU
More information on the Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme (OEP) can be found here.
ES4006: Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme (6 months)
NTU Entrepreneurship Academy
11 AU
More information on the Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme (OEP) can be found
here.
Note: Specialisation Core Courses, Research Projects, Teaching Assistantship courses, Overseas Field courses and Internship courses may also be used to fulfil your Major Prescribed Elective (MPE) and/or Broadening and Deepening Elective (BDE) requirements. In addition to the elective courses listed below, students are encouraged to browse the respective sections above for additional elective options.
ES3006: Space Geodesy
Prof Feng Lujia
3 AU
This course is designed to introduce you to the field of geodesy, with a particular emphasis on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), one of the most important geodetic methods. The course begins with an introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of geodesy, followed by a broad overview of various geodetic methods and data. You will learn how these methods are used to study geohazards and climate change, along with their strengths and limitations. The course then delves into the diverse applications of GNSS in Earth and environmental sciences, including GNSS deformation for tectonics and volcanology, GNSS meteorology for weather and climate studies, GNSS ionospheric seismology for earthquake and tsunami early warnings, GNSS interferometric reflectometry (GNSS-IR) for measuring sea-level rise and soil moisture, and GNSS Transmissometry (GNSS-T) for studying ecosystems.
ES3203: The Genome and Society
Prof Kim Hie Lim
3 AU
This course offers an introduction to genomics and human genetics, with a strong emphasis on their implications for individuals, society, and the environment. It is designed for students interested in understanding how genomics has transformed science and society since the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2010.
You should take this course if you are curious about:
- The exponential growth of the genomics field—driven by advances in genome sequencing technology—and how it has reshaped various scientific disciplines and aspects of human life.
- Genetic variation among individuals, and how these differences manifest in traits, disease susceptibility, and responses to pathogens. You will also explore how genomics is revolutionizing personalized medicine by enabling the diagnosis and treatment of diseases based on individual genomes.
- The role of genomics in environmental science and sustainability, where it has emerged as a powerful tool for studying biodiversity, species conservation, and ecosystem health.
This course is especially relevant for students considering careers in public health, life sciences, medicine, insurance, risk assessment, environmental policy, and related fields. You will explore how genome sequencing technologies are reshaping social systems—such as decisions around marriage, pregnancy, and health insurance—through access to personal genetic information.
You will critically examine how genomic data intersects with identity, ancestry, politics, and policy-making. We will discuss current trends, including national initiatives to collect population-level genome and health data, and their implications for public health infrastructure, big data management, and economics.
Furthermore, the course highlights the importance of biodiversity and explores how genomics can inform policies for building a sustainable society. Ultimately, you will gain an understanding of how the accumulation of genomic data may influence your own health and life over the long term.
By the end of the course, you will:
- Gain foundational knowledge in genomics and its applications,
- Reflect on your personal values related to life technologies,
- Develop creative thinking around how to communicate complex scientific ideas to the public,
- Appreciate the significance of diversity—both within human populations and across nature.
You will also have the unique opportunity to hear directly from scientists who are actively working in the field, offering real-world perspectives and inspiration.
ES3306: Global Change Ecology
Prof Zeng Yiwen
3 AU
Global change drivers, such as pollution, land-use change, biological invasions, and climate change, are reshaping ecological systems across the world. Understanding how these drivers affect ecosystems, communities, populations and organisms is central to modern ecology. This course examines the ecological consequences of global change and the ways in which researchers study these processes across multiple spatial and temporal scales. The course explores key drivers of global change and their individual and combined effects on ecological systems, using examples from a wide range of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Through lectures, data-driven tutorials, and case studies, you will gain experience working with real-world ecological data and develop an understanding of how ecological theory, macroecological patterns, and empirical analyses are used to interpret global change impacts. This course is particularly relevant for environmental science majors and students interested in research, conservation, or environment-related careers in the public, private, or non-governmental sectors.
