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701-0909-00L 3 Credits BSC D-USYS

Seminar Environmental Systems

Seminar Umweltsysteme

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Gregory Velicer
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:54

Abstract

Students work in teams to develop an interdisciplinary question, research the literature required to answer it and create an overview of the scientific facts. On this basis, they then create information material for a non-scientific audience in a selected media form (video or infographic).

Objective

Students are able to • develop a question on an interdisciplinary environmental topic by researching the current research literature and documenting it in a literature management program • Work collaboratively to summarize key scientific facts related to a specific question and present them in a concise factsheet • Effectively prepare and present scientific facts in an accessible and engaging way to inform and educate the general public on a selected topic

Content

• Input on research and writing in interdisciplinary groups • Input from specialists on suitable forms of communication for a non-scientific audience ("media product") • Review and synthesis of current literature on a given interdisciplinary topic ("factsheet") • Work in interdisciplinary groups from the specialisations with work-in-progress and feedback discussions of the scientific factsheets and media products • Milestones: Factsheet and final presentation of the media products

Resources

Lecture Notes

all materials are on Moodle

General Information

Language
German
Levels
BSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
ungraded semester performance
Gruppenkriterium: Zeitliches und qualitatives Erfüllen der Milestones.Einzelkriterium: anteilsmässige Beiträge an Recherche und Infomaterial sowie aktive Teilnahme an den Work-in-Progress-Diskussionen und Feedbacks. Präsentation kann auf Deutsch oder Englisch sein.

Registration & Places

Priority: Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
seminar Seminar Umweltsysteme
  • Wed 16:15-18:00 (HG E 1.1)
  • Wed 16:15-18:00 (RZ D 8)
  • 15.04 Date 16:15-18:00 (HG E 3)
2 h weekly

Offered In

      • Biogeochemistry (The following courses are highly recommended as preparation for the Specialization in Biogeochemistry: 701-0225-00L Organic Chemistry (Autumn semester) 752-0100-00L Biochemie (Autumn semester) 752-1300-00L Introduction to Toxicology (Spring semester) These courses should be successfully completed during the second year.)
      • Atmosphere and Climate (The following courses are highly recommended as preparation for the Specialization in Atmosphere and Climate: 701-0106-00L Mathematik V: Angewandte Vertiefung von Mathematik I - III (Spring semester) 402-0048-00L Fortgeschrittene Physik für Umwelt- und ErdwissenschaftlerInnen (Spring semester) These courses should be successfully completed during the second year.)
      • Environmental Biology (The following courses are highly recommended as preparation for the Specialization in Environmental Biology: 227-0399-10L Physiology and Anatomy for Biomedical Engineers I (Autumn semester) 551-0448-00L Zoologie (Spring semester) 701-0360-00L Systematische Biologie: Pflanzen (Spring semester) 227-0398-10L Physiology and Anatomy for Biomedical Engineers II (Spring semester) These courses should be successfully completed during the second year.)
      • Forest and Landscape (The following courses are highly recommended as preparation for the Specialization in Forest and Landscape: 701-0266-00L Einführung in die Dendrologie (Autumn semester) 701-0951-00L GIS I: Grundlagen der Geografischen Informationssysteme (Autumn Semester) 701-0360-00L Systematische Biologie: Pflanzen (Spring semester) These courses should be successfully completed during the second year.)
      • Human-Environment Systems (The following courses are highly recommended as preparation for the Specialization in Human-Environment Systems: 401-0625-0L Applied Analysis of Variance and Experimental Design 401-0649-00L Applied Statistical Regression These courses should be successfully completed during the second year.)