6 EC
Semester 2, period 5
5264BCIS6Y
| Owner | Master Earth Sciences |
| Coordinator | dr. B. Jansen |
| Part of | Master Earth Sciences, track Environmental Management, Master Earth Sciences, track Earth System Science, year 1 |
The biogeochemical cycles of major elements like C, N and P in soil, water and atmosphere are key to the functioning of the ecosystems on our planet. Human pressure has resulted in large scale perturbation of such elemental cycles, which underlies several grand societal challenges humanity is facing. Examples are the current climate and nitrogen crises. In addition, the introduction of human-made compounds such as pharmaceuticals and PFAS into the environment has created novel biogeochemical cycles that form a grand challenge of their own.
This course focusses on the fluxes of elements and anthropogenic substances in Earth’s ecosystems within the context of urgent contemporary environmental challenges. For this we will combine fundamental theoretical knowledge, mainly focused on insights gained through on-going research at UvA ,with their direct application to help address these challenges. Specifically, we will focus on the following three overarching challenges with each two specific topics:
1. Geo-ecosystems under threat
Topic 1: Climate change
Topic 2: N & P dynamics
2. Sustainable Geo-ecosystem Services
Topic 3: Soil Carbon Dynamics
Topic 4: Land degradation
3. Struggle for unpolluted space
Topic 5: Emerging Pollutants
Topic 6: Organisms & habitats
Literature will be specified on the Canvas page of this course and will consist of scientific articles as well as other material presented during the lectures.
Theoretical knowledge will be conveyed via lectures given by scientists of the UvA Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) who work on the various topics covered, as well as guest lectures by external specialists who work on the topics discussed. Combined with the scientific literature covered, this will provide students with a solid theoretical basis of the functioning of important biogeochemical cycles within the context of relevant societal challenges.
The existing and newly gained theoretical knowledge gained is applied by the students in an overarching case study on a relevant topic, under supervision of scientists of IBED and its sister institute HIMS. For this, students work in groups of four and schedule individual supervision/feedback meetings with the scientist guiding their case study. The deliverables for the case study are a written report and a poster presentation, where all groups of students present the outcomes of their case study analysis.
Activity | Hours | |
Excursie | 8 | |
Hoorcollege | 38 | |
Presentatie | 4 | |
Tentamen | 3 | |
Werkcollege | 2 | |
Self study | 113 | |
Total | 168 | (6 EC x 28 uur) |
Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):
Additional requirements for this course:
Attendance during the practical components is mandatory. This includes the introductory lecture where the case studies are assigned and the symposium where the poster presentations are held.
Active participation in the groupwork related to the case study analysis is required. In cases where a student does not actively contribute to this groupwork, the coordinator reserves the right to give individual grades reflecting the (lack of) participation, and/or remove the student from the case study.
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade | |
|
0.5 (50%) Written exam | |
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0.351 (35%) Case study report | |
|
0.15 (15%) Poster presentation |
The written exam tests the theoretical knowledge conveyed during the plenary lectures as well as contained in the mandatory literature that will be provided via Canvas. The written exam takes place on Thursday 25 April 2024 (see datanose).
The case study report is prepared as per the instructions provided on Canvas and assessed via the rubrics presented there. The assessment will be done by the scientists guiding the specific case study. The coordinator of the course will function as second reader of all case study reports to ensure alignment of the grades given by the various supervisors. The due date for the case study report is Monday 29 April 2024 at 09:00 AM CET (see assignment on Canvas).
The poster presentations also link to the case study. In the assessment quality of the posters themselves as well as their presentation is considered. Details on the assessment are provided via Canvas. The poster presentations are scheduled on Tuesday 23 April 2024. The posters must be submitted via Canvas on Monday 22 April 2024 at 11:59 PM CET (see assignment on Canvas).
All individual assessments (written exam, case study report and poster presentation) can be retaken. The resit of the written exam is scheduled via Datanose and takes place on Thursday 4 July 2024. This is also the deadline for a resit of the case study report. A resit of the poster presentation will be scheduled upon request.
Please note that a failing grade for the case study report and/or failure for meeting the submission deadline for the case study report will result in an incomplete grade and the necessity for a resit. The maximum grade in the case of a resit of the report will be a 6.0 to prevent the student in question from profiting from the extra available time and additional feedback to complete the work.
The exam can be inspected upon request. This will be organized and communicated via Canvas. Feedback on the poster presentation as well as the case study report will be provided in writing. Additional feedback from the supervisor can be organized upon request.
The written exam is an individual assignment and assessment. The case study analysis, report and poster preparation and presentation are groupwork performed in groups of 4 students. However, in cases where a student does not actively contribute to this groupwork, the coordinator reserves the right to give individual grades reflecting the (lack of) participation, and/or remove the student from the case study.
The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl
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For additional details and information, please consult the dedicated Canvas page for this course.