Challenges for the Blue Planet

Studiewijzer 2021/2022

Globale inhoud

Water covers about 70% of our planet and is the prime necessity of life. The quality of surface and drinking water directly influences ecosystem health and plays a major economic role. Yet, deterioration of water quality, overexploitation of aquatic resources and climate change all pose risks to human health, and potentially impact ecosystem values and services. This course will be based on three pillars: understanding the basic concepts in aquatic sciences, analyzing the effects of human impact on aquatic ecosystems, and reflecting on conservation and restoration measures of aquatic ecosystems on an overpopulated and industrialized continent. Built upon these three pillars, different topics will be addressed in highlight topics discussing:

• Water quality (Environmental chemistry; chemical behavior/fate of toxicants; ecotoxicology; analysis and monitoring; regulations). A special highlight lecture will be devoted to plastics in the aquatic environment.
• Harmful algal blooms (cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, toxins, problems freshwater & marine, relation with climate change & eutrophication, mitigation options)
• Reservoirs and dams (types and geo-distribution of reservoirs and dams; water balance; nutrient retention and processing; anoxia; methane production; ecological implications; fish migration)

Theory is based on set of prescribed preparatory lectures, scientific papers and a textbook.

In addition, next to the highlight topics and self-study, the course is structured around workgroups, providing the opportunity for in-depth analysis of a water quality issue. The workgroup activities draw on the DPSIR (Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Response) framework to explain the causes and consequences of a water quality problem. We shall investigate basic principles of water quality and how poor water quality results, explore to what extent this can be prevented and/or managed, and how important functions, such as proper ecosystem functioning can be guaranteed.

Studiemateriaal

Syllabus

• Water Resources: An integrated approach by Joseph Holden (2014) 2nd edition

• Papers accompanying the lectures (will be made available on Canvas)

Practicummateriaal

• Will be made available on Canvas

Leerdoelen

• To know basic concepts in aquatic sciences, in particular those related to human impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
• To use scientific knowledge to formulate a scientifically supported opinion on global problems in aquatic ecosystems.
• To engage in the social debate on environmental management issues and communicate in writing to a wide audience.
• To collaborate in finding, processing, combining and integrating scientific knowledge in a case study that represents a complex challenge in the field of water quality.

Onderwijsvormen

• Tutorial
• Hoorcollege
• Werkcollege
• Zelfstudie
• Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie
• Begeleiding/feedbackmoment
• Presentatie/symposium

The course consists of a theoretical part consisting of lectures (discussion meetings), preparatory readings and self study. During the workgroups, a case study will be investigated in a practical way by teams of ca. 4 students. Based on a series of assignments, different aspects of a science based approach to water quality management will be addressed. 

A schedule will be provided on Canvas, but you can also find (updates of) the schedule on http://www.datanose.nl or http://rooster.uva.nl. Check these sites regularly for updates and contact the coordinators in the event of overlap with other academic obligations. Lectures will be recorded and, together with the slides, made available via Canvas.

The exam is in digital form (TestVision).

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

• Deelname aan veldwerk is verplicht en niet vervangbaar door opdrachten of andere cursussen.
• In geval van een practicum is de student verplicht ten minste 90% van de practicumbijeenkomsten bij te wonen en zich op deze bijeenkomsten terdege voor te bereiden, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiewijzer van het vak. Indien de student minder dan 90% heeft bijgewoond dient het practicum opnieuw te worden gevolgd.
• In geval van werkgroepbijeenkomsten is de student verplicht tenminste 7 van elke 8 werkgroepbijeenkomsten bij te wonen en zich op deze bijeenkomsten terdege voor te bereiden, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiewijzer. Bij meer dan 8 werkgroepbijeenkomsten geldt dat de student steeds per (deel van) 8 bijeenkomsten maximaal 1 bijeenkomst mag missen. Indien de student minder dan het verplichte aantal heeft bijgewoond, kan het vak niet worden afgerond.
  

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Assignments are linked to workgroup activities. If you are absent from more than one workgroup, you will fail the course unless your absence is caused by an inevitable overlap with your compulsory major programme, illness or force majeure. You should contact your tutor and the course coordinator in advance if you cannot attend a workgroup. In case of COVIC-19 quarantine, you have to inform your workgroup teacher, and only then you can join the workgroup online. 

You are also required to prepare yourself adequately for each workgroup. Lack of preparation will result in your being marked as absent. 

Toetsing

Exam: The exam and resit test your knowledge, understanding, and application of study material derived from lectures, accompanying papers and book chapters, (as indicated on Canvas).  The exam is a multiple choice test in TestVision (digital exam). To pass the course, students must achieve a grade greater than 5 for the exam (so 5.1 or more). A resit, also a multiple choice exam, is scheduled for students who fail or do not sit the first exam. 

Tutorial assignments: The case study tests your ability to analyse a water quality problem and evaluate policy intended to redress it. Students may choose their own case study. A number of cases with an introduction to the literature will be provided to support this choice. When assignments are not handed in before the corresponding deadline set in Canvas, they will not be assessed. Specific assignments (the concept map (Chapter 4) and the policy brief (Chapter 5) should at least be graded with a mark higher than 5.5 in order to pass). There is no opportunity to revise/resit assignments associated with the case study. 

 An overall grade that is greater than 5.5 is required to pass the course.

Toetsmatrijs (studentenversie)

Studenten die het vak al eerder hebben gevolgd

Students who passed the assignment component of the course last year, but failed the exam and resit, will be exempted from the case study this year. Students who are repeating for the second time will be required to complete all aspects of the course.

Inzage toetsing

Om een inzagemoment aan te vragen, kun je contact opnemen met de coördinator.

Opdrachten

Case study report

• The case study will be undertaken in groups of ca. 4 students.  A series of assignments will be given during the workgroups. Feedback will be provided during the workgroups. Assessment rubric will be made available and discussed at the first workgroup

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: http://student.uva.nl

Weekplanning

Rooster

Het rooster van dit vak is in te zien op DataNose.

Vakevaluatie afgelopen jaar

will be made available via CANVAS

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

• dr. H.G. van der Geest

Coordination

• dr. Harm van der Geest (scientific coordinator)
• Donya Danesh (docent 4 coordinator)

Tutorial teachers

• Donya Danesh
• Rosa Rougoor

Scientific highlights 

• prof. dr. Jef Huisman
• dr. Arie Vonk
• prof. dr. Annemarie van Wezel