ES3801: Biogeochemistry
Prof Thomas Blattmann
3 AU
This course aims to teach the interplay between biology, chemistry and the environment shape our Earth system. The course will both teach you the fundamental concepts of biogeochemistry during weekly lectures, but will also challenge you to think critically push towards new scientific frontiers. We will cover the biogeochemistry of both terrestrial and aquatic systems and analytical techniques for advancing our knowledge. Throughout the course, we will consider how humans are shaping the biogeochemistry of the Earth, such as via eutrophication, ocean acidification, or effects of rising temperatures. As an advanced-level course, there will be a significant emphasis on reading and discussing original research papers. Moreover, as part of the assessment, you will prepare a group presentation on a selected research proposal topic which includes a written proposal, and also write a separate review article or essay on a different biogeochemical topic.
ES3802: The Urban Environment: Issues, Assessment, & Management
Prof Steve Yim
3 AU
This course serves as an introduction to the key environmental problems faced by urban populations and is designed for students of all majors who have an interest in urbanization and sustainability. Topics will integrate the knowledge of the basic science, assessment methods and management of four major environment problems in urban areas. The key concepts of environment sustainability will be illustrated with case studies which will be examined to illustrate the complexity of these issues. During the lectures, the relevant sustainable development goals will be introduced.
ES4201: Environmental Management and Valuation
Dr Natasha Bhatia
3 AU
To provide in depth knowledge on techniques that can be used to quantify and value environmental resources, and the management strategies that can be implemented for different systems. Students will spend a one hour lecture learning a concept theory or technique, then a 2 hour tutorial will be spent applying the theory or concept to a real world scenario.
ES4301: Conservation Biology & Biodiversity
Dr Shawn Lum
3 AU
This course starts by giving the students various definitions and measures of biodiversity. Throughout the course, the students will learn the importance of conservation and environmental impact assessments during the planning stages of large development projects. They will understand why it is important to prevent species extinction, what happens when a keystone taxon goes extinct and how this influences ecosystem dynamics. By the end of the course, the students will also gain an appreciation of how can the establishment of protected reserves limit the impact of other threats to biodiversity such as habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation.
ES4302: Introduction to Earth Environmental Simulations and the Applications
Prof Steve Yim
3 AU
The aim of this course is to introduce the basic knowledge of earth environmental model simulations. Numerical models serve as important tools for earth environmental research and operations. While the topic of earth environmental modelling is broad, this course will focus on the fundamental concepts of numerical modelling, such as temporal and spatial discretizations, parameterizations, model uncertainty and evaluation. Various components of earth system model will be introduced, including atmospheric general circulation model, regional climate model, weather prediction and land surface model, oceanic general circulation model, air quality model, health assessment model and integrated assessment model. In addition, this course will discuss numerical model design, application and testing. Practical exercises such as weather forecast and air quality prediction are also provided for students to gain technical skills and hands-on experience in modelling.
Particular aims are shown as follows:
• to understand basic concepts and theories of earth environmental modelling,
• to learn numerical model design, application and testing,
• to gain technical skills and practical experiences of earth environmental modelling,
• to select appropriate models for solving given earth environmental problems, and
• to apply the knowledge of numerical modelling on their research and career.
ES4303: Marine & Aquatic Ecology
Prof Kyle Morgan
3 AU
This course builds on the basic concepts learned in Introduction to Ecology and will allow you, the student, to apply these to Marine and Freshwater ecosystems. In this course you will become familiar with the major processes, systems and impacts associated with marine and freshwater habitats and related taxa of organisms, and how these habitats and organisms interact.
ES4304: Eyes on Earth - Satellite Remote Sensing
Prof Yun Sang-Ho
3 AU
This course aims to cultivate students’ satellite remote sensing literacy – ability to analyse, interpret, and communicate satellite remote sensing products. By the end of the course, students will become experienced in handling these products and in communicating their findings to stakeholders and policymakers.
We will delve into the physical principles underlying various remote sensing techniques through a balanced combination of lectures and tutorials. While a basic understanding of electromagnetic waves will be beneficial, it is not a prerequisite.
