Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016

Environmental Sciences Bachelor Information
Natural Science and Technical Electives
Individual Subjects
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-0317-00LIdentification of Woody Plants in WinterW1 credit1GA. Rudow
AbstractWoody plants are important elements of forest ecosystems and landscapes. The practical characterization of forest stands often requires the identification of woody plants in winter. The course focuses on the practical identification of native tree and shrub species to be used for the characterization of forest stands.
ObjectiveKnowledge of selected native tree and shrub species in winter. Understanding relationships of trees and forest ecosytems by in situ observation of woody plants and forest stands. Introduction into the characterization of forest stands.
ContentFour half-day excursions in the surroundings of Zurich and Baden the identification of native tree and shrub species is treated. The course aims at broadening and application of species knowledge towards the identification of woody plants during the leafless phase and their identification from distance (selected native species). Besides that the relationships of trees and forest ecosytems as well as forestry aspects are elucidated. In the context of an individual work the students will practically train and deepen their acquired knowledge.
Lecture notesRudow, A., 2013: Dendrologie Grundlagen - Bestimmungshilfe (in German, will be provided for registered students on an online-platform)
LiteratureRudow 2011 (betaversion): EBot Dendrologie.E-learning-Tool for the support of dendrology courses at ETHZ, integrated into online-application eBot.
An overview of the most adequate literature will be given at the introdcution (sept 28).
Prerequisites / NoticeHalf-day excursions into forests. Weatherproof clothes are presupposed.
The course is based on the Introduction into Dendrology (spring sem, 2nd sem).
701-0901-00LETH Week 2016: Challenging Water Restricted registration - show details
All ETH Bachelor`s, Master`s students and exchange students can take part in the ETH week 2016.
Tuition, food and accommodation are free of charge.
W1 creditR. Knutti, C. Bratrich, S. Brusoni, P. Burlando, A. Cabello Llamas, G. Folkers, D. Molnar, A. Vaterlaus, B. Wehrli
AbstractThe ETH Week is an innovative one-week course designed to foster critical thinking and creative learning. Students from all departments as well as professors and external experts will work together in interdisciplinary teams. They will develop interventions that could play a role in solving some of our most pressing global challenges. In 2016, ETH Week will focus on the topic of water.
Objective- Domain specific knowledge: Students have immersed knowledge about a certain complex, societal topic which will be selected every year They understand the complex system context of the current topic, by comprehending its scientific, technical, political, social, ecological and economic perspectives. The focus in 2016 is on challenging water systems.

- Analytical skills The ETH Week participants are able to structure complex problems systematically using selected methods. They are able to acquire further knowledge and to critically analyze the knowledge in interdisciplinary groups and with experts and the help of team tutors.

- Design skills: The students are able to use their knowledge and skills to develop concrete approaches for problem solving and decision making to a selected problem statement, critically reflect these approaches, assess their feasibility, to transfer them into a concrete form (physical model, prototypes, strategy paper,...) and to present this work in a creative way (role-plays, videos, exhibitions, etc.).

- Self-competence: The students are able to plan their work effectively, efficiently and autonomously. By considering approaches from different disciplines they are able to make a judgment and form a personal opinion. In exchange with non-academic partners from business, politics, administration, nongovernmental organizations and media they are able to communicate appropriately, present their results professionally and creatively and convince a critical audience.

- Social competence: The students are able to work in multidisciplinary teams, i.e. they can reflect critically their own discipline, debate with students from other disciplines and experts in a critical-constructive and respectful way and can relate their own positions to different intellectual approaches. They can assess how far they are able to actively make a contribution to society by using their personal and professional talents and skills and as "Change Agents".
ContentThe week is mainly about problem solving and design thinking applied to the complex world of water. During ETH Week students will have the opportunity to work in small interdisciplinary groups, allowing them to critically analyze both their own approaches and those of other disciplines, and to integrate these into their work.

While deepening their knowledge about how the food system works, students will be introduced to various methods and tools for generating creative ideas and understand how different people are affected by each part of the system. In addition to lectures and literature, students will acquire knowledge via excursions into the real world, empirical observations, and conversations with researchers and experts

A key attribute of the ETH Week is that students are expected to find their own problem, rather than just solve the problem that has been handed to them.
Therefore, the first three days of the week will concentrate on identifying a problem the individual teams will work on, while the last two days are focused on generating solutions and communicating the team's ideas.

