course program 2013-2014 - uzh · gecko population, analyses of self-organising vegetation...
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Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
Course Program 2013-2014 Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich Coordinator Homepage
Professor Dr. Owen Petchey Office: 34 J 50 Phone: +41 (0)44 635 47 70 [email protected] www.ieu.uzh.ch www.ecology.uzh.ch
Program Overview (90 ECTS)
Module No. Course Title ECTS
BIO 374 Ecology in Action 1 6
BIO 375 Ecology in Action 2 6
UWW261 Introduction into research methods and study design 2
UWW 221 Biodiversity Theory 2
BIO 377 Basic quantitative methods 1
UWW 262 Preparation and presentation of Master Projects 2
UWW 292 Research Seminars 1
BIO 604 More quantitative methods 1
BIO 520 Integrated knowledge in biology 10
BIO 510 Masters Project and Thesis 60
Ecology in Action 1&2 Course Program 2013-2014
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Ecology in Action 1&2
BIO 374 & 375 12 ECTS
Category Each is a block course
Date Place
Ecology in Action 1 18th September–8th October. Wednesday-Friday, 9-5 and Tuesday afternoons. Ecology in Action 2 5th–26th November. Wednesday-Friday, 9-5 and Tuesday afternoons. 13-J-96 Dr. Dennis Hansen IEU, Y34-J-62
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 47 76
Dr. Benedikt Schmidt IEU
[email protected] +41 (0)32 725 72 06
Prof. Dr. Kentaro Shimizu IEU, Y13-J-76
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 47 46
Dr. Hubert Krättli Stiftung Fledermausschutz
[email protected] +41 (0)44 254 2683
Dr. Sonia Kefi Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, Université de Montpellier II
[email protected] +33 4 67 14 40 81
Course Tutors
PD Dr. Gilberto Pasinelli Swiss Ornithological Institute
[email protected] +41 (0)41 462 97 58
Content Ecology in Action I & II are the main modules of the structured program. Students will learn about fundamental ecological concepts (niches, food webs, biodiversity) through an integrated combination of lectures, reading, fieldwork, lab work, quantitative analyses, and communication. Each week focuses on a particular concept and study system. Previous weeks have included predation, water bird population and conservation, pollinators, estimation of the size of a local gecko population, analyses of self-organising vegetation distributions, and bat monitoring and conservation.
Course Aims To facilitate students’ understanding of key ecological
Ecology in Action 1&2 Course Program 2013-2014
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concepts and challenges, using case studies and a Problem Based Learning methodology.
Requirements for credit points
Class participation and written report based assessment.
Assessment
Graded
ECTS credits
6 ECTS credits are awarded for each module, based on the course assessment. A total of 12 ECTS credits.
Literature TBA
Introduction into Research Methods and Study Design Course Program 2013-2014
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Introduction into Research Methods and Study Design
UWW 261 2 ECTS
Category Block course
Date Place
16th September to 20th September Self-study
Course tutor Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schmid IEU, Y34-J-22
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 52 05
Content The study objects of environmental sciences are complex and variable. This does not preclude quantitative analysis and interpretation, but requires special methodological approaches that can deal with variability, stochasticity and uncertainty. Often replication is an essential issue in experiments, whereas observation may only be possible on a single watershed or population of a rare species. Furthermore, real problem solving usually involves consideration of socio-economic factors and an integrative, interdisciplinary study design.
Program Knowledge, research methods, how to prepare a project, study design
Requirements for credit points
Written examination February 2014
Assessment Graded
ECTS credits 2 ECTS credits are awarded based on the course assessment
Literature References will be given in the course
Biodiversity Theory Course Program 2013-2014
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Biodiversity Theory
UWW 221 2 ECTS
Category Block course
Date Place
7th-11th October, daily from 9:00-17:00 Will be announced by e-mail
Course organizer Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schmid IEU, Y34-J-22
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 52 05
Dr. Marcel Van der Heijden Agroscope Reckenholz Zürich
Content Our planet Earth is unique because it is covered by a biosphere that maintains global processes such as hydrological cycles and climate. This is possible because the biosphere is made up of a great variety of living organisms connected in a large interaction web. But how does this web function? Why should a large web work better than a simple one? These are central questions in linking biodiversity and environmental research. However, we may also ask how the biodiversity we find today has been generated and is being maintained, from variation within species to variation between species and ecosystems. Studying patterns of biodiversity and the organismic interactions affecting biodiversity can help us understand how ecosystems function, how they provide services to humans and how humans in turn can safeguard these functions and services by prudent management.
Requirements for credit points Assessment ECTS credits
Written examination Feb 2014 Graded 2 ECTS credits are awarded based on the course assessment
Literature TBA
Basic Quanitative Methods Course Program 2013-2014
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Basic Quanitative Methods
BIO 377 1 ECTS
Category Block course
Date Place
23rd to 25th October 2013, from 8:30-17:00 13-J-96
Course tutor Prof. Dr. Owen Petchey IEU, Y34-J-50
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 52 05
Content The basics of how to manage, explore, and communicate quantitative information.
