Admission requirements
This course is open for all students that are enrolled in the Minor Biodiversity.
Description
This six weeks course will consist of a mixture of fieldwork (gathering data), lectures, assignments and excursions. In general this course will focus on how to collect, store, process and translate biodiversity data into usable results (i.e. using R and Microsoft Access) to answer biodiversity related questions. The first week of this course will be spend deepening biodiversity theory through lectures and discussion sessions. The second week of the course will be filled with learning about the importance of biodiversity in the field through excursions and lectures on the different Dutch landscapes. These will revolve around questions such as: how were these landscapes created? What was the role of biodiversity in creating them?
Additionally, biodiversity related research skills will be honed during 2 fieldwork weeks (to Schiermonnikoog and an agricultural area close to Leiden). These fieldweeks include an assignment in which students will setup a study, collect data in the field, statistically analyze it and write a scientific report about their study in small groups. The end of the course will be mostly dedicated to prepare for a final exam.
Note that this course includes full day excursions, some of which inevitably start early because of the distance to the destination.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course students are able to:
1. Explain the biodiversity related theory that is discussed in the lectures;
2. Illustrate how humans and biodiversity have formed and are still a part of the Dutch landscapes;
3. Explain the societal issues that are connected to the Dutch landscapes as discussed in the course;
4. Collect biodiversity data in various ways (plants, insects, aquatic invertebrates, soil invertebrates);
5. Use 1, 2, 3 and 4 to design experimental and observational studies that can answer pressing biodiversity questions within an ecological and/or a management/policy context;
6. Interpret, and report professionally on, the gathered biodiversity data from a scientific point of view.
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, self-study, practicals, excursions
Assessment method
Exam, assignment
The assignment will account for 40% of the final mark.
The exam grade will make up 60% of the final mark.
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: Dhr. Dr. K.B. Trimbos
Email: trimbos@cml.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
For some of the excursions in module 1, a bicycle is needed; other will make use of public transportation.
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.