This module develops approaches to help understand the fundamental controls on river processes, channel change, depositional systems and the influence of human interactions in a range of river environments. The module evaluates the different innovative ways in which fluvial scientists tackle key questions in river research. A key theme is the interaction between fluvial processes, erosion, deposition, hydrology, land use, river water quality and catchment management. The module initially focuses on the smaller bedform and bar scale, before considering channel scale issues and finally the environmental impacts of human activity, including urbanization and agricultural influences. These topics are addressed across a broad range of river systems (natural and urbanized; upland and lowland; temperate and semi-arid) and scales varying from single grains to whole catchments, and turbulent events to Quaternary changes.