405068-FS2024-0-The importance of biodiversity for sustainability





Root number 405068
Semester FS2024
Type of course Proseminar
Allocation to subject Sustainable Development
Type of exam not defined
Title The importance of biodiversity for sustainability
Description This course will focus on the linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem services. The students will learn how important biodiversity is for the sustainable management of ecosystems and how biodiversity affects key ecosystem services. They will learn to read, summarise and discuss scientific papers on biodiversity and sustainability and will be able to critically evaluate them and to debate controversial issues. We will consider the strength of evidence for biodiversity effects on sustainability by exploring how studies test for the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem services. Students will learn to read and critically evaluate primary scientific articles and will get an introduction to designing a small study and collecting some data in a biodiversity experiment. We will also debate the best way to communicate the value of biodiversity in structured debates and interactive exercises.

This is an interactive course in which students present papers, engage in group discussions and exercises and take part in debates. Besides the 3 contact hours per week, the students are expected to allocate around one full day per week of self-study, group discussions and preparation to this course. Resulting in 6 ECTS.

Can also be attended in FS 2024 for "Advanced Plant Biology" (Biodiversity and Sustainability). Registration for this under KSL No. 487326.

The seminar will take place in the large lecture hall (No. 020), Institute of Plant Sciences, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland.

This course assumes that students are familiar with basic concepts in biodiversity research. It is highly recommended that students first do the course Biodiversity and Ecosystem services (402950, every autumn semester) as this introduces all the topics that will be covered in this course. Students will also be expected to be able to read scientific papers and should be familiar with how to do this.

Students NEED TO REGISTER for the course by 1 FEBRUARY 2024 at the latest. LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. There will be group work and students need to be assigned to the groups at the start of the course.
Students from BSc Mi NE without a biology background will be provided with a self-test before the course so that they can check their prior knowledge.

No podcast recordings are scheduled.
ILIAS-Link (Learning resource for course) Registrations are transmitted from CTS to (no admission in ILIAS possible). ILIAS
Link to another web site
Lecturers Prof. Dr. Eric AllanInstitute of Plant Sciences (IPS) 
Dr. Gemma RuttenInstitute of Plant Sciences (IPS) 
ECTS 6
Recognition as optional course possible Yes
Grading 1 to 6
 
Dates Tuesday 14:15-17:00 Weekly
 
Rooms
 
Students please consult the detailed view for complete information on dates, rooms and planned podcasts.