6 EC
Semester 1, period 3
5264SOLD6Y
This an advanced course for master students earth sciences. Present and past concepts of geomorphology and soil science will be introduced and discussed. These will include the key concepts of scale, thresholds, magnitude and frequency, resilience and hierarchy. Soil erosion, soil formation rates and sediment transfer and balances in their broadest sense will be treated in detail. Case studies will be used to demonstrate how processes can be quantified and influenced by human interventions, including their role in carbon sequestration. Different ways of quantifying soil and landscape degradation will be reviewed. The relationship of soil loss and erosion to soil material properties will be stressed.
Soil erosion and conservation, R.P.G. Morgan, 3rd edition, 2004. Approx. € 70,-.
Montanarella, (2015) Agricultural policy: Govern our soils, Nature 528, 32–33 (03 December 2015), doi:10.1038/528032a
Other material (scientific articles) depending on the topic selected
After the course the student:
Discussion lectures:
In the discussion lectures the textbook of Morgan will be covered as well as key papers on the specific topics that are to be selected by the students. Each meeting a lecture will be followed by individual presentations given by some of the students on their selected special topics. During the series of the discussion lectures all literature will be handled, and all students have to present their selected key paper in one of the discussion lectures.
Preparation: All students will study the textbook texts in advance as well as the papers related to the student’s selected special topics that are presented that lecture. A detailed schedule will be prepared during the first lecture meeting. The preparation in advance of the discussion lectures is necessary to invoke a discussion on the lecture topics and the presented key-papers. Students are requested to present at least two questions or propositions on the texts that are prepesented by their colleagues
Seminar:
During the final seminar all students will give a short pitch (3 minutes) on the findings of their mini lterature review.
Project (mini literature review):
Each student selects a special topic from the list provided on blackboard and writes a mini-literature review on the topic selected. This review is based on a study of at least 14 papers including a 'key paper' that should also be presented in the discussion lectures. The report should have a size of between 3000-4000 words and should be ready and handed in at the end of the course. Information on topics and guideline for writing the report can be found on blackboard.
|
Course Part |
Number |
Duration / time needed |
Hours per activity |
Weight (%) |
|
Discussion lectures and textbook self study (including examination) |
6 |
13.3 |
80 |
50 |
|
Presentation special topic mini literature review |
1 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
|
Final Presentation mini literature review |
1 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
|
Lit. Review (report) (self study) |
1 |
72 |
72 |
40 |
The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).
Additional requirements for this course:
Additional requirements for this course:
Discussion Lectures: Presence is mandatory. If missed more than 2 times you will fail for this part (grade =1.0) and consequently for the course.
Interim Presentation of mini literature review. Students prepare a presentation of a scientific paper related to their selected topic. Students give feedback, the lecturers will give the final grade and feedback.
Final Presentation of mini-literature review: Presence is mandatory. Students present an overview of their selected topic, Students give feedback, the lecturers will give the final grade and feedback.
Examination: presence is mandatory
| Item and weight | Details | Remarks |
|
Final grade | ||
|
50% Tentamen | Must be ≥ 5, Allows retake | |
|
40% Mini literature review | Must be ≥ 5, Allows retake | Deadline: 3 February, 17:00 |
|
5% Presentation key paper | Must be ≥ 5 | Presentation length is 10 minutes |
|
5% Presentation mini literature review | Must be ≥ 5 | Presentation has the format of a 3 minutes pitch |
Each of the parts will be assessed separately. The final mark should be at least a 5.5 average to pass. There are no re-takes for the discussion meetings and presentations. If deadlines for assignments are not met then the mark will be 1.0 for that assessment.
The date, time and location of the inspection moment are in the DataNose timetable.
Write a small review of a topic related to the course (see list of topics on blackboard), between 3000 and 4000 words in size, based on at least 14 scientific papers, and includes 40% of the total mark. This is an individual assignment
Onderstaande opdrachten komen aan bod in deze cursus:
Dit vak hanteert de algemene ‘Fraude- en plagiaatregeling’ van de UvA. Onder plagiaat of fraude wordt verstaan het overschrijven van het werk van een medestudent dan wel het kopiëren van wetenschappelijke bronnen (uit bijvoorbeeld boeken en tijdschriften en van het Internet) zonder daarbij de bron te vermelden. Uiteraard is plagiaat verboden. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd en streng tegen opgetreden. Bij verdenking van plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Wanneer de examencommissie overtuigd is dat er plagiaat gepleegd is dan kan dit maximaal leiden tot een uitsluiting van al het onderwijs van de opleiding voor een heel kalenderjaar. Zie voor meer
informatie over het fraude- en plagiaatreglement van de Universiteit van Amsterdam.www.uva.nl/plagiaat
| Weeknummer | Onderwerpen | Deadline / Date | Studiestof |
| 1 |
Topics: Introduction, Processes and Hazard Asessment Presentation key-papers |
Ch1-4 Morgan, paper Montanarella Key-papers |
|
| 2 |
Topics: Measuring soil erosion and modelling Presentations Key-papers |
Ch5-6 Morgan Key-papers |
|
| 3 |
Topics: Control strategies, soil and crop management Presentations key-papers |
Ch7-10 Morgan Key-papers |
|
| 4 |
Topics: Implementation Final Presentations by all (pitch) Examination Hand in final report (mini literature review) |
1 February 3 February 3 February 17:00 |
Ch11-12 Morgan, paper Montanarella
|
The course schedule can be found at
Knowledge of geomorphological processes at BSc level is required for enrollment
The course has a mimimum enrollment of 8 participants, the maximum is set at 20 students