Our Changing Planet: Understanding Climate Change and its Impact on the World
At a Glance
- Classroom course (South Kensington)
- 10 weeks | October - December
- Tuesdays 18:00 - 20:00
- Fees from £135
- Tutor: Stav Friedman
Enrolment deadline
For this course:
- 26 September 2023
Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing our society today – but how does it even work? And what can be done about it?
On this 10-week course, environmental scientist, Stav Friedman, will explore our planet’s changing climate with a focus on nature, science, society – and solutions.
The course will cover the basics of climate science, from global warming to greenhouse gases, and dive into the ways that governments, communities, individuals and businesses are both impacted by and contributing to climate change. On this course, you will learn what causes climate change, how it effects our environment (animals, natural habitats) and how it is effecting peoples’ lives around the world. We will address issues like climate justice and climate migration, discuss movements like Extinction Rebellion, and host a lecture and Q&A session with a climate scientist from the Grantham Institute: Climate Change and the Environment.
Topics will be explored through interactive sessions, games, group activities, discussions, videos, news articles and an examination of real-life case studies. Throughout the course, your tutor will help you build your own plan to reduce your carbon footprint, as each session will offer ideas and suggestions for taking action against climate change.
All backgrounds are welcome - there is no need for a previous knowledge in science or climate change to take this course. There is also no assigned textbook for this course, however there will be suggested newspaper articles, videos, websites and other media to read or watch in order to aid your learning and experience. Your tutor utilises interactive and engaging techniques to teach this course – prepare to get off your seats and think about the world – and its changing climate – in new and exciting ways.
Although this is a classroom-taught course, please note that one or two sessions may be held live online.
Class Recordings
These classes are not recorded
Attendance Certificate
Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate
Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment
Course Information
Course Programme
Course Programme (subject to possible minor modification)
- Week 1 - What is climate?
- Week 2 - Climate change history & anthropogenic climate change
- Week 3 – Climate change impacts on wildlife & nature
- Week 4 - Climate change, environmental pollution
- Week 5 - Climate change, social justice and the global south
- Week 6 - UNFCCC, COPs & The Paris Agreement
- Week 7 – Climate change, consumption & (un)sustainable business
- Week 8 - Sustainable food & agriculture
- Week 9 - Sustainable homes & energy saving
- Week 10 - Climate denialists, heroes & next steps!
Although this is a classroom-taught course, please note that one or two sessions may be held live online.
There is no recommended advanced reading for this course. Your tutor will provide weekly recommended videos, documentaries, podcasts, articles and books which are all optional.
Your Tutor
Stav Friedman is an adept environmental scientist, passionate about policy, plastic pollution and climate change. She started her career working on sea turtle conservation projects in the Caribbean and Central America. She has worked around the world as a marine biologist, environmental activist and educator, before landing in London to gain her Master’s in Climate Change: Environment, Science and Policy from King’s College London in 2020.
Stav has founded a non-profit focused on reducing plastic pollution, has both won and subsequently mentored at the Climate-KIC Climathon (climate hackathons) and hosted an Environment Talks educational workshop series at the Impact Hub King’s Cross. Stav has worked in climate change roles in local government, NGOs and grassroots organisations covering projects surrounding air pollution, circular economy, coral reef restoration, endangered species conservation, environmental education, marine protected area (MPA) management, plastic pollution and sustainable business. Stav has been working for Imperial College London’s Environmental Research Group as a Project Manager since September 2021.
Course Fees and Rate Categories
| Weeks | Standard Rate | Internal Rate | Associate Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Early Bird: £226 Full price: £252 |
Early Bird: £135 Full price: £150 |
Early Bird: £178 Full price: £198 |
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| All fee rates quoted are for the whole course. Early Bird rates available 1 August to 30 September only. Part-payments are not possible. | |||||
Rate Categories and Discounts
Standard Rate
- Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.
Internal Rate
- Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
- People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
- Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
- Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
- Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School
Associate Rate
- Austrian Cultural Forum staff
- Co-operative College members
- Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
- Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
- Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
- Friends of the Royal College of Music
- Harrods staff
- Historic Royal Palaces staff
- Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
- Members of the Friends of Imperial College
- Members of the Kennel Club
- Members of the London Zoological Society
- Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
- Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- National Health Service (NHS) employees
- Natural History Museum staff
- Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
- Royal Geographical Society staff
- Science Museum staff
- Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
- Students (non-Imperial College)
- Teachers and other staff of UK schools
- Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
- Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum staff
Late enrolment
It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.
Friends and Family Scheme
This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.
Term Dates 2023-24
| Weeks | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Week commencing 2 October to week ending 9 December 2023* | n/a | n/a | ||
| *This is a 1-term course | |||||
Enrolment Process
Web enrolment starts 1 August 2023. Early bird discounts are available from 1 August to 30 September 2023
Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:
- Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
- If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.
When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:
| What is sent | When is it sent | What does it contain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Payment confirmation | Is sent straight away following submission of your online application |
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| 2. Enrolment confirmation | Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received |
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| 3. Programme information | Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts |
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Any Questions?
If you have any questions about the academic content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Stav Friedman, s.friedman@imperial.ac.uk
If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk