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)
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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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
| Not being delivered |
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)
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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 | ECB1 |
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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