99996 - HOT TOPICS IN MARINE RESEARCH

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has advanced knowledge on the main and most recent topics in marine sciences, and in particular those concerning the themes of "marine habitats", "biotic resources and fisheries" and the interactions between biotic and abiotic components in marine ecosystems on a regional and global scale. The student is able to address in an analytical and critical way the various biological, physiological, ecological, physiographic, legal and political-economic aspects of the problems, has the ability to synthesise and illustrate the analysed aspects, to design and plan experiments and to provide solutions.

Course contents

In the first part of the course, the most current and innovative research topics relating to each of the three teaching modules will be introduced in an open discussion in which students will be actively involved. Then, the proposals discussed will be used to define the specific research projects necessary for the second part of the course. In this first part of the course lessons on Information Literacy in the marine field and lesson on drafting a scientific paper and its dissemination and communication will be offered.

In the second part of the course the students will be divided into working groups to develop an original and structured research project, on a specific theme chosen by the students amongst those proposed during the lectures. This work is aimed at producing an original and structured research project on a specific topic chosen by the students relating to those proposed during the first part of the course. The work will be performed under the teachers’ supervision.

Finally, each group will present and discus the projects to the whole class and the three teachers.

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific articles in English provided to the students and illustrated during the lessons and power point presentations.

Teaching methods

Group work activity in class assisted by the teachers, to develop an original and structured research project, on a specific theme chosen by the students.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation of the course includes two tests:

1. Evaluation of the group work activity through project presentation and discussion with a peer-to-peer approach - 60% of the overall grade (NB: The test is carried out in class with all the groups present).
2. Individual report on the chosen topic, using the scheme defined by the teachers and presented to the classroom - 40% of the overall grade.

The final grade will be determined by the weighted average of the marks obtained in the two tests together with the evaluation by the teachers of the degree of participation of the single student in group work and during the classroom discussion.

 

Teaching tools

Powerpoint and scientific articles. Discussion in the classroom.

 

Students who need compensatory tools for reasons related to disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) can directly contact the Service for Students with Disabilities (disabilita@unibo.it [mailto:disabilita@unibo.it] ) and the Service for Students with learning disabilities (dsa@unibo.it [mailto:dsa@unibo.it] ) to agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

Office hours

See the website of Federica Costantini

See the website of Fausto Tinti

See the website of Claudia Romagnoli