Undergraduate Course: Applied Ecology and Evolution (EVBI10011)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will cover the application of ecological and evolutionary concepts and methods to applied, real-world problems. Case studies of the importance of ecology and evolution will cover a breadth of problems from medicine, sustainable development, economics, human behaviour, industry and computing. |
| Course description |
The world is facing an unprecedented era of anthropogenic change, resulting in radical shifts in organisms, ecology and driving evolutionary changes in these species. This has brought a sharp focus onto the application of ecological and evolutionary approaches to these applied problems. However, ecology and evolution have much to teach us in other realms also such as economics, human behaviour, and computing. This course will explore the application of ecological and evolutionary concepts and methods to applied, real-world problems. Through examination of case studies of applications of ecological and evolutionary ideas and methods, students will explore the breadth of problems their skills in these areas can be applied to, and what makes for a good ecological or evolutionary approach to these problems.
Topics covered in the course will include how ecological and evolutionary approaches are influencing economics and financial regulation, the treatment of disease, manipulation of human behaviour, sustainable development, biotechnology and computing. These areas will be explored via lectures on specific case studies, discussion sessions, reflection by students on how their skills could help them contribute to solutions to these problems, and student presentations.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 21 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 24,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
74 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% Exam. |
| Feedback |
Students will receive written and verbal formative feedback on their policy briefings (week 4) and group pitches (week 10). |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Evaluate the utility of different ecological and evolutionary ideas and methods for practical problems.
- Advertise their knowledge and skills to those outside of these disciplines.
- Understand the key elements of the design of ecological and evolutionary solutions to practical problems.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. Critically evaluate, and make judgements based on, applied research
2. Offer creative insights into ecological and evolutionary solutions to problems
3. Present research findings in a professional context
4. Work with others to develop to develop solutions to applied problems
5. Debate and manage the ethical implications of application of ecological and evolutionary approaches to applied problems. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Luke McNally
Tel: (0131 6)50 5750
Email: Luke.McNally@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Rachel Law
Tel: (0131 6)51 3689
Email: Rachel.Law@ed.ac.uk |
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