Pollution in Practice
Want to learn the necessary skills and knowledge to solve some of the greatest environmental pollution challenges of our time?
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About the course
Want to learn the necessary skills and knowledge to solve some of the greatest environmental pollution challenges of our time?
This course prepares students to work on the environmental challenges presented by pollution today and in the future, from the government and industry experts that live it daily.
Students will learn how pollution is regulated, assessed, and mitigated. You will develop skills to apply this knowledge in the field.
A background in chemistry is not required. The content is aimed at third year students from a broad range of disciplines. It is going to take a broad range of disciplines to solve the complex pollution problems of today and tomorrow.
Guest Lecturers
Pat GiItrap
Canberra Metro Construction
Light rail, heavy issues—explore how cities tackle pollution in real time with Pat Giltrap and the Canberra Light Rail Stage 2A construction.
Sharmin Akter
Fenner School of Environment & Society
Toxic exposure isn't equal. Discover how chemical pollution affects the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Dr Julia Jasonsmith
Fenner School of Environment & Societyy/Murrang Earth Sciences
From toxic tailings to courtroom wins—learn pollution science that makes change
Bernice Wu
Future Innovation Lab, National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science
It’s not sci-fi. Journey through the ‘parallel worlds’ of pollution risks using three scientific lenses with Bernice (Bangle) Wu.
Dr James Latimer
Research Fellow, Systems Ecology, University of Canberra
Get your hands dirty (safely) while learning about soil contaminants and their real-world implications.
Dr Ian Musgrave
School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide
Understand the real-world implications of environmental toxins.
Dr Jackie Wright
EnRiskS and Flinders University
Discover the science behind evaluating chemical risks to human health.
Dr Andrew Harford
Water and Sediment Quality Team, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Real-world ecotoxicology, how we predict pollution impacts using laboratory and field studies with Andrew Harford.
Dr Tiyana Jovanovic
Humanitarian Changemakers Network
From vision to impact: Learn the steps to drive meaningful social change.
Dr Ian Musgrave
School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide
Understand the real-world implications of environmental toxins.
Professor Darren Sinclair
Centre for Environmental Governance, University of Canberra
Explore innovative approaches to environmental policy with a leading expert in the field.
Associate Professor Larissa Schneider
School of Culture, History & Language, Australian National University
Trace the journey of trace metals from ancient uses to modern pollution with A/Prof Larissa Schneider.
Dru Marsh
Environment Protection Agency, Victoria
Learn how environmental regulators turn policy into action from a leader who helped write the rules.
More info
Pollution in Practice is a Spring Intensive course and runs from 1 - 12th September 2025.
If you are wondering how this course may fit in with your majors and current degree, you can get in touch with Craig Strong at craig.strong@anu.edu.au. There is always scope and flexibility to incorporate a new course into your degree framework.
How to enroll
ANUHub: ENVS3003
Testimonials
James Taylor, studying a Bachelor of Environment & Society (Majors in Chemistry and Environmental Science)
"Pollution in practice sounds like it could be intimidating, but it's really fun and welcoming - even as a 3000 level class. It is set up so that anyone can enroll and take away something valuable, even if you aren't a chemistry student and even if you haven't taken an environmental subject before. Intensive courses enable greater flexibility than semester-long courses. You should take this course!"
Key people
Dr Julia Jasonsmith and Associate Professor Larissa Schneider teach Pollution in Practice and bring in a wide range of experts in the field to guest lecture.
Dr Julia Jasonsmith
Julia has worked on applied environmental projects in numerous countries, accumulating knowledge and experience that encompasses environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, and catchment management. She has applied these core expertise in a broad range of fields including agriculture, ecology, and contaminated lands. She has more than a decade's experience in consulting, research, and project management. She has been Director of Murrang Earth Sciences, a company that works on different aspects of pollution, since 2013.
Associate Professor Larissa Schneider
Assoc. Prof Schneider is an environmental scientist interested in understanding the role of past climate changes and human activities on tropical and temperate ecosystems. Her research focuses on the geochemistry of freshwater lake sediments to reveal long-term interactions between humans, climate and metal contamination using the information stored in the bottom of lakes. This information sheds light on past climate changes, the role of human colonisation in the landscape, the magnitude of impacts from industry and other processes.