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Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling

Title
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling
Semester
E2022
Master programme in
Environmental Science
Type of activity

Course

Teaching language
English
Study regulation

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

Læs mere om uddannelsen og find din studieordning på ruc.dk

REGISTRATION AND STUDY ADMINISTRATIVE
Registration

Sign up for study activities at stads selvbetjeningwithin the announced registration period, as you can see on the Studyadministration homepage.

When signing up for study activities, please be aware of potential conflicts between study activities or exam dates.

The planning of activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programs which do not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programs, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

Number of participants
ECTS
10
Responsible for the activity
Gry Lyngsie (lyngsie@ruc.dk)
Simon David Herzog (sherzog@ruc.dk)
Head of study
Per Meyer Jepsen (pmjepsen@ruc.dk)
Teachers
Study administration
INM Studieadministration (inm-studieadministration@ruc.dk)
Exam code(s)
U60092
ACADEMIC CONTENT
Overall objective

This course will provide students with knowledge about chemical processes that occur in water, air, terrestrial and living environments, and the effects of human activity on these processes. The course will further provide an introduction to the principles of energy and element cycling across trophic levels in ecosystems, focusing on biogeochemical processes and their underlying physical, chemical, biochemical and biological drivers.

Detailed description of content

This course will provide students with knowledge about chemical processes that occur in water, air, terrestrial and living environments, and the effects of human activity on these processes.

The course will further provide an introduction to the principles of energy and element cycling across trophic levels in ecosystems, focusing on biogeochemical processes and their underlying physical, chemical, biochemical and biological drivers.

Course material and Reading list

A combination of a textbook and scientific literature. More details will be announced on Moodle

Overall plan and expected work effort

The course is a 10 ETCS credit course, corresponding to an expected student work load of ca 270 hrs.

  • Lectures, exercises, student oral presentation: 64-70 hrs

  • Preparation: ca 200 hrs

  • Portfolio: 2 hrs (see below)

  • Exam: 1 hrs

Format
Evaluation and feedback

The course includes formative evaluation based on dialogue between the students and the teacher(s).

Students are expected to provide constructive critique, feedback and viewpoints during the course if it is needed for the course to have better quality. Every other year at the end of the course, there will also be an evaluation through a questionnaire in SurveyXact. The Study Board will handle all evaluations along with any comments from the course responsible teacher.

Furthermore, students can, in accordance with RUCs ‘feel free to state your views’ strategy through their representatives at the study board, send evaluations, comments or insights form the course to the study board during or after the course.

Programme

This course is divided into three parts.

  • In part I we will study the fundamental principles of environmental chemistry with a focus on student driven exercises.

  • In part II we will study element and energy cycling processes, based on teacher driven lectures and class exercises.

  • In part III we will study energy and element cycling in ecosystems, based on student presentations and class discussions on relevant papers

ASSESSMENT
Overall learning outcomes

After completing the course, students will be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the major pathways and cycles of energy and matter in ecosystems

  • demonstrate knowledge of the chemical composition, processes, mechanisms and reactions that take place in environmental spheres

  • demonstrate knowledge on the turnover and bioavailability of major pollutants

  • demonstrate knowledge on how chemists and biologists approach and solve environmental problems

  • identify and analyze the main processes that drive biogeochemical cycles in various ecosystem types

  • apply basic principles of chemistry to analyse current environmental issues

  • evaluate and construct principal flows of matter and energy and their relative importance in various ecosystems

  • evaluate regulatory factors for energy and material cycles in ecosystems

  • advice and co-operate to solve ecological problems in which biogeochemical cycles are of central importance

  • think analytically and assess information in such ways to make informed conclusions and decisions about controversial environmental issues.

Form of examination

Individual oral exam based on a portfolio.

The character limit of the portfolio is 2,400-24,000 characters, including spaces. Examples of written products are exercise responses, talking points for presentations, written feedback, reflections, written assignments. The preparation of the products may be subject to time limits.
The character limits include the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 30 minutes.
The assessment is an overall assessment of the written product(s) and the subsequent oral examination.

Permitted support and preparation materials for the oral exam: All.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: External examiner
Form of Re-examination
Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam
Type of examination in special cases
Examination and assessment criteria

The portfolio consists of two written exercises in class.

At least 10 days prior to the oral exam the students receive a catalogue of preparatory questions for the oral exam. At the oral exam the student draws one of the questions and starts the oral exam with a presentation followed by a dialog about the course content.

