UWA Handbook 2024

Minor Overview

About this minor

Feeding the world into the future is a key global challenge as the human population continues to increase in the face of climate change and approaching environmental limits. In this Minor, students will explore the drivers of global food security, and population health and nutrition from numerous standpoints. The fundamental principles of food production, such as nutrient flows, are emphasised along with the environmental impacts of food production and the cultural drivers behind issues such as production system change, adoption of new technology, diet choices and recognition and remediation of environmental impact. Historical case studies will be explored to broaden understanding of current issues such as conflict over fresh water, fisheries management, loss of biodiversity, climate change, animal welfare and ethical diet choices. The need for strong science will be demonstrated and emphasised. Students will be challenged to explore innovative solutions to current and future challenges on scales ranging from local to global. The Minor will enhance work-readiness of STEM and non-STEM students as emerging professionals by broadening discipline specific knowledge and skills in contexts they might otherwise not encounter. The structure of this multidisciplinary Minor will prepare students to be adaptable and socially engaged citizens. For students taking a minor which shares units with their other unit sets (majors or minors): in order for minors to be recognised on academic and graduation documents, students may only have a maximum of one unit overlapping between their unit sets.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe the major crops grown around the globe, their production systems and the key factors that determine yield and environmental impact; (2) demonstrate an understanding of how human health around the globe is linked to diet; (3) explain how culture impacts the foods we eat and the manner by which food is produced; (4) demonstrate a broad knowledge of current high profile issues in global food production and human health; (5) demonstrate an understanding of the importance of strong science as a basis for change; and (6) critically evaluate innovative and diverse solutions to the key threats to feeding the world into the future.

Units