Postgraduate Course: Intelligent Agriculture (PGBI11066)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Agriculture is a fundamentally important part of modern biotechnology, and will increase in importance during the next 50-100 years. The planet's population is predicted to peak at over 9 billion in the second half of this century. To provide food and dignified living conditions, agricultural productivity will have to increase 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2050. This task is extremely urgent and challenging, as it will have to coincide with a transition to more sustainable and less energy-intensive agricultural practices and be achieved with less agricultural land due to climate change and urbanisation.
This course will focus on plants and explore the fundamental constraints and opportunities for sustainable food and bioenergy production, as well as the use of plants to supply high-value products for human welfare.
Teaching objectives
- In lectures, to provide a framework for understanding contemporary constraints and opportunities for modern use of plants for food and non-food products;
- In paper analysis and small group work, develop skills in critical analysis and provide confidence in working with complex concepts in biology and society;
- In oral presentations, promote skills in succinct oral communication of science;
- In essays, promote scientific writing skills and to encourage the use of library, archival, electronic and other reference sources.
Course objectives
- To provide a knowledge base of the fundamental biotic and abiotic factors contributing to increasing or diminishing plant productivity;
- To provide a knowledge base of the fundamental societal factors that impact the development opportunities for intelligent agriculture;
- To provide a knowledge base of the fundamental environmental constraints that will condition increases in plant productivity;
- To provide a knowledge base for rational decisions in the relative balance of plant use for food and non-food purposes;
- To provide a knowledge base for the analysis of the balance of energy and resource inputs and outputs in the use of plants for non-food purposes.
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| Course description |
Not entered
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | Students MUST NOT also be taking
Plant Biotechnology (PLSC10023)
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Other requirements | Students must not have taken Plant Biotechnology (PLSC10023) during their fourth year honours at the University of Edinburgh. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 18,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
76 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
67 %,
Coursework
33 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In-course proposal development and course essay. As part of this course, tutorial support (3-4 one hour sessions) on how to structure and write scientific essays will be given, including in-class writing exercises tailored to this course.
Also an examination in the main December diet. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Intelligent Agriculture | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of constraints on, and opportunities for improved agricultural practice and food production,conventional and GM plant breeding
- Produce and critique rational strategies for achieving sustainable, high-yield agriculture
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of agro-biotech fuel, synthetic feed-stock production, natural production of high value and pharmaceutical plant products
- Demonstrate that they have the ability to research relevant scientific literature to create written and oral presentations that are concise, coherent and cogent
- Show in-depth knowledge of the plant biotechnology field and produce a logical, considered and integrated strategy for a solution to specific plant biotechnological problems
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | BIOTECH Intel Agri |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Peter Doerner
Tel: (0131 6)50 7080
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Andrea Nichol
Tel: (0131 6)50 8643
Email: |
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