Undergraduate Plant Science 2020-2021

Terrestrial ecosystems play a pivotal role in modulating the fluxes of energy and matter at the Earth’s surface, including the cycling of carbon, nutrients and greenhouse gases. Understanding the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems is critical for understanding environmental challenges such as global warming, biodiversity loss, sustainable development and pollution. This course develops principles of systems ecology and biogeochemistry, focusing on the fundamental role played by living things in regulating key ecosystem processes such as carbon cycling, nutrient dynamics, trophic transfers, and land-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases.

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This advanced soil science course provides additional teaching of physical, chemical and biological properties of soils in the context of food security. You will learn a variety of processes that affect soil productivity, accompanied by practical sessions that will teach relevant analytical methods. The wide range of soil processes taught will be brought together at the end of the course to provide a working knowledge of agronomy, including the interactions between crops and specific chemical or physical properties of soils. Students are introduced to modelling of agricultural impacts on soils and the environment so that mitigation strategies can be assessed.

Lectures, workshops and an excursion provide a diverse set of learning opportunities relating to plant physiology and adaptations to the environment.

A literature-based research exercise forms the continuous assessment part of this course, in which you choose a plant adaptation to investigate in detail in terms of physiological adaptations to natural conditions. The exercise develops specialist knowledge and your capacity for creative, independent and critical thinking, problem identification and problem solving. Participation in the oral presentations of the projects helps you to develop confidence and oral communication skills.