Postgraduate Course: Intelligent Agriculture (PGBI11066)
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 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Agriculture is a fundamentally important aspect of modern biotechnology which will increase in importance during the next period of human evolution. The planet&©s population is predicted to peak at over 9 billion in the second half of this century. To provide food and dignified living conditions, agricultural productivity will have to increase 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2050. This task is extremely urgent and challenging, as it will have to coincide with a transition to more sustainable and less energy-intensive agricultural practices and be achieved with less agricultural land due to climate change and urbanisation. This course will focus on plants and explore the fundamental constraints and opportunities in sustainable food and bioenergy production, as well as the use of plants to supply high-value products. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | 14:00 - 15:50 | | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Monday, 14:00 - 15:50, Zone: King's Buildings. Darwin 315 |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Intelligent Agriculture | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course a student should be able to:
&·Demonstrate advanced knowledge of constraints on, and possibilities of, agricultural practice and food production.
&·Demonstrate advanced knowledge of conventional and GM plant breeding.
&·Produce and critique rational strategies for achieving sustainable, high yield agriculture.
&·Demonstrate advanced knowledge of agro-biotech fuel and synthetic feed-stock production.
&·Demonstrate advanced knowledge of natural production of high value and pharma plant products.
|
Assessment Information
In-course proposal development and course essay. As part of this course, tutorial support (3-4 one hour sessions) on how to structure and write scientific essays will be given, including in-class writing exercises tailored to this course.
Also an examination in the main December diet. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
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 | BIOTECH Intel Agri |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr David Arnot
Tel: (0131 6)50 5503
Email: D.E.Arnot@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sarah Anderson
Tel: (0131 6)50 8643
Email: Sarah.H.Anderson@ed.ac.uk |
|
© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:31 am
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