Daugavpils University

Environmental Science

The aim of the programme is to ensure self-dependent studies of the students matriculated in Daugavpils University by imparting theoretical knowledge in environmental science and in its branches and developing students’ scientific-research skills and abilities and, consequently, providing them with higher academic education and opportunities to continue studies in master’s programme.
To achieve the aim set by the study programme several tasksshould be fulfilled, the more important of them being:

• to provide the opportunity for the students to qualitatively and successfully acquire the study programme by integrating into the study process various branches of environmental, geographical, Earth and other natural sciences and by maintaining the interrelationship between theory and practice;
• to introduce students to the regularities of the environmental science, to the system and most essential factual material of environmental science, which will later enable students to independently solve environmental problems and find answers to theoretical and/or practical questions;
• to broaden students’ knowledge of the interrelationships existing between the nature environment and its basic components (waters, relief, fauna and flora, climate etc.), of their diversity and evolution as well as of their importance for the existence of mankind and life  as such on the planet of Earth;
• to develop the understanding about the territorial organization of the human society, about the population, economy and tendencies of its development, of the impact made by the modern civilization upon the environment;
• to offer a wide range of elective courses which would correspond with students’ interests and their scientific specialization;
• to develop and reinforce abilities and skills of scientific research while doing laboratory research and field courses and the ability to independently organize the research, obtain and process the data, to carry out monitoring of environmental indicators and write reports on scientific research;
• to promote the cooperation between the students and the academic staff, involving the students in research, scientific projects financed by the EU and RL and in the activities of research laboratories;
• to strengthen the links between Daugavpils University and local governments of the Latgale region by carrying out contract-based research and practical jobs (evaluation of environmental impact, research on environmental quality indicators, environmental monitoring and mapping, GIS-oriented practical products and data bases etc.);
• to provide the opportunity for the students matriculated in the study programme to acquire practical skills of using up-to-date scientific equipment and measuring instruments and the latest products of information technologies (software and hardware) which all meet the EU requirements and ISO standards;
• to constantly renew, supplement and improve material-technical base of the study programme;
• to carry out the above mentioned tasks by involving highly qualified academic staff, specialists of other Latvian and foreign research and education institutions in the implementation of the study programme.

As a result of the programme’s acquisition, the graduate will acquire and be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge:
Students are able to demonstrate understanding of basic and specialized knowledge in environmental science and its sub-branches and understanding of most essential concepts and regularities in:

• interaction between humans and environment and regularity of environmental science;
• integrative and interdisciplinary nature of environmental science, sub-branches of environmental science;
• methodology, problems, research methods and their application in environmental science;
• local, regional and global environmental problems;
• solutions of environmental problems and possibilities to avoid them.

Students are able to demonstrate basic and specialized knowledge in the interdisciplinary aspect of environmental science as well as understanding of most essential concepts and regularities about:

• the planet Earth, its geographical cover and some geo-spheres or systems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere) and their interaction;
• the flux and cycle of matter and energy in the geographical cover of Earth, human impact on these processes;
• natural resources, their classification, provision and necessity of reasonable use;
• environmental pollution, its kinds and sources, methods of determining the environmental pollution and environmental monitoring;
• the impact of human activities on natural environment, environmental economy, products and services of ecosystems.

Skills:
Students are able:

• to apply the acquired knowledge when fulfilling theoretical and practical tasks and doing research in environmental science;
• to solve environmental problems and understand impacts on the environment and processes of interaction in  the environment in the interdisciplinary context;
• to plan, manage and implement independent study, research and public activities;
• to interpret and critically evaluate the results obtained from the conducted research;
• to summarize, analyse and select information and geospatial data relating to environmental science from scientific literature, publications and electronic media;
• to substantiate the research themes, research object or problem and the choice of research methodology.
• to apply adequate research methods, equipment and instruments in cameral, laboratory and field research;
• to carry out the research independently and obtain results;
• to process statistically and analyze mathematically, graphically and geospatially the data obtained in the research, to interpret the obtained results;
• to critically evaluate the research results and plan further research;
• to approbate and present the research results at scientific conferences and in publications;
• to participate in scientific communication and in popularizing the basic findings and positions of Environmental Science.

Competence:
Students are able independently:

• to have an interdisciplinary approach to environmental problems and their possible resolving within the context of sustainable and balanced development;
• to consider the environmental ethics the basis of the interaction between the human society and natural environment;
• to demonstrate interest, understanding and tolerance in respect of other peoples’ ideas and results of their activities;
• to feel responsibility for the precision and adherence to the scientific principle in one’s own activities;
• to adhere to the principle of correctness and good fellowship;
• to work in a team and be communicable;
• to possess emotional self-regulation;
• to demonstrate wish to improve one’s knowledge and skills in the respective scientific or professional field;
• to be informed about the topical tendencies in environmental science and its sub-branches, to regularly study the latest scientific literature and periodicals.