Teaching
I currently teach the following courses in the Department of Geography of Hong Kong Baptist University:
GDSS 1037 - People and the Environment
This course serves as an introduction to the topic of the relationship between the physical environment and human populations. Different aspects will be looked at. First, the dependence of people upon the physical environment, and how this has been decreasing as the technology available has been developing. Second, we will look at the impact that people have on the physical environment, both from a global perspective (global warming) and a local perspective (e.g. deforestation and desertification). Third, we will consider approaches developed to make the use of the physical environment more sustainable (e.g. cost-benefit analysis). Fourth, we will look at the ways in which people organise institutions to improve the management of that physical environment (e.g. through the UNCLOS-Law of the sea). The course will integrate different aspects of human and physical geography. A problem-oriented approach will be adopted, with a balanced emphasis between theory and practice. The course will also give students a useful background for taking additional courses in the Geography Department.
GEOG 4047 - Resource Management in China
This course introduces the concepts, knowledge and skills in natural resource evaluation and management, with the emphasis the real-world cases in China. The course is presented in two major parts. The first part begins with the introduction to the concepts about the natural resources and their distribution in China. This is followed by an extensive study on methodology for land and water resource evaluation. The second part presents details about the nature, distribution and utilisation of natural resources in China. Environmental conservation and sustainable development in relation to natural resources are also discussed. Laboratory work for this course focus on resource assessment methods with the aid of remote sensing and geographical
information system (GIS) technology.
GEOG 4087 - Natural Resource Evaluation and Policy Approaches
Most environmental problems, whether local or global, are the result of a complex set of interactions between natural processes and economic activities. This course provides students with a theoretical base and practical appreciation of the concepts and methods of environmental and natural resource evaluation relevant to policy decisions and research. The aim of the course is to introduce students to approaches used to estimate the value of natural resources, and to make decisions as to their allocation, conservation, or transformation. The objectives of the course are: 1) To teach students the main methods used to estimate the value of non-marketed environmental goods and services; to teach students the main advantages and disadvantages of each method, and the variations of each method. 2) To provide practical examples, through a review of the literature, of ways in which these methods are being applied in different settings and countries. 3) To give an idea of the policy implications of employing economic evaluation approaches to resource management, in terms of social justice, asset allocation, and considerations regarding conservation versus transformation of natural resources.
GDSS 1037 - People and the Environment
This course serves as an introduction to the topic of the relationship between the physical environment and human populations. Different aspects will be looked at. First, the dependence of people upon the physical environment, and how this has been decreasing as the technology available has been developing. Second, we will look at the impact that people have on the physical environment, both from a global perspective (global warming) and a local perspective (e.g. deforestation and desertification). Third, we will consider approaches developed to make the use of the physical environment more sustainable (e.g. cost-benefit analysis). Fourth, we will look at the ways in which people organise institutions to improve the management of that physical environment (e.g. through the UNCLOS-Law of the sea). The course will integrate different aspects of human and physical geography. A problem-oriented approach will be adopted, with a balanced emphasis between theory and practice. The course will also give students a useful background for taking additional courses in the Geography Department.
GEOG 4047 - Resource Management in China
This course introduces the concepts, knowledge and skills in natural resource evaluation and management, with the emphasis the real-world cases in China. The course is presented in two major parts. The first part begins with the introduction to the concepts about the natural resources and their distribution in China. This is followed by an extensive study on methodology for land and water resource evaluation. The second part presents details about the nature, distribution and utilisation of natural resources in China. Environmental conservation and sustainable development in relation to natural resources are also discussed. Laboratory work for this course focus on resource assessment methods with the aid of remote sensing and geographical
information system (GIS) technology.
GEOG 4087 - Natural Resource Evaluation and Policy Approaches
Most environmental problems, whether local or global, are the result of a complex set of interactions between natural processes and economic activities. This course provides students with a theoretical base and practical appreciation of the concepts and methods of environmental and natural resource evaluation relevant to policy decisions and research. The aim of the course is to introduce students to approaches used to estimate the value of natural resources, and to make decisions as to their allocation, conservation, or transformation. The objectives of the course are: 1) To teach students the main methods used to estimate the value of non-marketed environmental goods and services; to teach students the main advantages and disadvantages of each method, and the variations of each method. 2) To provide practical examples, through a review of the literature, of ways in which these methods are being applied in different settings and countries. 3) To give an idea of the policy implications of employing economic evaluation approaches to resource management, in terms of social justice, asset allocation, and considerations regarding conservation versus transformation of natural resources.