ZOOL300 Insect ecology and research

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Lisa Fagerli Lunde

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk, norsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:Structured teaching: approx. 50 hours. Litterature search, preparation for presentations, development of research proposals and evaluation of others proposals: approx. 200 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel.

About this course

In this course, students will learn about important and current topics in insect ecology within a global perspective. Important topics are insect diversity, interactions, behaviour, evolution, and how insects respond to anthropogenic change including declines in insect populations. The students will learn methods that are used in scientific research: finding and summarizing scientific literature, identifying research gaps, giving presentations and writing a research application within insect ecology.

Learning outcome

After completing the course the student should have gained the following qualifications:

Knowledge: The student has thorough knowledge of important and current topics in insect ecology, with an emphasis on insect decline, interactions, behaviour, and anthropogenic impacts on insect ecology. The students will learn to assess and investigate scientific evidence, causes, knowledge gaps and ways forward in research, contributing to their education on the sustainable use of ecosystems.

Skills: The student can find, select and read relevant scientific literature within insect ecology. The student can critically assess, summarize and present current knowledge within a given topic. The student can identify research gaps and write a reduced research proposal within insect ecology. The student can evaluate and discuss scientific research proposals.

General competance: The student can find, assess and summarize scientific literature, detect research gaps and argue for how research gaps might be closed by a research proposal. The students will learn how to work efficiently in groups, critically discuss scientific literature, write and evaluate research proposals.

Learning activities
The teaching is split into two parts. In part 1, the students should find and select their own literature within different topics in insect ecology and present it for the other students. This work is mostly based on active learning methods such as small-group work. In part 2, the students should find research gaps within one topic in insect ecology and write a research proposal to bridge this gap. The students will evaluate each other’s applications and take part in a board meeting to select the best research proposal. Throughout the course, the teachers will give short lectures, supervision, and provide feedback on literature selection, presentations, research proposals and how the students evaluate other students’ proposals.
Teaching support
The candidate´s learning can be supported through academic supervision during the teacher´s office hours.
Prerequisites
ECOL200.
Recommended prerequisites
ZOOL240
Assessment method
Portfolio assessment:
Literature selections and summaries of thematic questions count 40%. Individually written project application and assessment of others applications count 60%. The student have to pass both parts.

Portfolio Grading: Letter grades
Examiner scheme
An internal and external examiner is necessary in order to ensure quality control.
Mandatory activity
The students must participate in minimum 80% of the scheduled activities
Teaching hours
2+4 hours per week for ca. 10 weeks
Admission requirements
Special requirements in Science