This course enables students to become familiar with state-of-the-art concepts and methods of molecular ecotoxicology. We explore mechanisms of chemicals toxicity in fish cells and embryos, i.e. alternatives to conventional animal tests. The course is organized in theoretical and practical training components, including data evaluation/presentation. Students work both in class and in small groups.

This course provides hands-on training in state-of-the-art methods to study microbial structures and biogeochemical processes in diverse Alpine systems. The emphasis is on field-scale measurements of biogeochemical processes, but the course also includes introductory lectures, laboratory experiments/analyses, as well as excursions, and concludes with student presentations of collected data.

Future climate change can only kept within reasonable bounds when CO2 emissions are drastically reduced. In this course, we will discuss a portfolio of options involving the alteration of natural carbon sinks and carbon sequestration. The course includes introductory lectures, presentations from guest speakers from industry and the public sector, and final presentations by the students.

Basic concepts in ecology. Biological structures and functions in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Microorganisms catalyze a large number of reactions that are of great importance to terrestrial and aquatic environments. To improve our understanding of the dynamics of a specific environment, it is important to gain a better understanding of microbial structures and their functions under varying environmental conditions.

During three full-day field trips and two half-day field exercises, various aspects of soil morphology, soil genesis, and soil functioning are discussed using practical examples.

With excursions the students gain insights into scientific as well as practical aspects of various areas in which environmental chemistry and microbiology play a key role. Topics include a.o. waste water treatment, landfills, drinking water purification, impact of agriculture on surface water quality and environmental assessment of synthetic chemicals.

Microorganisms can be found in most terrestrial and aquatic habitats where they catalyze a broad variety of biological and biogeochemical processes. Throughout the course „Microbial Ecology“ the basic concepts of microbial structures and functions in natural ecosystems are discussed. Excursions, lab experiments and literature studies help to illustrate selected topics.

Teaching of basic knowledge in microbiology with main focus on the topics: Prokaryotic Diversity, Microbial Cell Structure and Function, Molecular Genetics, Microbial Growth, Metabolic Diversity, Phylogeny and Taxonomy, as well as applied aspects of Biotechnology and the Interaction of Humans and Microbes.

Microscopical, immunological, molecular and culture assays for diagnosis of pathogens of medical or veterinary importance, interpretation of diagnostic results, molecular investigations on structural and functional features of microorganisms and their interactions with their hosts or the environment.

Students present seminars on selected topics in terrestrial systems sciences (e.g., soil sciences, plant ecology). The scientific content of the seminars will then be discussed by the students. At the end the quality of presentation will also be critically evaluated and discussed.

Soil organisms play a key role on the functioning of natural soil ecosystems. This course provides a detailed overview of the diversity and functions of the soil organisms and focuses on above-belowground relationships, global change impacts on the soil functioning and diversity and methodological ways to assess and mitigate them.

Organisms and environment: terrestrial insects, insect-plant interactions, insect behaviour,

The pedological excursions are field trips to personally inspect the major soil types in our region. The various soil horizons can be seen and assessed in excavated soil pits. The purpose of this excercise is to recognize the important features of these soils and to understand the ecosystem processes at these sites. This unit complements the teaching materials and contents of the courses taught in

The ability to critically evaluate original (scientific) literature and to summarise the information in a succinct manner is an important skill for any student. This course aims to practice this ability, requiring each student to write a term paper of scientific quality on a topic of relevance for research in the areas of biogeochemistry and pollutant dynamics.

This class is the 2nd part of a series and participation is conditional on the successful completion of "Term Paper 1: Writing". The results from the term paper written during the previous term are presented to the other students and advisors and discussed with the audience.