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LSC-30076 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 24 November 2022

LSC-30076 - Plant Science and Sustainability
Coordinator: Thomast Torode
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

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 green production systems 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 List
Any 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: 1,2
Evaluate 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: 1,2
Evaluate the ways in which plants are responding to global change, such as pollution and climate change, and explain how these can be mitigated: 1,2
Critically review a specific forest or food production system in terms of its contribution to ecosystem services, sustainability and/or carbon balance: 1

Study hours

12x 1 hr lectures.
12x 1 hr tutorials/workshops
10 x 5 hrs engagement with asynchronous content
40 hours completion of portfolio
36 hours independent study.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 50%
Critical evaluation a specific green production system
A 2,000 word report and critical assessment of a specific green production system in terms of its contribution to ecosystem services, sustainability, and/or carbon balance.

2: Assignment weighted 50%
Critical literature review
A 2,000-word literature review requiring critical evaluation of a topic taken from a list of topics relevant to many aspects of the module.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 24 November 2022