Throughout the course, we will explore key methods of remote sensing, including optical, multi/hyper-spectral, and microwave sensing. Students will gain hands-on experience in identifying and measuring geometrical, physical, and chemical parameters of the Earth’s surface. These skills are invaluable for applications such as environmental monitoring, hazard assessment, and addressing the impacts of climate change.
ES4901: Oceanography
Prof Patrick Martin
3 AU
The oceans cover 75% of our planet’s surface area, and consequently play a major role in the Earth System. They also present a fascinating environment that is physically, chemically, and biologically different from the land environment we humans are used to. The objectives of this course are to provide a strong foundation in the principles of oceanography, with a primary focus on physical and chemical oceanography at a global scale, and throughout the full depth of the ocean. The course will begin by considering physical ocean circulation, including interactions between the ocean and climate. We will then examine ocean chemistry and its interactions with ocean biology, especially nutrient cycling, biological production and decomposition, and ocean carbon uptake. As part of that, we will consider how chemical tracers can shed light on oceanographic processes. This course is aimed at postgraduate students: if you are doing research work relating to physical, chemical, or biological oceanography then this course will provide foundational knowledge and analysis skills to help you with your research. If you are an MSc by Coursework student, then this course will deepen your expertise in ocean sciences to set you up for a possible career path in environmental science-related work that may involve ocean-related issues.
ES4906: Environmental Hydrology
Prof Pierre Taillardat
3 AU
This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the processes that govern water movement, distribution, and quality in natural and human-influenced systems. You will understand key hydrological concepts such as river dynamics, groundwater flow, water balance, water chemistry and the impact of climate change on water resources.
The course is ideal for students interested in environmental science who want to gain both theoretical knowledge in physical hydrology and practical skills in field data collection and hydrological analysis.
By taking this course, you will gain knowledge and experience relevant to careers in water resources management, environmental consultancy, conservation, and research, making it relevant for anyone looking to address global water challenges.
ES2201: Law & Economics, Sustainable Development, & Environmental Protection
3 AU
Next offering TBD
The discipline of Law & Economics, and its application of economic analysis to law, provides a useful framework for understanding and evaluating sustainability and environmental policies. In its simplest and most direct form, Law & Economics is about using law and policy to create incentives so that markets and market actors function and behave optimally, including for the production of socially optimal levels of environmental protection and sustainability. This course is designed to give students from all disciplines an introduction to Law & Economics in the context of environmental protection and sustainable development. The course builds a foundation for understanding Law & Economics by
- introducing some relevant legal systems and environmental regulatory frameworks (US, EU, and ASEAN),
- discussing key market actors and stakeholders and their relationships to each other and within existing legal institutions,
- examining key aspects of economic markets and market failures that relate to creating more effective incentives, laws, and policies for sustainability and environmental protection, and
- understanding the multidisciplinary and culturally dynamic nature of sustainability of which law and governance is one important pillar.
With this foundation, the course explores several specific topics of Law & Economics related to Property Law, Contract Law, Torts, and Criminal Law as they support and intersect with environmental protection, sustainable economic development, and other social goals of making the everyday activities and choices of key social stakeholders greener and more sustainable (for example, within our cities, in consumer behavior, with respect to economic production, and in the key roles for corporations and businesses).
Throughout all modules and lessons, the course takes a specific interest in applying (directly, comparatively, and through many current examples and case studies) all of these subjects to the ongoing experience of Asia, the ASEAN region, and Singapore. By the end of the course, you will have new analytical perspectives and approaches for how Law & Economics can be applied to understanding and creating solutions to many local, regional, and global environmental impact challenges that now confront us as both major problems and substantial innovation and economic opportunities.
