Sustainable Use of Ecosystems

Uitgebreide vaknaam	Sustainable Use of Ecosystems
Leerdoelen	Aim: The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of different ecosystems, their functioning, harvesting and human impact on them from a systems approach with the focus on the food system. Learning objectives: At the end of the course, the student is able to: 1) analyze the impacts of food production on the environment; 2) describe the functioning and productivity of natural and cultural ecosystems and the harvesting methods applied in these systems; 3) describe environmental impacts of agriculture in The Netherlands and what actions are taken to reduce this; 4) compare changes of future food, materials and energy needs for individual countries; 5) argue whether biomass needs in a country can be fulfilled with the existing national ecosystems and, if this is not possible, what measures should be taken to meet the demands. Next, discuss the environmental impacts of these measures; 6) work in an interdisciplinary, international group; 7) acquire academic skills, like the finding of relevant information, the use of relevant information, understanding scientific integrity, avoiding plagiarism and presentation skills.
Omschrijving	The use of biomass plays an important role in the transition to a more sustainable society. Biomass is generally considered as a renewable energy source, but also as a renewable source for materials (bio based economy). Moreover, it is the main source for our food. Biomass is produced in ecosystems; these can be natural but also cultural (agriculture). When biomass is used for food, materials or energy, it is essential for the present as well as for the future that the production takes place in a sustainable manner. This course focuses on the sustainable use of ecosystems and uses biomass for food as a case study. It determines how much biomass can be produced from natural and cultural ecosystems and what the environmental impacts of these production methods are. It compares this to the needs. The course includes lectures, tutorials, group assignment and a game. The group composition is based on different scientific and cultural backgrounds. In the group assignment students have to evaluate the food production system in a country, identify the environmental impacts of this system and come up with improvements. The knowledge needed to do so is provided in the lectures. At the end of the course they present their project.
Uren per week
Onderwijsvorm	Hoorcollege (LC), Opdracht (ASM), Werkcollege (T) (And game. Other lecturers: AP Grootjans, JD Driesens, KR Timmermans, W Liu, P Boute and several external specialists; Lectures (26 h), Tutorials (review and Q&A-sessions, 22 h), Assignment (group work and feedback, 50 h), Self-study (42 h).)
Toetsvorm	Opdracht (AST), Presentatie (P), Schriftelijk tentamen (WE) (Written (digital) exam (70%, four-five open questions, with sub questions, all with equal weights). Assignment/Presentation (30%, group assignment with presentation); second examiner: WP Leenes.)
Vaksoort	master
Coördinator	dr. ir. S. Nonhebel
Docent(en)	dr. P.W. Leenes ,dr. ir. S. Nonhebel ,dr. E.J. Stamhuis , J. Zevenberg
Verplichte literatuur	Titel Auteur ISBN Prijs All material is available on Brightspace.
Entreevoorwaarden	The course unit assumes prior knowledge acquired from a Bachelor's degree in natural sciences or a related field. First-year master students from the MSc EES are participating in the course unit. The course unit is compulsory for the MSc EES. Maximum capacity: 60 students. Priority for students from the MSc EES, for whom this course is obligatory. The course unit prepares students for the courses in the second semester and the research internship/research projects in the second year, in which the learning objectives attained are required as prior knowledge.
Opmerkingen	The written exam contributes 70% and the group assignment 30% to the final grade of the course. The partial grades are rounded on one decimal. The final grade will be rounded to half integers. The grade of the group assignment and the written exam should be > 5,5 at least. Written exam: The exam includes 4 to 5 questions. The questions have several sub questions, ranging from a knowledge level to an evaluation level. The lecturers of the various subjects hand in the questions and evaluate and grade them. All 4 to 5 questions have equal weights. The grade of the written exam should be a 5.5 at least. Group assignment: Active participation in the group assignments is essential and therefore obligatory. Participation is evaluated by the staff. In any case that the participation of a student is considered insufficient, the maximum score for the group assignment is 5. The grade of the group assignment should be a 5.5 at least. In the assignment, students propose a more sustainable food system for a country. First phase: Doing desktop research in groups and give a presentation of the research proposal. Students get feedback from the staff. Second phase: The actual assignment and finally present the results. This presentation is also evaluated by the staff, using the same evaluation sheet. The grade for this presentation has to be a 5.5 at least and will contribute for 30% to the final grade of this course. In case the assessment has to take place online, the written (digital) exam will be adjusted to an online written (digital) exam from home.
Opgenomen in	Opleiding Jaar Periode Type MSc Biology: Research  (Electives/Optional modules) - semester I a keuze MSc Biology: Science, Business and Policy  (Electives/Optional modules) - semester I a keuze MSc Biomolecular Sciences  (Electives/Optional modules) - semester I a keuze MSc Courses for Exchange Students: Astronomy - Physics - Energy & Environment - semester I a MSc Ecology and Evolution: Ecology and Conservation  (Electives/optional modules) - semester I a keuze MSc Ecology and Evolution: Evolutionary Biology  (Electives/optional modules) - semester I a keuze MSc Energy and Environmental Sciences  ( Obligatory Courses) 1 semester I a verplicht MSc Marine Biology: Research  (Electives/Optional modules) - semester I a keuze