This course addresses the priority theme of scientific communication in the field of ecology (with a particular focus on the ecology of aquatic environments). The objective is to provide students with general knowledge on the main topics concerning ecology and ecosystem services. Students will acquire a good knowledge of the main methods of dissemination of the main concepts related to aquatic ecology and will be able to effectively present them orally and/or in writing, with the appropriate terminology, overall useful for being applied also in teaching.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Understand the main concepts of ecology 2. Acquire a good knowledge of the major current environmental problems 3. Discuss different case studies that exemplify the different forms of existing pollution such as eutrophication, acidification, contamination by micropollutants 4. Understand scientific language and translate it into a language suitable for the general public
Teaching Methods
The course is based on blended learning for 66% of the total hours, delivered via the Microsoft Teams platform. The course content will be presented using PowerPoint with theses, images, and videos, as well as contributions from industry experts to discuss case studies. Additionally, the course will include workshops in which students will engage in practical activities, including field trips.
Assessment Methods
The assessment of learning is carried out with a final written test. The written test lasts approximately 2 hours and includes open-ended questions and multiple choices, each on one of the main themes of the course program. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths. The teacher positively evaluates the ability to organize knowledge in a reasoned way, rigor and argumentative originality. For the question related to the exits on the territory positively evaluates the capacity for critical reasoning. Quality of exposure and the use of the appropriate and specialized vocabulary are essential to pass the exam brilliantly. Any praise rewards students who demonstrate particular ability to deepen the topics covered.
Contents
We are living in one of the moments of maximum scientific knowledge and ease access to any kind of information, still the pandemic has put the problem of scientific dissemination at the center of the discussion. Science today has become a public affair. However, communicating science is a complex activity because the scientific communicator must not only understand the scientific specialist language, but he/she must be able to translate scientific notions into a form accessible and understandable to the general public. The course will provide an overview of the general principles of ecology (with particular reference to aquatic ecology) to allow a greater understanding of the current major environmental issues, providing the tools to find correct and updated information. The course will then provide an overview of scientific dissemination and the role it plays in today's society.
First part of the course: General principles of ecology Aquatic ecosystems Trophic networks Ecosystem services Anthropogenic impacts (chemical pollution, noise, alien species, etc.).
Second part of the course: Development of a scientific project Traditional methods of dissemination within the scientific community – strengths and weaknesses How to evaluate sources: peer review, open access and preprint; press releases, interviews Digital communication and social media – students will be involved in practical exercises of scientific dissemination Scientific journalism Infographics – role, importance and examples
Course Language
Italian
More information
The teacher receives before or at the end of each lesson or in her study on any day of the week by e-mail appointment (ginevra.boldrocchi@uninsubria.it)
