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Ecotoxicology – Theory and Practice

Title
Ecotoxicology – Theory and Practice
Semester
F2023
Master programme in
Environmental Biology * / Environmental Risk * / Environmental Science
Type of activity

Course

Teaching language
English
Study regulation

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

Læs mere om uddannelsen og find din studieordning på ruc.dk

REGISTRATION AND STUDY ADMINISTRATIVE
Registration

Sign up for study activities at stads selvbetjening within the announced registration period, as you can see on the Studyadministration homepage.

When signing up for study activities, please be aware of potential conflicts between study activities or exam dates.

The planning of activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programs which do not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programs, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

Number of participants

There is a maximun of 20 studens at this course.

Selection criteria: Drawing lots.

The Master Programme/Institute reserves the right to cancel the course if fewer than 8 studentes are registered for the course.

ECTS
10
Responsible for the activity
Henriette Selck (selck@ruc.dk)
Amalie Thit Bruus Jensen (athitj@ruc.dk)
Head of study
Per Meyer Jepsen (pmjepsen@ruc.dk)
Teachers
Study administration
INM Registration & Exams (inm-exams@ruc.dk)
Exam code(s)
U60097
ACADEMIC CONTENT
Overall objective

This course will provide students with an advanced knowledge of the theories and methods applied in modern ecotoxicology and risk assessment of chemical compounds. The theoretical part of the course includes subjects such as: the fate and toxic effects of chemicals in the environment (at molecular, cellular, individual, population, and ecosystem levels), how and why chemicals are regulated, how scientific principles are applied in risk assessment and regulation of chemicals. The practical (laboratory) part of the course provides students with hands-on experience with standard and non-standard methods used in modern ecotoxicology and provide skills to analyse and present data through the preparation of laboratory reports. The course contains lectures, class-room exercises, student presentations and laboratory work and a mini symposium where the results from the laboratory exercises are presented.

Detailed description of content

The course consist of a practical part (laboratory course) and a theoretical part.

The course provides knowledge of how contaminants are regulated and includes information on how scientific principles are applied in relation to risk assessment and regulation.

The course includes characterization of contaminants according to their physical and chemical characteristics, which affects their toxicity and environmental fate. Students learn about hazardous compounds and their impact at molecular, cellular, individual, population, community and ecosystem levels. The practical part of the course (laboratory course) gives students hands-on experience with standard and non-standard methods used in modern ecotoxicology.

Course material and Reading list

Text book supplementet with primary literature. Reading list will be available on Moodle.

Overall plan and expected work effort

This course is a 10 ECTS credit course (approximately ½ of the course is based on lectures and ½ a laboratory course). The expected student workload is ca. 270 hours.

About one third of these hours are contact hours while the remaining two thirds are meant for preparation, data-analysis and writing laboratory reports.

Thus, students are expected to spend at least 3-4 hours on preparation, data analysis or report writing for each 2-hour session.

The student is expected to attend laboratory exercises and lectures, since the exam adresses both the practical and the theoretical part of the course.

Format
Evaluation and feedback

The course includes formative evaluation based on dialogue between the students and the teacher(s).

Students are expected to provide constructive critique, feedback and viewpoints during the course if it is needed for the course to have better quality. Every other year at the end of the course, there will also be an evaluation through a questionnaire in SurveyXact. The Study Board will handle all evaluations along with any comments from the course responsible teacher.

Furthermore, students can, in accordance with RUCs ‘feel free to state your views’ strategy through their representatives at the study board, send evaluations, comments or insights form the course to the study board during or after the course.

Programme

Programme will be available in Moodle later.

ASSESSMENT
Overall learning outcomes

After completing the course, students will be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental theories and methods applied in modern ecotoxicology

  • select examples and characterize contaminants and their potential sources, fates in the environment and their effect(s) on living organisms and biological systems (from molecular to ecosystem levels)

  • analyze scientific literature on relevant test methods and endpoints including the significance of controllable laboratory conditions and environmental realism in ecotoxicological tests

  • distinguish how the risk of different contaminants is assessed and regulated nationally and internationally

  • work quantitatively with ecotoxicological data (e.g. construct and understand concentration-response curves, calculate LC50s and Risk Quotients)

  • provide qualified estimates of the fate and effects of toxic compounds in different environments based on their chemical structure or physical-chemical properties

  • design and conduct relevant ecotoxicological tests (both standard and non-standard tests) for a given compound, test-species and environmental compartment

  • apply available information to interpret and assess the risks posed by toxic compounds to organisms

  • undertake risk and hazard assessments of these compounds as well as be able to interpret and communicate relevant risk assessment results to other professionals and a broader public

  • evaluate, interpret and communicate relevant laboratory results (written and orally).

Form of examination
Individual written invigilated exam

The duration of the exam is 4 hours.

Permitted support and preparation materials for the exam: Dictionaries and pocket calculator.


Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: Internal co-assessor.
Form of Re-examination
Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam
Type of examination in special cases
Examination and assessment criteria

The invigilated exam is based on questions addressing both the laboratory and the theoretical part of the course. Approximately 40% of the questions will address the laboratory part and 60% the theoretical part.

The questions contain a mix of calculation assignments, questions related to the laboratory work and questions addressing the theoretical course content.

Assesment criteria:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental theories and methods applied in modern ecotoxicology

  • select examples and characterize contaminants and their potential sources, fates in the environment and their effect(s) on living organisms and biological systems (from molecular to ecosystem levels)

  • distinguish how the risk of different contaminants is assessed and regulated nationally and internationally

  • work quantitatively with ecotoxicological data (e.g. construct and understand concentration-response curves, calculate LC50s and Risk Quotients)

  • provide qualified estimates of the fate and effects of toxic compounds in different environments based on their chemical structure or physical-chemical properties

  • design and conduct relevant ecotoxicological tests (both standard and non-standard tests) for a given compound, test-species and environmental compartment

  • apply available information to interpret and assess the risks posed by toxic compounds to organisms

  • undertake risk and hazard assessments of these compounds as well as be able to interpret and communicate relevant risk assessment results to other professionals and a broader public

Exam code(s)
Exam code(s) : U60097
Last changed 06/03/2023

lecture list:

Show lessons for Subclass: 1 Find calendar (1) PDF for print (1)

Monday 06-02-2023 10:15 - 06-02-2023 12:00 in week 06
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 09-02-2023 10:15 - 09-02-2023 12:00 in week 06
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 13-02-2023 10:15 - 13-02-2023 12:00 in week 07
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 16-02-2023 10:15 - 16-02-2023 12:00 in week 07
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 20-02-2023 10:15 - 20-02-2023 12:00 in week 08
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 23-02-2023 10:15 - 23-02-2023 12:00 in week 08
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 27-02-2023 10:15 - 27-02-2023 12:00 in week 09
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 02-03-2023 10:15 - 02-03-2023 12:00 in week 09
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 06-03-2023 10:15 - 06-03-2023 12:00 in week 10
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 09-03-2023 10:15 - 09-03-2023 12:00 in week 10
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 13-03-2023 10:15 - 13-03-2023 12:00 in week 11
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 16-03-2023 10:15 - 16-03-2023 12:00 in week 11
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 20-03-2023 10:15 - 20-03-2023 12:00 in week 12
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 23-03-2023 10:15 - 23-03-2023 12:00 in week 12
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 27-03-2023 10:15 - 27-03-2023 12:00 in week 13
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 30-03-2023 10:15 - 30-03-2023 12:00 in week 13
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Tuesday 11-04-2023 14:15 - 11-04-2023 16:00 in week 15
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 13-04-2023 10:15 - 13-04-2023 12:00 in week 15
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 17-04-2023 10:15 - 17-04-2023 12:00 in week 16
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 20-04-2023 10:15 - 20-04-2023 12:00 in week 16
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 24-04-2023 10:15 - 24-04-2023 12:00 in week 17
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 27-04-2023 10:15 - 27-04-2023 12:00 in week 17
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 01-05-2023 08:15 - 01-05-2023 16:00 in week 18
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Tuesday 02-05-2023 08:15 - 02-05-2023 16:00 in week 18
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Wednesday 03-05-2023 08:15 - 03-05-2023 16:00 in week 18
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 04-05-2023 08:15 - 04-05-2023 16:00 in week 18
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 08-05-2023 08:15 - 08-05-2023 16:00 in week 19
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Tuesday 09-05-2023 08:15 - 09-05-2023 16:00 in week 19
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Wednesday 10-05-2023 08:15 - 10-05-2023 16:00 in week 19
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Thursday 11-05-2023 08:15 - 11-05-2023 16:00 in week 19
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Friday 12-05-2023 08:15 - 12-05-2023 16:00 in week 19
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Monday 15-05-2023 08:15 - 15-05-2023 16:00 in week 20
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Tuesday 16-05-2023 08:15 - 16-05-2023 16:00 in week 20
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Wednesday 17-05-2023 08:15 - 17-05-2023 16:00 in week 20
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Friday 19-05-2023 08:15 - 19-05-2023 16:00 in week 20
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice (ES)

Friday 09-06-2023 10:00 - 09-06-2023 14:00 in week 23
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice - Exam (ES)

Thursday 10-08-2023 10:00 - 10-08-2023 14:00 in week 32
Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice - Reexam (ES)