Course Aims The course aims to help you learn aspects of using R for scientific investigation: 1) Data management, exploration, and visualisation 2) Common and not so common statistical methods implemented in R 3) Going from data to publication Overarching aims are to boost you up the initially steep learning curve associated with R and to provide you with an accurate, repeatable, and efficient quantitative environment for you graduate studies and the rest of your academic career.
Requirements for credit points
Pass in written examination
Assessment Graded
ECTS credits
1 ECTS credit is awarded based on the course assessment
Literature To be announced
Development and Presentation of Research Project Proposal Course Program 2013-2014
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Development and Presentation of Research Project Proposal
UWW 262 2 ECTS
Category Continuous self-study
Date Place
Continuous self-study – focussed work 2nd-6th December Presentations – 9th-13th December Various locations Oral presentation in 13-J-96
Course tutors Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schmid IEU, Y34-J-22
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 52 05
Research Project Supervisors
Content Self-lead research and development of proposal of Masters Research Project Proposal. The proposals for the master projects will be presented and defended in class. Criteria for good proposals are originality, innovation and relevance of the question, an efficient design for answering it, feasibility and a short but balanced review of the wider theoretical / conceptual framework.
Course Aims Students develop the study question and study design for their master project between September and December.
Requirements for credit points
Oral presentation in week 51 Written master project report (to be submitted by…)
Assessment Graded
ECTS credits
2 ECTS credits are awarded based on the proposal assessment
Literature Self-selected literature relevant to the research project to be selected by students (with help from supervisors).
Research Seminars Course Program 2013-2014
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Research Seminars
UWW 292 1 ECTS
Category Seminars
Date Place
BEEES: Every week on Tuesday, 12:15-13:00 SEBES: Every week on Thursday, 16:15-17:00 For further information visit: http://www.ieu.uzh.ch/seminars.html
Coordinator Prof. Dr. Andrew Hector IEU, Y13-H-44
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 48 04
Hand in the summary as electronic document to: Claudia Hegglin
IEU, Y13-H-40
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 47 41
Content In scientific research seminars, national and international researchers present their newest results. There are discussions on the presented topics afterwards.
Requirements for credit points
One lecture summarized on one side of A4. The summary should include brief descriptions of: - The background - The aims - The methods used - The results - A discussion of the conclusions and implications - A few key supporting references for published aspects of the work and/or the background to the research.
Assessment Passed / not passed
ECTS credits 1 ECTS credit is awarded based on the course assessment
More Quantitative Methods Course Program 2013-2014
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More Quantitative Methods
BIO 604 1 ECTS
Category Weekly
Date Place
Every Friday lunchtime, 1-2pm 34-J-66
Course tutor Prof. Dr. Owen Petchey IEU, Y34-J-50
[email protected] +41 (0)44 635 52 05,
Content R is becoming the standard software in Ecology and Evolution for data management, exploration and analysis. Participants will meet every week to present and discuss interesting topics, hints, and tricks regarding the R statistical software analysis.
Requirements for credit points
ECTS credit will be awarded after 12 seminars (R Lunch Group meetings) are attended and the leading of one of the seminars. Leading a seminar can be on any topic of your choice, though check on the web page or with O. Petchey first.
Assessment Graded
ECTS credits 1 ECTS credit is awarded based on
Literature Papers to be distributed during course
Integrated Knowledge in Biology Course Program 2013-2014
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Integrated Knowledge in Biology
BIO 520 10 ECTS
Category Self-study
Date Fall Term
Course tutor Self-study Content Research and write a 5000 word essay (in controlled
conditions) on a general topic related to your proposed Masters Thesis.
Requirements for credit points
Written essay and 30 minute based on essay.
Assessment Graded
ECTS credits 10 ECTS
Literature Own research
Masters Project and Thesis Course Program 2013-2014
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Masters Project and Thesis
BIO 510 60 ECTS
Category Year long research project
Date December 2014
Course tutors Research Project Supervisor
Content You perform an in-depth research project in the research
group of your chosen project supervisor.
Course Aims Students develop a study question and design and carry out the research and analysis for their master project during 2014.
Requirements for credit points
Written Master Thesis
Assessment Graded
ECTS credits
60 ECTS credits are awarded based on the Master Thesis
Literature Self-selected literature relevant to the research project to be selected by students (with help from supervisors).
Introduction of Research Groups Course Program 2013-2014
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Introduction of Research Groups
The Master of Biology, Ecology Specialization starts on Tuesday 17th September at 2pm.
This first afternoon will involve presentations from the various research groups in the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies (IEU). This will give students an overview of the work of the different groups and of the kinds of Master projects that can be carried out.
Welcome Apéro
After the presentations there will be a Welcome Apéro for everyone in room 34-J-52. This will give students an opportunity to meet members of the IEU and to find out more about their work.
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ourse Program 2013-2014
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