6 EC
Semester 2, period 4
5132WAQU6Y
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:
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.
Papers accompanying the lectures (will be made available on Canvas)
Will be made available on Canvas
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.
|
Activity |
Hours |
|
|
Lecture |
14 |
|
|
Exam |
2 |
|
|
workgroup |
12 |
|
|
Self study |
140 |
|
|
Total |
168 |
(6 EC x 28 uur) |
Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):
Additional requirements for this course:
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. You are also required to prepare yourself adequately for each workgroup. Lack of preparation will result in your being marked as absent.
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade | |
|
0.5 (50%) Tentamen | Must be ≥ 5.1 |
|
0.5 (50%) Hand in Complete Workbook Case Study (Chapter 1-9) for Assessment | Mandatory |
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). 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.
| Learning objective: | Exam: | Case study: |
|---|---|---|
|
To know basic concepts in aquatic sciences, in particular those related to human impacts on aquatic ecosystems |
x | x |
|
To use scientific knowledge to formulate a scientifically supported opinion on global problems in aquatic ecosystems |
x | x |
|
To engage in the social debate on environmental management issues and communicate in writing to a wide audience |
x | x |
|
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 |
x |
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.
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
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
See schedule on datanose.
Deadlines and planning of the workgroups will be explained at the first workgroup and are available via Canvas.
The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.
will be made available via CANVAS
Coordination
Tutorial teachers
Scientific highlights