Course summary

Pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss are three of the key environmental challenges now recognised as environmental emergencies by the United Nations (UN). These global emergencies exacerbate inequalities across society and will continue to have significant health and socioeconomic consequences. Effectively, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be achieved without addressing the root causes and understanding the threats posed by these emergencies. This requires investment in people and talent, equipping them with the multi- and transdisciplinary knowledge and skills needed to help solve these societal challenges, building up our social and natural capital. This programme looks to raise your ability to understand and analyse complex interlinked environmental issues, in order to develop long-term solutions. You will develop advanced technical skills and build experience in applying them across a range of environmental areas ensuring that you are equipped with highly sought after skills needed for a successful career in the Environmental sector. The Resources and Waste Management pathway acknowledges that society has heavily relied on natural resources to fuel its socioeconomic development, whilst generating vast amounts of waste that are often not properly managed. Past and current production and consumption patterns have underpinned substantial growth in wealth across the world but concerns about the sustainability of these patterns are mounting, as economic growth is closely linked to trends in environmental degradation and pollution. This pathway aims to develop multidisciplinary understanding and apply holistic, life-cycle thinking to evaluate the key drivers and barriers of natural resource and waste management aspects from extraction through to use and management. By doing so, it seeks to promote sustainable practices, circularity and inform effective policy development. At Brunel, we have excellent links with many organisations through our research activities, so you can be assured of a high-quality placement at a relevant organisation. Opportunities for our master's students include placements at the Environment Agency, Waste Management Companies (e.g. Cory), Food Industry (e.g. Quorn), the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).