6 EC
Semester 1, period 2
5264GCHE6Y
The course is designed around the grand challenges that we are facing in a world with an ever increasing human population within the limits of planetary boundaries. We will not try to cover the entire broadness of grand challenges but we will discuss six selected topics that are all closely related to our own research. We will discuss: i) the effects of local and global change (land use, eutrophication, pollution, climate) on biodiversity; ii) how we can successfully manage Earth's systems (through e.g. integrated land management, spatial planning, nature and soil conservation); and iii) how we can ensure ecosystem services provision in the future. In this course we use an interdisciplinary approach to understand specific challenges and opportunities relating to human ecosphere interactions.
Scientific articles that can be obtained from different scientific journals via the University Library.
Hand-outs of the lectures will be placed on Canvas
Contribution of teaching methods to learning process:
Because of the current government measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, with the exception of the first working group of the course and the final presentations of the course, all lectures, working groups and other course related events are organized online via Zoom. In addition, in principle all meetings of student groups with the case study supervisor are to be planned online, unless agreed otherwise with the supervisor in question.
The initial working group of the course is organized on campus and requires your physical presence unless this is not possible for medical reasons (e.g. the presence of cold related symptoms). The reason to organize this working group on campus is that during this working groups the groups of students are formed that will work together on a case study, and subsequently the various case studies are selected by the students. Organizing this on-campus facilitates the necessary group dynamics to form a group that can work successfully together on a case study.
The final presentations by the case study groups are planned on campus as this allows for the evaluation of crucial skills such as interaction with a live audience and non-verbal communication that are difficult to assess during online presentations.
Of course, permission has been obtained to organize these two events on campus and all necessary safety precautions have been taken, including a setup in which it is possible to keep 1.5 m distance at all times. Please consult the UvA website for the latest measures and requirements (e.g. regarding the use of face masks) related to save on campus teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For those who cannot attend the two live events for medical reasons (e.g. the presence of cold-like symptoms), an online setup using OWLs will be used to allow remote attendance.
|
Activity |
Number of hours |
|
|
Lectures |
28 |
|
|
Working groups |
28 |
|
|
Symposium |
4 |
|
|
Self-study |
108 |
|
|
Total |
168 |
|
This programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (TER part B).
Additional requirements for this course:
Attendance of and participation in the working groups, the excursion and the symposium is mandatory. A student may miss one working group. In that case the student will receive a 1.0 as grade for the assignment of that particular working group.
Remote attendance of the two events that have been scheduled for on-campus teaching is possible for those who cannot be present physically because of a legitimate medical reason (e.g. the presence of cold-like symptoms).
| Item and weight | Details |
|
Final grade | |
|
50% Case study report | Mandatory |
|
15% Case study presentation | Mandatory |
|
35% Group assignments | Mandatory |
Grades will be calculated and disseminated via Canvas.
Failure for meeting the deadline for the casus report will result in an incomplete grade and the necessity for a retake. The maximum grade in the case of a retake of the report will be a 6.0 to prevent the student in question from profiting from the extra available time to complete the work.
The casus report is a written assignment according to the specifications provided on Canvas.
Each working group includes a graded assignment. Details will be communicated via Canvas. Feedback is provided written or orally by the expert supervising that particular working group.
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
| Week | Subjects | Study material |
| 1 |
General introduction course and Grand Challenges (themes), forming of groups for
In depth lectures and guest lectures, discussion and topic assignments on
Group assignments related to the topics / working on own case study.
|
See Canvas |
| 2 |
In depth lectures and guest lectures, discussion and topic assignments on
Group assignments related to the topics / working on own case study.
|
See Canvas |
| 3 |
In depth lectures and guest lectures, discussion and topic assignments on
Group assignments related to the three topics/ working on own case study.
|
See Canvas |
| 4 |
|
See Canvas |
The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.
This course uses a Canvas-site. Here, you will find all the necessary additional information, such as grouping for seminars, information on the assignments, additional literature. Therefore, check out the site regularly!