Students will be assessed by their ability to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the major pathways and cycles of energy and matter in ecosystems

  • demonstrate knowledge of the chemical composition, processes, mechanisms and reactions that take place in environmental spheres

  • demonstrate knowledge on the turnover and bioavailability of major pollutants

  • demonstrate knowledge on how chemists and biologists approach and solve environmental problems

  • identify and analyze the main processes that drive biogeochemical cycles in various ecosystem types

  • apply basic principles of chemistry to analyse current environmental issues

  • evaluate and construct principal flows of matter and energy and their relative importance in various ecosystems

  • evaluate regulatory factors for energy and material cycles in ecosystems

The assessment of the oral exam is based on the student’s ability to meet the criteria mentioned above and their ability to

  • clearly present and communicate the scientific content of the course

  • engage in a scientific dialogue and discussion with the assessors

Exam code(s)
Exam code(s) : U60092
Last changed 16/05/2022

lecture list:

Show lessons for Subclass: 1 Find calendar (1) PDF for print (1)

Friday 09-09-2022 12:15 - 09-09-2022 14:00 in week 36
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 13-09-2022 08:15 - 13-09-2022 10:00 in week 37
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 14-09-2022 10:15 - 14-09-2022 12:00 in week 37
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 16-09-2022 12:15 - 16-09-2022 14:00 in week 37
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 20-09-2022 08:15 - 20-09-2022 10:00 in week 38
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 21-09-2022 10:15 - 21-09-2022 12:00 in week 38
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 23-09-2022 12:15 - 23-09-2022 14:00 in week 38
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 27-09-2022 08:15 - 27-09-2022 10:00 in week 39
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 28-09-2022 10:15 - 28-09-2022 12:00 in week 39
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 30-09-2022 12:15 - 30-09-2022 14:00 in week 39
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 04-10-2022 08:15 - 04-10-2022 10:00 in week 40
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 05-10-2022 10:15 - 05-10-2022 12:00 in week 40
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 07-10-2022 12:15 - 07-10-2022 14:00 in week 40
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 11-10-2022 08:15 - 11-10-2022 10:00 in week 41
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 12-10-2022 10:15 - 12-10-2022 12:00 in week 41
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 14-10-2022 12:15 - 14-10-2022 14:00 in week 41
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 25-10-2022 08:15 - 25-10-2022 10:00 in week 43
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 26-10-2022 10:15 - 26-10-2022 12:00 in week 43
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 28-10-2022 12:15 - 28-10-2022 14:00 in week 43
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 01-11-2022 08:15 - 01-11-2022 10:00 in week 44
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 02-11-2022 10:15 - 02-11-2022 12:00 in week 44
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 04-11-2022 12:15 - 04-11-2022 14:00 in week 44
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 08-11-2022 08:15 - 08-11-2022 10:00 in week 45
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 09-11-2022 10:15 - 09-11-2022 12:00 in week 45
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 11-11-2022 12:15 - 11-11-2022 14:00 in week 45
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 15-11-2022 08:15 - 15-11-2022 10:00 in week 46
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 16-11-2022 10:15 - 16-11-2022 12:00 in week 46
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 18-11-2022 12:15 - 18-11-2022 14:00 in week 46
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 22-11-2022 08:15 - 22-11-2022 10:00 in week 47
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 23-11-2022 10:15 - 23-11-2022 12:00 in week 47
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 25-11-2022 12:15 - 25-11-2022 14:00 in week 47
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 29-11-2022 08:15 - 29-11-2022 10:00 in week 48
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 30-11-2022 10:15 - 30-11-2022 12:00 in week 48
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 02-12-2022 12:15 - 02-12-2022 14:00 in week 48
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 06-12-2022 08:15 - 06-12-2022 10:00 in week 49
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 07-12-2022 10:15 - 07-12-2022 12:00 in week 49
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 09-12-2022 12:15 - 09-12-2022 14:00 in week 49
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Tuesday 13-12-2022 08:15 - 13-12-2022 10:00 in week 50
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 14-12-2022 10:15 - 14-12-2022 12:00 in week 50
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Friday 16-12-2022 12:15 - 16-12-2022 14:00 in week 50
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling (ES)

Wednesday 21-12-2022 10:00 - 21-12-2022 10:00 in week 51
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling - Hand-in of portfolio (ES)

Tuesday 17-01-2023 08:15 - 17-01-2023 16:00 in week 03
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling - Exam (ES)

Tuesday 31-01-2023 10:00 - 31-01-2023 10:00 in week 05
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling - Hand-in of portfolio (reexam) (ES)

Wednesday 08-02-2023 08:15 - 08-02-2023 16:00 in week 06
Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling - Rexam (ES)