| Forest & Landscape
55 % Department of Agricultural Sciences 45 % | |||||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | MSc. 1 year | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||||
| Course Level | MSc | ||||||||||||||||
| Examination | Final Examination written examination and oral examination Portfolio Examination All aids allowed Description of Examination: Project portfolio, oral presentations Weight: 80% portfolio; 20% presentations 13-point scale, internal examiner | ||||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | |||||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 1 Week Structure: B | ||||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English | ||||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | A bachelors degree from KVL within Natural Resources (relevant subspecializations: 'environmental science' and 'nature and society') or within 'Landscape Architecture', 'Landscape Management' or equivalent degrees from other universities. | ||||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||||
| At the end of the course, students should have demonstrated the ability to: Basic Science: - Understand and transfer urban ecosystem theories and principles to problem oriented studies in the urban environment. Applied science: - Apply principles from their specific discipline with a view to obtain improvements in urban ecosystem functionality and design. Ethics and Values: - Reflect upon and discuss the value systems that underlie structure and functioning of various urban ecosystems across the globe, with particular reference to north European urban areas. | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||||
| The course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the structures, functions and dynamics of urban ecosystems, and how these can be researched, designed and managed in a sustainable way. A project offers the opportunity to apply this knowledge and the skills in either: . A natural science based study of an aspect of urban ecology, or . A landscape architecture project focusing on urban ecology. | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||||
| The urban ecosystem approach is a holistic approach to the planning and management of the urban environment. It does not cover a single discipline, but integrates disciplines such as social, natural, planning and engineering sciences. Each discipline requires different tools and methods to conduct research in their respective field. Lectures will introduce the theory and concepts of urban ecosystems and explore a range of themes relevant to their planning, design and management for sustainable development. Projects provide an opportunity for problem based learning. Lectures: . Concepts and principles of urban ecosystems; structure, metabolism, dynamics; . A history of 'liveable cities' . The Ecosan principles . Changing urban structures to enhance natural processes . Methods for analysis of urban ecosystems . Biodiversity of urban areas . The management of water in the urban environment . Polluted soils . The legal framework of environmental control in Danish cities . Critical reflections on Terrain and landscape construction . Energy aspects in food systems . Urban agriculture and global change. Project: An urban ecology study or a project in urban ecosystem design and construction. A science based study provides the opportunity to explore in depth an important issue e.g. such as the management of water, wastes, dealing with polluted soils or urban biodiversity. The design project allows students from different programmes (Landscape Architecture, Landscape Management, Agriculture, Forestry, Soil Sciences, and others) to bring in and further develop their specific knowledge and skills to the design of an urban ecosystem. | |||||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||||
| The planning, design and management of urban ecosystems is an interdisciplinary task. Therefore, the course is jointly organised and taught by experts from natural, social, engineering, planning and design sciences. The course consists of lectures, seminars, field trips and a project: a project for the design and construction of an urban ecosystem or alternatively a natural science based project on a specific topic relevant to urban ecosystem management. The group project includes: . A report with an outline of the approach . Seminars . Analysis of site/ ecosystem /specific natural science issue . Sketches/ maps (design project), and . Assessed presentations. The size of the project elements will differ depending on whether more emphasis is placed on a scientific urban ecology study (to be presented in a longer report) or a landscape architecture project (with a short report). | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||||
| Core reading: Hough M., 1995. Cities and Natural Process. Routledge, London. Kendle T., Forbes S., 1999. Urban Nature Conservation. Landscape Management in the Urban Countryside. Spon Press, London. Marcotullio P.J., Boyle G., 2004. Defining an Ecosystem Approach to Urban Management and Policy Development, United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, Tokyo (downloaded 2005 from: http://www.ias.unu.edu). Wheeler, S.M., Beatley, T., 2004. The Sustainable Urban Development Reader. Routledge, London. Further literature will be recommended during the course in connection with specific themes. | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||
| Stephan Pauleit, sp@life.ku.dk, Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning/Unit of Landscape, Phone: 35331787 Jakob Magid, jma@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333491 Torben Dam, toda@life.ku.dk, Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning/Unit of Landscape, Phone: 35331797 Marina Bergen Jensen, mbj@life.ku.dk, Forest & Landscape Denmark/Unit of Landscape, Phone: 35331790 Jesper Luxhøi, jelu@life.ku.dk, Department of Agricultural Sciences/Plant and Soil Science, Phone: 35333494 | |||||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||