Admission requirements
This course is open for all students that are enrolled in the Minor Biodiversity.
Description
During this course you will utilize the acquired knowledge on biodiversity, it’s origin, importance, threats and what we can do about them from the previous Minor courses, to conduct a Policy Analysis and write a Policy Action report about a biodiversity issue. Additionally, students will create a short influential video report on the same topic. The first week will start with some introductory lectures about how to construct short videos. Subsequently, the students will break down into smaller groups which will focus on a specific biodiversity issue. Each group will have a specially appointed supervisor. The following weeks will be filled with studying literature, having group meetings with the supervisor and interview stakeholders in order to prepare a written and a video report. This course and the minor will be concluded with a video symposium.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course students:
1. Evaluate an assignment/request from a customer regarding biodiversity issues.
2. Analyse the biological and societal context of the issue.
3. Identify and analyse relevant stakeholders and their specific interests.
4. Understand and apply biodiversity information, concepts and tools to solve pressing societal biodiversity issues.
5. Evaluate relevance of existing information for issue at hand (cf dilemma’s).
6. Evaluate possible solutions/answers for specific stakeholders.
7. Create a written problem-oriented report from a policy perspective in which different scenarios and actions are formulated and evaluated to solve the biodiversity issue at stake.
Timetable
A detailed schedule will be provided on Brightspace before the start of the course.
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, workgroup discussions
Assessment method
The quality of the video presentation will account for 25% and the written report will account for 75% of the final grading.
Minimum grade:
Courses require a minimum, unrounded 5.5 grade to complete.
If a course has 2 or more written partial exams, the minimum grade only applies to the weighted average of the exams.
For partial grades from components other than exams (e.g. practicals, seminars, writing assignments), the bottom grade does apply to the individual components.
Please refer to the Student Charter for an overview of regulations.
Reading list
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.
Contact
Coordinator: Tuomas Aivelo
Email: t.j.e.aivelo@biology.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
Brightspace will be used for communication and exchange of documents
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.