Teaching Methodologies
The teaching approach will be based on self-learning, starting with the introduction to fundamental concepts using interactive and participatory lectures, followed by the development of practical case studies, fostering autonomy in the development of knowledge and scientific thinking of the students. To this end, the UC will implement a “problem based solution” strategy.
Missions include field trips, laboratory work, as well as data processing and analysis, and modelling of the investigated environmental systems. The final evaluation will involve presenting and defending a final project.
Learning Results
Understands the processes and challenges posed to the sustainability of natural and productive systems, and the growing demand for a paradigm shift in the exploitation of these systems at a global level.
Knows and develops responses and solutions in the context of global change (e.g. including population growth, changes in land use and climate change).
The objective of this course is to provide skills related to: 1. The importance of soils in both natural and productive systems; 2. The biophysical structure and associated functional processes; 3. Development of natural resources and sustainable productive systems; and 4. modelling of environmental systems. The development of these topics will enable students to acquire skills related to fundamental concepts in the realm of sustainability of natural and productive systems and in the formulation of solutions conceptually aligned with nature-based solutions.
Program
1. Role of natural supports and their interaction in agricultural and forest systems: basic concepts, soil-water-vegetation-atmosphere interactions; degradation processes; Nature-based solutions to Recover and Restore degraded systems.
2. Biophysical structure and associated functional processes: characterization of agricultural and forest ecosystems; biodiversity and ecosystem services.
3. Valuation of natural resources and sustainable production systems: traditional production systems; chemical composition of lignocellulosic materials; determination of lignocellulosic material constituents; valorisation processes.
4. Modelling of environmental systems: vulnerability/risk mapping to supporting decision-making in remediation and valuation of natural resources/residues; Climate risks and environmental sustainability. Energy transition and emerging critical natural products.
Internship(s)
NAO
Bibliography
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Lynch DR 2009. Sustainable natural resource management: For scientists and engineers. Cambridge University Press.
Marshak S, 2018. EARTH, Portrait of a Planet. 6th edition, W.W. Norton & Company.
Molles MC, Sher AA, 2018. ISE Ecology: Concepts and Applications