JICA 204

The course introduces students to key principles of ecology pertaining to the flow of energy and material cycling on Planet Earth. It emphasizes interactions between abiotic and biotic environment and hence the basis for sustainable environmental management. The Course stresses the importance of ecosystems for their services to humankind, human-ecosystem interactions, and the understanding of ecological principles.

This course is designed to equip students with a fundamental understanding of the field of environmental chemistry for students whose major is primarily in chemistry, biology, geology, industrial hygiene, environmental management, or other disciplines. While organic chemistry / advanced chemistry courses are not prerequisites to this class, a course work in general chemistry is preferred.

Students will be introduced to the role that micro organisms play in most of the biogeochemical processes. Environmental factors which affect their growth and distribution will be illustrated to students. Importance and conservation of soil and water micro-organisms will also be covered. Use of microbes in mineral processing, pollution control and weed control and food production will be demonstrated to students.

This course unit is designed to give an overview of the classification of higher plants, as well as uses, threats and conservation of higher plants. Classification is important for environment and natural resources management. The classification of organisms and knowledge about their scientific identification facilitates communication about the organisms.  This helps to determine, for example, which species are threatened or which species are of least conservation concern

The Course Unit aims at introducing invertebrates as a taxonomically wide range of resources, with emphasis on beneficial aspects (food, environmental indicators, components of food chains and nutrient cycling in ecosytems, etc) and harmful ones (pests, parasites and disease vectors). A general classification of invertebrates based on structure will be made with empahasis on or tracking those taxa that contain beneficial or harmful individuals.