ES2304: Microbes on Natural Ecosystems
3 AU
Next offering TBD
Microbial communities are the life support system of our biosphere. Microorganisms date back to the origin of life on Earth and they will likely exist well beyond any future extinction events. They can be found in every environment on Earth that is occupied by macroscopic organisms and are the unique life forms in ‘extreme’ environments (e.g. deep sea vents, earth interior). This is an introductory course that will explore how microbes play key roles in and support the complex ecosystems we find in our biosphere. Through the lectures and lab tutorials, Microbes on natural ecosystems will provide you with background knowledge on fundamentals of microbiology, origin and diversity of microbial world, common methods to study microbes in their environment, how microorganisms control the chemistry of Earth, how microorganisms affect and will be affected by global climate change and how conservation biologists and microbial scientists can work together to preserve our biosphere. By the end of this course, you will appreciate and understand the importance of microbial processes to maintain a healthy global ecosystem. This course will be also open to graduate students who wish to improve and/or overview their knowledge on microbiology and microbial ecology.
ES3101: Petroleum Geology
3 AU
Next offering TBD
This course aims at introducing the petroleum system. You will discover how hydrocarbons are formed, how they migrate to accumulate into reservoirs, and how petroleum scientists pinpoint, recover, and process petroleum products. By bridging the tools of structural geology, sedimentology, field geology, stratigraphy, and basin analysis to the study of petroleum systems, you will learn how to apply geological principles to the study, exploration, and exploitation (drilling process) of petroleum resources, and become acquainted with the main geological methods used for oil and gas exploration. In addition, you will be offered the opportunity to become Student Members of the South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society and attend the bimonthly meetings in Singapore, where you are encouraged to network with petroleum professionals and discuss internships and career prospects. As a result, you will not only gain knowledge in the field of petroleum, but also have increased career opportunities as a petroleum professional.
ES3102: Global Tectonics
3 AU
Next offering TBD
The word ‘tectonics’ refers to the myriad of processes that have progressively shaped, and continue to shape, Earth’s solid surface and interior. Tectonic processes are fundamentally about motion: rocks move from one place to another as part of a rigid plate, or are squeezed like toothpaste in a collision zone, or erode from regions of uplift and are deposited as sediment in regions of subsidence, or rise toward the surface from regions of mantle melting. The integration of these motions over time has produced the highly complex crust of Earth that we observe today. This course will cover global-scale tectonic processes and systems, with a focus on active tectonic environments where rich observational data can be mined for a better understanding of processes. Students will develop fluency with tectonic elements and processes through readings of seminal papers, interactive lectures and in-class discussions, and computational laboratory exercises based on real-world data. Each student will adopt a different active tectonic region of Earth and will progressively develop a deep understanding of its origin, evolution, and tectonic environments, culminating in a final report and presentation.
This course aims to:
- expose you to the major topics in global tectonics
- engage you in reading primary literature to support active learning
- build skills in geospatial and data analysis relevant to tectonics using free and open source software and in-house codes
- develop fluency in tectonic concepts through individual student projects focusing on specific areas of Earth
ES3103: Sea-Level Rise & Coastal Processes
2 AU
Next offering TBD
This course aims to provide you with the understanding of the processes that control variations in sea level. You will learn about how sea level changes through time and space, and how understanding the past and the present is key to predicting the future. You will undertake a field trip, to better gain experience in how sediments archive records of the past. You will also carry out a group project on the relationship between global, regional and local sea-level change.
ES3305: Current Issues in Ecology
3 AU
Next offering TBD
This is an advanced ecology course, and as such it builds on the foundations and theory that you have been exposed to in ecology courses in your first two years. Because it is an advanced course, the aim is to get you to think critically and to apply your knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations, rather than just memorize facts. As such, you will be introduced to a series of 12 cutting edge topics including those currently under debate, and will expected to critically assess them. A large part of the course will also be to write a review or opinion article on a fast moving topic in ecology.
ES4904: Volcanology
3 AU
Next offering TBD
You will learn the foundations of volcanology as a science, will discover the state-of-the-art tools that are available for research, and will apply and therefore build a new set of skills related to these tools.
