Admission requirements
None
Contact information
Coordinator: Dr. D. J. Snelder and Dr.ing. M.G. Vijver
Email: snelder@cml.leidenuniv.nl and vijver@cml.leidenuniv.nl
Description
The focus in this course is on chains of causes and consequences in a (semi-) natural environment. Human activities and economical sectors causing the environmental problems and societal reaction on these problems, will get only brief attention.
The course is structured around the four main environmental themes: climate change, soil and water processes and biotic processes. Within the themes attention is paid to many processes and mechanisms such as soil erosion, acidification, eutrophication, hydrological change, pollution and ecotoxicology, exotic species, human disturbance and habitat fragmentation. Main focus in all topics is the impact of the processes on biodiversity.
Learning goals
Course objectives:
The objective of the Course on Environmental Processes is to make the student acquainted with the physical, chemical and biological processes that play an important role in current environmental problems.
Final qualifications:
After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Recognize and identify the main biophysical and chemical processes that impact on our environment
Qualify the impact and consequences of human activities on these processes and be able to participate in debates on these and related issues
Comprehend, summarize and present relevant information on environmental processes found in the literature and scientific journal articles
After successful completion of the course, students will know:
The characteristics of processes controlling the main components of our environment, i.e., climate, soil, water and biota
The impact of human activities and societal mechanisms on these processes
Various approaches leading towards more sustainable management of natural resources and associated processes
Timetable
In the mornings, the environmental themes and related topics are discussed based on presentations by internal and external experts and selected literature. A number of excursions are part of the program. The excursions take the whole day.
The afternoons are preserved for assignments, mainly writing a short paper, preparing for exams, or preparing a symposium.
Mode of instruction
Lectures, excursions, assignments, and presentations.
Assessment method
n.a.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used.
Reading list
Reader and lecture handouts
Registration
Via USIS and enrolment in Blackboard
Remarks
Costs: to be decided