ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No specific prerequisites are required. The basic concepts of ecology will be taken up again in the course.
The examination of ecology and sustainability is articulated in a written exam structured in questions as closed answers and open-ended questions where the required topics will be treated in an expanded way using summary diagrams, graphs and illustrations.
The questions will focus on all the topics covered in the three modules, so as to allow a complete evaluation of the preparation.
The exam will take place in an interval of 1 hour. The exam will be evaluated positively on exceeding 18/30.
The course presents the main topics of ecology starting from through the General Theory of Systems (module 1) and issues related to the environmental sustainability science (module 2), providing tools for analysing environmental alterations and technical and legislative solutions, particularly in altered aquatic environments (module 3). In particular, the tools and indicators for the technical analysis of environmental alteration will be presented in the European legislative contest, providing technical strategies addressed toward the requalification of environmental integrity.
The course topics are selected to provide an exhaustive theoretical framework relating to ecology and the science of sustainability. Furthermore, the course aims to refine the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out activities to check the environmental integrity and ecological sustainability of aquatic environments (eg river environments) subject to alterations (eg hydro-morphological, biological, chemical) proposing updated technical solutions.
The topics covered in the three modules are aimed at achieving specific learning outcomes; in particular, the "ecology" module and the "science of sustainability" module confer theoretical notions necessary to develop a critical analysis in an interdisciplinary perspective. Module 3 has pragmatic objectives of technical training and applied to cases of environmental alteration of water courses
The course also intends to educate the student about the technical language of Ecology and the understanding of the academic approach to sustainability.
The course topics are selected to provide an exhaustive theoretical framework relating to ecology and the science of sustainability.
The course aims to refine the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out activities to check the environmental integrity and ecological sustainability of aquatic environments (eg river environments) subject to alterations (eg hydro-morphological, biological, chemical) proposing updated technical solutions.
The course has 48 hours
The topics covered in the three modules are module 1 "ecology" (22 hours)
Module 2 "science of sustainability" (12 hours)
Module 3 “technical training aof environmental alteration of water courses (14 hours)”
The course also intends to educate the student about the technical language of Ecology and the understanding of the academic approach to sustainability.
Expected Knowledge and understanding:
- acquire the knowledge necessary to develop a critical analysis, presenting the fundamentals of ecology in an interdisciplinary perspective (module 1)
- Know the normative references of the development of the sustainability science (module 2)
- acquire the technical notions useful for identifying and quantifying the deviation from the ecological integrity of an aquatic environment (module 3)
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- ability to compare and evaluate environmental alterations, choosing the most suitable tools for restoring ecological integrity and sustainability
- ability to deal with problems in a transversal manner or be able to collaborate in the environmental monitoring of altered systems
Communication skills
- ability to extract and summarize the relevant information
- know how to communicate effectively with industry experts
Module 1: Ecology
- The General Systems Theory (2 hours)
- Complexity and chaos theory (2 hours)
- The anthropic impact and the state of the planet (Anthropocene) (2 hours)
- Energy (non-renewable energy and renewable energy sources) (4 hours)
- Ecosystems, ecological successions Community heterogeneity linked to sustainable management (6 hours)
- The loss of Biodiversity (2 hours)
- Ecology of the population (2 hours)
- Conservation at species / population level and at ecosystem level (2 hours)
Module 2: The science of sustainability
- Sustainability: international history of an idea (The Stockholm Conference 1972) (2 hours)
- The World Conservation Strategy and international conventions (2 hours)
- Towards a definition of sustainability (2 hours)
- Sustainable development indicators (2 hours)
- Tools for sustainability and ecosystem services (2 hours)
- green new deal (2 hours)
Module 3: integrated analysis of the restoration of ecological integrity of river environments
- WFD Water Framework Directive (4 hours)
- Indicators and indices of ecological alteration (6 hours)
- Environmental requalification and restoration strategies (4 hours)
Lectures delivered in the classroom in the presence of the teacher
The teacher is available in her office by appointment by request via e-mail (serena.zaccara@uninsubria.it) or by telephone (0332421422).
Professors
Borrowers
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Degree course in: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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Degree course in: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES