Postgraduate Course: Phytotechnologies - plant-based technologies for environmental management (PGGE11290)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | ¿This course will introduce students to phytotechnologies, allowing them to understand the underlying principles and mechanisms, recognise their potential from an environmental and economic perspective, and develop the essential skills for their application. |
| Course description |
This course will be a comprehensive introduction to phytotechnologies, emphasising the importance of nature-based solutions for tackling some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. The course will enable students to understand the fundamental concepts and principles underlying a wide array of phytotechnologies (e.g., phytoremediation, phytomining, urban green infrastructure, etc.), as well as to identify their environmental and economic potential. Students will learn how different phytotechnologies can be employed to tackle air, water, and soil pollution in environmental backdrops ranging from mining sites to wetlands, and brownfields to urban canyons. Moreover, this course will provide first-hand instruction about the use of phytotechnologies for the economic exploitation of polluted or highly mineralised soils and their role against emerging contaminants. Hence, the students will develop the skills to critically discuss, design, and assess the implementation of phytotechnologies in specific environmental settings and contexts. In addition, experimental work (at bench and/or field-scale) covering the pertinent analytical methodology and key instrumentation, will allow students to link theory and practice. The course is suitable for students interested in the application of plant-based solutions to address a broad array of disciplines such as environmental pollution, green economy, and the natural capital, among others. The course encompasses lectures and tutorials/seminar sessions centred on activities to boost the students¿ independent learner abilities. Guest lectures by leading researchers in the pertaining topics will be organised to further enhance the students¿ comprehension of the course contents. The course will be supplemented with laboratory, glasshouse and/or field research activities
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Only the purchase of appropriate PPE (for working outdoors), which many will already have. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, 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:
200
(
Lecture Hours 14,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 7,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15,
Fieldwork Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
152 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
50 % critical essay (max 3000 words) on a selected phytotechnology covered in the course - LO1, LO2, LO5
25% for a short scientific paper critique (max 1500 words). Critical review of a paper specifically constructed by the course leader, where the student must examine different elements covered in the course - LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
25% electronic multiple-choice test covering the fundamental concepts, mechanisms, and applications of the phytotechnologies covered in the course - LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
| Feedback |
Students will be provided in-text feedback and final summary comments on their essay (including areas for improvement and best practice). A marking rubric will be designed, and standard feedback sheets and moderation forms (University of Edinburgh) will be used. Additional feedback will be appropriately given during the laboratory, glasshouse, and fieldwork activities. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the underlying principles, concepts, and goals of phytotechnologies.
- Critically appraise a problem and conceptualise the suitable phytotechnology strategy to address it.
- Be able to identify a range of standard instruments and techniques for examining the elements of different phytotechnologies in an experimental or field situation.
- Interpret and critically discuss experimental and literature results.
- Critically engage with the pertaining literature.
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Reading List
¿Assisted Phytoremediation. (2022). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/c2019-0-04894-7
Phytoremediation. (2022). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/c2020-0-03410-9
Novo, L.A.B., et al., 2017. Phytomining of Rare and Valuable Metals, in: Phytoremediation. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 469¿486. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52381-1_18
Corzo Remigio, A., et al., 2020. Phytoextraction of high value elements and contaminants from mining and mineral wastes: opportunities and limitations. Plant Soil 449, 11¿37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04487-3
Kidd, P.S., et al., 2018. Developing Sustainable Agromining Systems in Agricultural Ultramafic Soils for Nickel Recovery. Front. Environ. Sci. 6, 44. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00044
Tomson, M., et al., 2021. Green infrastructure for air quality improvement in street canyons. Environ. Int. 146, 106288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106288
Blanusa, T., et al., 2019. Urban hedges: A review of plant species and cultivars for ecosystem service delivery in north-west Europe. Urban For. Urban Green. 44, 126391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2019.126391
Ysebaert, T., et al. 2021. Green walls for mitigating urban particulate matter pollution¿A review. In Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (Vol. 59, p. 127014). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127014 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Problem solving and analytical thinking
Critical appraisal of scientific literature
Report writing
Field and laboratory skills |
| Keywords | Phytoremediation,Phytomining,Green Walls,Urban hedges,Natural Economy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Luís Novo
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Jennifer Gumbrell
Tel:
Email: |
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