Postgraduate Course: Land Use and Food Security (BIME11011)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | With an ever-expanding population, the issue of food security is becoming increasingly relevant for humankind. This course will consider the changes we have imposed on land use over the last 100 years and the reasons for these changes. It will then go on to explore the implications of changing land use with respect to food security and the effect this can have on human populations. |
| Course description |
Over the past 100 years we have seen an unprecedented change in patterns of land use around the globe in response to multiple demands on land resources to accommodate the growing global population. The world's population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, raising questions of whether our existing land and water resources have the capacity to support a world with 2 billion more people. Increasing pressure for land and water has led to the resources we depend on for food being over-utilised and degraded and climate change creates even greater uncertainty as to the long term sustainability of the food resources we rely on.
The course will start by examining land use change and investigate the drivers of this change and will then go on to consider the impacts of this land use change on local biodiversity and food production. This will provide the background to discuss the importance of food security and examine current strategies for maintaining food security in light of global population growth. Finally, the course will introduce some of the impacts of global environmental uncertainty, such as climate change.
Study materials are released on a weekly basis, providing an overview of the study topic, suggested reading materials and key questions that address the learning outcomes for the course. Students are expected to split their time between independent study and interacting with peers and course tutors on the discussion boards in order to fully explore the topic and their understanding of it. Summative written and online assessment will test knowledge and understanding of the learning outcomes, as well as the ability to communicate with others in a variety of ways.
The course relies heavily on reading primary literature as well as key publications from the conservation sector. Both assessed and non-assessed online discussion fora provide further content and reflection, and students are expected to engage with group discussions for both learning and assessment purposes.
Students should expect to spend between 12 and 15 hours per week on reading course materials, engaging with peers and tutors on the discussion boards and preparing assessed work. It is up to the student how they organise their time from week to week, with course materials and discussion boards available for the duration of the course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
| Course Start Date |
08/08/2022 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Online Activities 25,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
53 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Formal summative written assessment will constitute 60% of the student's grade. Online assessment will incorporate a variety of activities will constitute 40% of their overall course grade and is taken to represent a formative assessment of learning throughout the programme. |
| Feedback |
Summative assessment consists of a written element, worth 60% of the total mark, and an online element worth 40%. In both cases, comprehensive written feedback is provided individually with 15 working days of the assessment deadline. Students are expected to reflect on their feedback, to seek additional clarification if appropriate, and to use this to improve on future assignments of a similar nature.
Formative assessment consists of discussion around what is expected of each piece of assessed work for the course. This is conducted in an open discussion forum for all students to contribute to and provides an opportunity to clearly understand the key requirements for each assignment before submission. Any student can post questions about the assignment and a response will be posted on the discussion board by the course tutor within 3 working days. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the changing patterns of land use over the last 100 years.
- Synthesise and explain the main drivers of land use change.
- Critically assess the impact of changing land use on biodiversity, productivity and ultimately on food security.
- Interpret what is meant by the term ¿food security¿ and evaluate its importance to ecosystem and human health and wellbeing.
- Apply this understanding to predict the possible impact(s) of climate change on future land use and resulting food security.
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Reading List
| The course will draw from current literature and other publications relevant to the topic. A reading list will be provided for each lecture. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.web.mvm.ed.ac.uk/ |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The study materials provided in this course will enhance the student¿s abilities to search for, read and understand the relevant scientific literature, to use this to support specific arguments and to present the findings in a coherent and appropriate way. They will also develop skills in ICT through the use of an online learning platform, online search engines and word-processing and presentation packages. Online discussion with tutors and peers will develop confidence in communicating with others and the skills to engage in high level academic discourse. The independent study aspect of the course will enhance the student¿s abilities in time-management and self-motivation. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Louise Beveridge
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Andrew Le Tissier
Tel: (0131 6)51 4075
Email: |
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