External summary

The MSc/PgDip programme in the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants will equip botanists, taxonomists, conservationists and ecologists alike, with a high level of skill and a breadth of knowledge in pure and applied plant taxonomy and related fields, including cryptogams and fungi. 

The programme starts in mid-September, lasts twelve months and involves two semesters of lectures, practicals, workshops and investigations, with examinations at the end of the first and second semester. On the basis of these exams and other course-work in May, students then either embark on a four-month research project to qualify for the MSc, or are awarded the Diploma.

In the first semester, a number of pieces of written work will be submitted. One is a 5,000 word essay about some aspect of Angiosperm Biodiversity followed by a seminar presentation. Students will also research and present diagnostic data on two tropical plant families as preparation for the field course. Two reports will be submitted as part of the course in Conservation and Sustainability, and one report as part of the Phylogenetics course. In the second semester a "research paper" resulting from the cytogenetic investigation will be presented, as well as a full flora writing report on a genus as part of the Taxonomy and Collections course. A second report as part of the phylogenetics course will be submitted.

Educational aims of programme

A balance of academic rigour and practicality forms a bridge between traditional and modern approaches.  Four main areas will be covered:

• basic taxonomic and botanical knowledge
• the investigation of plant diversity and its evolution
• the management and use of taxonomic collections
• The challenges for conservation and sustainable plant use

The MSc is a 1-year full time programme, including two semesters of lectures and a research project during the summer.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

• Practical knowledge of the principles and techniques of modern plant taxonomy.
• In-depth understanding of plant groups and phylogeny.
• Experience in methods of investigation of plant diversity and its evolution.
• Techniques for the creation, management and use of taxonomic collections.
• Understanding of the challenges facing Botanic Gardens in plant conservation and sustainable plant use.
• Training in independent research methods through the research project and dissertation.
• Training in transferable skills through preparation of research proposals, research reports, papers and presentations.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

An integral part of the MSc is a summer research project, which is carried out for the final four months of the programme (after the completion of the exams and the field trip).  This exercise is designed to give students direct experience of carrying out a piece of independent research under the guidance of one or more supervisors. The research project is written up as a Dissertation and counts for 60 credit points. The MSc project should allow students to:

• Develop understanding and critical thought in a well-defined subject.
• Learn experimental techniques and/or other skills.
• Gain experience in organising and writing up a discrete piece of work (which should lead to a publishable result).
• Plan and deliver a short (15 minute) seminar using visual aids, summarising their work and results.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

This MSc is an ideal opportunity for those wishing to develop a career in botany, where a deep knowledge of taxonomic investigation and resources is essential. It is to be expected that the looming biodiversity crisis will stress the need for more trained taxonomists. Course graduates should be employable in a wide range of fields including survey work in threatened ecosystems, assessment of plant resources and genetic diversity, management of taxonomic institutes and curation of taxonomic collections, university and college training, and pure taxonomic research. The MSc in Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants also functions as an efficient stepping-stone for those wishing to start a PhD.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

• Assess and contribute to solutions of the global biodiversity crisis.
• Group discussions (interpret and express an opinion on research articles).
• Oral presentations.
• Written communication (project, descriptive essay.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

• Project planning.

• Time management.

• Gain experience in research

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

• Identification of tropical and temperate plant families.
• Ecological investigation of vegetation.
• Understanding of plant structure and functionality

Programme structure and features

Modes of Study:

The programme is full time, with the Diploma running from mid September to May with Graduation taking place in June, and the MSc running from mid September to the end of August, with Graduation taking place at the end of November.

Progression and Exit Awards:

On completion of the taught component of the programme (120 credit points, achieved at the end of Semester 2) a Postgraduate Diploma may be issued to those who either wish to stop at that stage, or have not achieved a sufficiently high standard to be allowed to proceed to an MSc. Those students that progress will undertake a 60 credit research project and will be awarded the MSc upon completion (thus achieving the full 180 credit points).

Students who gain >=50% overall and >=50% in at least 80 of the 120 credits in the final overall assessment of the taught stage at the end of May can proceed to the dissertation stage, and carry out a full-time research project from May – August.
Students who gain >=40% overall and >=40% in at least 80 of the 120 credits in the final overall assessment who do not qualify to proceed will be awarded the Diploma and leave in June.

To be awarded the MSc, students must successfully complete both the taught and dissertation stages. Students may elect to exit at the end of the taught stage with the award of Diploma. Both the MSc and the Diploma may be awarded with Distinction or Merit.

Curriculum:

The taught component of the programme will comprise 120 credit points made up of nine courses. In addition, there will be a full time dissertation project in the second part of the year valued at 60 credits. Courses will be 10 or 20 credit points, and will be split between the first and second semesters.

A list of the courses with their credit points and levels is given below:

Assessment:

The programme will be assessed by a combination of essays, reports and investigations with examinations at the end of the first and second semesters.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Teaching and Learning strategies employed at the University of Edinburgh consist of a variety of different methods appropriate to the programme aims.  The graduate attributes listed above are met through a teaching and learning framework (detailed below) which is appropriate to the level and content of the programme.

Teaching and Learning Activities include:

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Presentations
• Laboratories
• Field Work
• Tutorials
• Seminars
• Discussion Groups/Project Groups
• Problem based learning activities

Examples: Students attend problem based tutorial sessions, one to one meetings with personal tutor/programme director, project work in a research laboratory or in the herbarium; students carry out their own research at the frontier of knowledge and can make a genuine contribution to the progress of original research.  This also involves reviewing relevant papers, analysing data, writing a report and giving a presentation.

Flexible Learning Week
The University of Edinburgh Flexible Learning Week is scheduled in Week 6 of Semester 2. During this week ‘normal’ teaching is suspended which provides space outwith the curriculum for staff and students to explore new learning activities. During that week the MSc students will carry out a cytology investigation at the King’s Buildings campus. At other times during the year a career session will be organized to familiarise the students with the process of job hunting.

Assessment methods and strategies

Courses are assessed by a diverse range of methods and it often takes the form of formative work which provides the student with on-going feedback as well as summative assessment which is submitted for credit.

• Essays; students are provided with written and oral feedback
• Assessed Problems; students are provided with written feedback
• Oral Presentations; feedback is provided by peers and staff
• On-line Tests; on-line feedback with explanations
• Written Degree Examinations; students have the opportunity to meet with course organisers to view their examination scripts.
• Multiple Choice Tests
• Project Reports and Presentations; students are provided with written feedback.

This programme is taught mainly at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) by RBGE staff.  Together with the small student numbers (currently limited to ~24 by availability of facilities at RBGE) this allows students ready access to teaching staff and the Programme Co-director at RBGE and fosters informal interaction among students and staff.

Career opportunities

Graduates of this programme find employment in several areas, including biodiversity and taxonomic survey work in both the public and private sectors, research and specialist teaching. A proportion of each year’s graduates have already been employed in these areas, and will have taken the programme as professional development, often on leave from their current employer.

Employers of graduates from the programme range from biodiversity consultants, government agencies, botanic gardens, universities and other research institutes. They also include related industries (e.g., forestry).

Equally this qualification is great preparation for further research and a high proportion of graduates continue on to do PhDs.

Other items

The two Programme Directors (one at University of Edinburgh, the other at Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh) also adopt the role of Personal Tutor to each student on the programme, providing them with both academic and pastoral guidance. Throughout a student’s time at the university the Programme Director/Personal Tutor guides the student and provides general support.

The Degree Programme Tables (DPT) for the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants programme can be found at:

http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/index.php