YEI-30306 Interdisciplinary Topics in Earth and Environment

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Individual Paper1
Lectures12
Practical extensively supervised9
Project learning12
Self-study
Course coordinator(s)prof. dr. W Peters
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. RJ Ronda
dr. ir. JC van Dam
prof. dr. W Peters
dr. ir. ETHM Peeters
dr. K Kok
prof. dr. L Brussaard
prof. dr. RNJ Comans
dr. ir. AJ Teuling
dr. ir. CMJ Jacobs
dr. EM Veenendaal
Examiner(s)prof. dr. W Peters

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

BBW compulsory subjects.

Contents:

In the field of environmental research interdisciplinary knowledge plays an important role. In the course the focus is on the interdisciplinary knowledge within pedosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. Interdisciplinary topics will be discussed and it will be shown how disciplinary knowledge can be used. The course is divided into three parts. In the first two parts (5 weeks) two crosscutting themes in environmental science will be studied. Based on lectures, scientific articles, and tutorials, the interactions and feedbacks between the different spheres will be highlighted. Subjects cover different temporal and spatial scales, like the carbon cycle, the interaction between rivers and floodplain soils, climate, and terrestrial and aquatic effects on the nitrogen cycle. In the first part (2 weeks) droughts will be studied with a perspective from the different spheres, and the interactions and feedbacks between the different spheres will be studied. In the second part (3 weeks) students form a multi-disciplinary team that will formulate an multi-sphere research proposal within environmental science based on several (multi-)disciplinary scientific articles. In the last three weeks an individual paper about an interdisciplinary topic has to be written and presented. The individual paper will be a review of a paper selected from a list of interdisciplinary papers.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- outline the research fields within the MSc Earth and Environment and the connections between them;
- understand interactions between the different spheres (hydro-, pedo-, bio-, and atmosphere);
- evaluate articles on interdisciplinary topics and apply their research methods (academic attitude);
- formulate new directions of research, based on an interdisciplinary approach;
- apply the obtained knowledge by writing a review of an interdisciplinary article.

Activities:

- active participation in lectures and tutorials;
- critical reading of articles;
- writing report;
- work in interdisciplinary team on a research proposal;
- writing review of an article.

Examination:

- tutorial reports (25%);
- active participation & Group proposal (35%);
- individual paper review (40%).

Literature:

Reader with articles.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: MEEEarth and EnvironmentMSc1MO