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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Postgraduate

Postgraduate Course: Taxonomy and Plant Collections (PGBI11042)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaPostgraduate Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThe course consists of an introductory lecture followed by a series of topics which are prerequisites for Herbarium taxonomy, covering Botanical nomenclature, the History of Botanical Illustration, Floras, monographs and revisions, the history of the Herbarium at RBGE, the preparation and curation of herbarium collections.

After 8.5 days of preparation by means of a combination of practicals and lectures the students carry out a piece of original curation and make a short presentation at an internal seminar. The course culminates in a piece of original personal research called the "mini-revision" in which students use the knowledge of Herbarium taxonomy they have gained from the course to carry out their own critical investigation and revision of a taxonomic group.

This course is a core component of the MSc BTP programme, offering a unique, vocationally-relevant insight and experience in herbarium collection, management and use.

During this 20-point course, students make intensive use of the resources of a top-level international herbarium that provides a professional service to the wider botanical community. To minimise disrupton of this professional work the course must be taught as an intensive block and will be taught in Semester 2 Block 3.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs none
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Class Delivery Information The course will be taught as a block in weeks 2 through 6 of Block 3.
Course Start Date 13/01/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 50, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 146 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The student will understand the crucial role of herbarium taxonomy in plant biology and the power and elegance of herbarium taxonomy as a technique to study plant diversity. By the end of the course the student will have had the unique experience of working in a large international herbarium and will have gained the basic curatorial and taxonomic skills required for a career in herbarium curation or research on plant systematics.
Assessment Information
Assessment is through minor assignments and a flora writing exercise on a selected genus or group of genera, in semester 2, including an oral presentation.
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
KeywordsTaxon & Plnt Coll
Contacts
Course organiserDr Louis Ronse De Craene
Tel: (0131) 248 2804
Email: l.ronsedecraene@rbge.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Vicky Mactaggart
Tel: (0131 6)51 7052
Email: Vicky.Mactaggart@ed.ac.uk
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