Teaching
Introduction
The Palaeoecology group (Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology) offers several courses in the second and third year of the BSc education for degrees related to the study program Environmental Biology and Biogeology. The program is tailored for Biology and Geosciences students. Participants will acquire in-depth knowledge of the long-term interaction between the biosphere on the one hand and the hydrosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere on the other hand and skills needed to conduct independent scientific research and analytical surveys. The program is unique in its nature in the Netherlands.
Subjects include:
- terrestrial and aquatic Palaeoecology
- Palaeobiology and proxies on different levels of integration (organisms, molecules)
- Landscape genesis and vegetation history
- Biogeology and Evolutionary biology.
Bachelor (BSc), level 2 Courses
The level 2 course Introduction into Palaeoecology (in Dutch, partly in English, 7.5 ECTS) is coordinated and given by the Palaeoecology group. This course takes place during the first teaching term (period 1) in September/October.
Check latest info on the biology bachelor site.
Bachelor (BSc), level 3 Courses
On an advanced level, the Palaeoecology group is providing the basis to prepare the students for their MSc study with the course Environmental Change: past, present, and future (EC) (in English, 7.5 ECTS, old name: Continental and Atmosferic Systems COATSYS). This course takes place during the second teaching term (period 2, timeslot A+D) 15.11.2010 - 04.02.2011. Check latest info on the biology bachelor site
Coordinator: Friederike Wagner-Cremer (f.wagner@uu.nl)
The Palaeoecology group also participates in the University College Utrecht teaching. Dr. F. Wagner teaches the courses Earth and Environment.
Master Courses
The Palaeoecology group is active in the field of Earth and Environment in two MSc programmes, i.e. Environmental Biology (specialisation Biomarine Sciences & Palaeoecology) and Biogeology. The Education web pages of the department of Biology provides more information on the MSc program Environmental Biology.
The master course 'Extreme Climate Transitions' (ECT) (in English, 7.5 ECTS) is coordinated and given by the Palaeoecology group and runs in first teaching term (September to November 2011).
MSc Student Research subjects, general introduction
The opportunities for research internships within the Palaeoecology group are numerous, but are concentrated within the two main areas:
- study of remains from plants (pollen, plant macrofossils, cuticles, molecular markers, stable isotopes);
- study of remains of aquatic organisms (e.g. diatoms, chironomids, Cladocera, molecular markers, stable isotopes);
The research projects allow studying present and past environmental changes and to reconstruct various climate and environmental aspects in either a qualitative or a quantitative way. Some of the research areas include
* patterns of vegetation development
* environmental reconstructions
* primary production
* human impact
* sedimentation of organic carbon
* past CO2-concentration
Students interested in following a research subject within the Palaeoecology group should contact Prof.dr. Andy Lotter.
See MSc Students Research Projects and Undergraduate students for detailed description of the subjects.