Undergraduate Course: Science for Agri-food Systems: Interactions within Systems (VETS08008)
Course Outline
School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This course deals with the interactions that occur between organisms within Agri-food systems. It builds on the concepts introduced in semester 1 at the cell and organism level and scales them up to the field, farm and landscape level. |
Course description |
The aim of the course is to extend the scientific understanding developed in the Semester 1 Science for Agri-Food Systems: Cells to Organisms course by considering how organisms within an agri-food system interact with each other and their environment. It will be taught in the context of the global challenges of food security and environmental sustainability. The course will emphasise the importance of managing the interactions and linkages between different components within a system, including aquaculture, for successful and sustainable function. The main themes covered will include:
- Frameworks for considering interactions in agri-food and environmental systems
- Ecosystem processes including soil, air and water systems
- Beneficial and detrimental interactions between organisms (microbial, plant and animal), with respect to animal and crop health and production
- Animal behaviour, group interactions and human influence through domestication, breeding and management
- Harnessing and managing these interactions to create sustainable agricultural systems
The course will be delivered via a series of lectures, tutorials, laboratory and practical classes. Farm visits will be used to demonstrate interactions within different production systems, and examples will be used to illustrate key concepts in a global context.
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Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | None |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 3,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 16,
Fieldwork Hours 5,
Formative Assessment Hours 4,
Summative Assessment Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
140 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
20% Summative Assessment: Basic analysis of soils from contrasting land uses and vegetation. Write up of practical, including data calculations, presentation of data, and interpretation of results
20% Summative Assessment: Group report on 'The unforeseen consequences from agricultural management choices'.
60% Final Exam comprising MCQs and short answer questions |
Feedback |
Students will be given feedback via the formative game and quiz, and during interactive laboratory practical sessions and field visits.
Feedback will be supplied within 15 working days of the submission deadline. |
Exam Information |
Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | IwS MCQ and SAQ Paper | 1:30 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain key interactions between soil, water, air, plants and animals.
- Distinguish between beneficial and detrimental biotic interactions and their effects on microbial, animal and plant health and animal and plant productivity.
- Appraise the interactions within agricultural systems, including the environmental impacts arising from agricultural systems.
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Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Enquiry and lifelong learning
Outlook and engagement
Research and enquiry
Personal effectiveness
Communication |
Keywords | agri-food,environment,soil,air,water systems,microbe,plant,animal interactions |
Contacts
Course organiser | Prof Geoff Simm
Tel: (0131 6)51 7437
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Gordon Littlejohn
Tel: (0131 6)51 7454
Email: |
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