Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Plants are fundamental to all life on Earth. Plants harness energy from the sun to create matter that is the basis of most terrestrial food chains and produce oxygen as a by-product that we breathe making them the lungs of the Earth. Plants have evolved into the world¿s biggest and longest-lived organisms, producing innumerable resources (from foods to medicines to fuel) and are an integral and enduring part of rural and urban landscapes. This module takes an applied and integrated approach, examining forests, agriculture and green spaces from the plant science, ecology and sustainable land management perspectives. You will explore some of the big questions of today, such as how we can feed a growing population without sacrificing ecosystem functioning. By doing this module you will develop verbal and written communication skills by participating in class debates and producing materials for different target audiences. Content will be delivered through a mix of lectures and tutorials sessions, including guest speakers and site visits in and around the campus environment to give you first-hand experience of the issues discussed.
Aims
To understand how plant science can be applied to `green¿ production processes in order to meet the global challenges, whilst addressing environmental protection and sustainability issues.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/lsc-30076/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
Explain the fundamentals of how plant science can be applied to a range of green production processes: 1,2Evaluate how plant-human interactions have altered green production facilities over time, and the impact this has on the trade-off between global supply and environmental protection: 1,2Evaluate the ways in which plants are responding to global change, such as pollution and climate change, and explain how these can be mitigated: 1,2Critically review a specific forest or food production system in terms of its contribution to ecosystem services, sustainability and/or carbon balance: 1,2
Scheduled learning:18 hours of lectures10 hours of tutorials / site visitsIndependent study:120 hours of private study of which 40h spent on the in-course assessment2 hour exam
Description of Module Assessment
1: Portfolio weighted 40%Critical evaluation a specific green production systemReport with a lay summary that critically evaluates a specific green production system in terms of its contribution to ecosystem services, sustainability, and/or carbon balance.
Assessment comprises:
1. 500 word lay summary
2. 1500 word report on a specific case study
2: Open Book Examination weighted 60%Online open-book exam2-hour end of semester exam. Students should answer 2 essay questions from a choice of 4. The paper will be released on KLE as a Word document at 9am on the morning of the exam.
Students should answer each question using Word, clearly labelling each question as they provide their answers. Work will be submitted to Turnitin no later than 5pm on the day of release. International students will be asked to notify the School if they need an extension due to different time zones.
Although students have been given significant time to complete this exam script, we expect most students to spend no more than 2 hours. Answers should be as accurate and concise as possible.
For essay-based questions, typical answers would be in the range of 500-750 words per question. We recommend that students do not exceed 750 words per essay-based question as we will be assessing the quality of your answer, not the quantity.