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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2010/2011
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Biology

Undergraduate Course: Environmental and Community Biology 1 (BILG08007)

Course Outline
School School of Biological Sciences College College of Science and Engineering
Course type Standard Availability Available to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken) SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) Credits 20
Home subject area Biology Other subject area Biomedical Sciences
Course website None Taught in Gaelic? No
Course description With environmental issues moving to the forefront of the global agenda, this course is of interest to all biologists as well as students from other schools. The topics covered include global climate change, and its effects on biodiversity, sustainability and food security, biological interactions, conservation and human ecology. A major thread that runs through the course is how animals, plants and micro-organisms affect one another, and how we, as part of this global ecosystem, are dependent on it. A section of the course is devoted to case studies from the Scottish environment, such as honey bees and red deer. The course also examines particular areas of human ecology such as epidemiology and community health and touches on broader concepts, including public perception of science, and changing attitudes to the natural world. Practicals offer hands-on experience, as do group projects in which students work first individually and then in groups researching together a topic which they choose from a long list of currently relevant environmental issues. Opportunities are provided to visit a local site, for example a puffin island in the Forth, a local chicken farm, or a beaver estate in Perthshire. The in-course assessments (45% of the course mark) reward both personal and group effort. The course hones students&© questioning skills and encourages new ways of thinking. In 2010 the course was voted runner up in the EUSA Teaching Awards (Best Course in the University category).
(Credit = 20 points)
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Possibly some travel expenses to get to project sites.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites None
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
King's BuildingsLaboratory1-11 10:00 - 12:00or 14:00 - 15:50
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 14:00 - 14:50
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 14:00 - 14:50
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 14:00 - 14:50
First Class Week 1, Monday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: King's Buildings. Swann LT
Additional information Films will be screened after some of the lectures.
For some projects, there may be trips on Wednesdays.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes Stationery Requirements Comments
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Paper 2 (Literature)2:00pencils / rubbers
Resit Exam Diet (August)Paper 1 (Language)2:00pencils / rubbers
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
See course booklet.
Assessment Information
Group project consisting of: individual "Outline Proposal and Literature Review" (15%), group presentation in tutorial (5%), group report (10%); microbiology practical exercise (5%), practical book (10%).
Examination =55%
Special Arrangements
6 Practicals run on Monday 10-12 or Thursday 2 - 4.
Tutorials run for one hour and are held on Mondays or Tuesday or Friday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and are on alternate weeks.
Some project visits may take place on a Wednesday.
Films to be screened after some of the lectures (optional)

Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
Keywords Not entered
Contacts
Course organiser Dr Maria Chamberlain
Tel: (0131 6)50 8654
Email: Maria.Chamberlain@ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Mr Fraser Bryden
Tel: (0131 6)50 8637
Email: Fraser.Bryden@ed.ac.uk
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copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 31 January 2011 7:21 am