A panel of experts will judge your presentations at the end of the week. The winning teams will receive attractive prizes.
Prerequisites / NoticeNo prerequisites. Program is open to Bachelor and Masters from all ETH Departments. All students must apply through a competitive application process that will open in March 2016 at Link. Participation is subject to successful selection through this competitive process.
051-0159-00LUrban Design I Information W1 credit2VH. Klumpner, A. Brillembourg
AbstractThe lecture series will introduce tools for reading contemporary urban conditions, urban models and operational modes. Urban development will be deciphered, presented as operational tools, extracted from cities where they have been tested and became exemplary samples, most relevant for providing the understanding of how urban landscape has taken shape as well as inspiration for future practice.
ObjectiveHow can a glossary of tools be used as a basis for reading cities and recognizing in them current trends and urban phenomena? The lectures series will produce a glossary of operational urban tools with collected urban knowledge that provides students with an 'improvised' manual to navigate theories. Urban Stories is a lecture series that aims to amplify your repertoire of urban instruments and empowers you to read cities and to critically reflect on the urban environment. The course will approach a series of case studies, employing an analytical, research-based model for crosscutting scale, political, economical and social components. Through this lens, and with our toolbox, we aim to tell the fundamental story of our cities from today and provide information, analysis and knowledge to help students prepare for justifiable own contributions and interventions in the future. Also the aspect of knowledge transfer will be considered in order to sensibilize the students to understand how to operate in an international context.
ContentHow did cities develop into the cities we live in now? Which urban plans, instruments, visions, political decisions, economic reasonings, cultural inputs and social organization have been used to operate in urban settlements in specific moments of change? Which cities are exemplary in illustrating how these instruments have been implemented and how they have shaped urban environments? Can these instruments be transcripted into urban operational tools that we recognize within existing tested cases in contemporary cities across the globe? Urban form cannot be reduced to the physical space. Cities are the result of social construction, under the influence of technologies, ecology, culture, the impact of experts and accidents. Urban unconcluded processes respond to political interests, economic pressure, cultural inclinations, along with the imagination of architects and planers and the informal powers at work in complex adaptive systems. Current urban phenomena are the result of an urban evolution. The facts stored in urban environments include contributions from its entire lifecycle. That is true for the physical environment, but also for non-physical aspects, the imaginary city that exists along with its potentials and problems and with the conflicts that have evolved over time. Knowledge and understanding along with a critical observation of the actions and policies are necessary to understand the diversity and instability present in the contemporary city and to understand how urban form evolved to its current state. This lecture series will introduce urban knowledge and the way it has introduced urban models and operational modes within different concrete realities, therefore shaping cities. Urban knowledge will be translated into operational tools, extracted from cities where they have been tested and become exemplary samples, most relevant for providing the understanding of how urban landscape has taken shape. Case studies will be identified to compile documents and an archive, that we use as templates to read the city and to critically reflect upon it. The presented contents are meant to serve as inspiration for positioning in future professional life as well as to provide instruments for valuable contributions and interventions.
Lecture notesThe skript can be downloaded from the student-server.
LiteratureThe learning material can be downloaded from the student-server: afp://brillembourg-klumpner-server.ethz.ch

Please check also the Chair website: Link
Prerequisites / NoticeEXERCISE
After each lecture, students are asked to produce an exercise based on the presented tools. The format of the exercise is an A3 or an A4, according to the given template. Each student has one week to prepare each exercise, and it should be delivered, in form of a physical copy, in the next lecture. (Language: preferably English, German).
The Exercise tasks are a valuable preparation for the Exam (Exam only relevant for the "Jahreskurs" students) therefore it is highly recommendable to finalize all weekly Exercise tasks, as an individually conducted piece of work.


"Semesterkurs" (semester course) students from other departments or students taking this lecture as GESS / Studium Generale course as well as exchange students must submit a research paper, which will be subject to the performance assessment: "Bestanden" (pass) or "Nicht bestanden" (failed) as the performance assessment type, for "Urban Design I: Urban Stories" taken as a semester course, is categorized as "unbenotete Semesterleistung" (ungraded semester performance).
751-3401-00LPlant Nutrition IW2 credits2VE. Frossard
AbstractThe aim of these lecture is to present the processes controlling the uptake and transport of nutrients and water by the plant, the assimilation of nutrients in the plant, the effect of nutrients on crop yield and quality, the role of the soil as a source of nutrients for crops, and the basic principles of fertilization of different crop types using mineral and organic fertilizers.
ObjectiveAt the end of the lecture, students know how mineral nutrients and water are taken up through roots and circulate in the plants and what their roles in plants are. They understand the importance of nutrients for yield formation and for crop product quality. They are able to propose fertilization plans adapted for field crops growing under Swiss conditions.
ContentA general introduction explains the needs of appropriately managing nutrients in plant production. Afterwards, we will study the physiology of plant nutrition (nutrient uptake by roots; water and nutrient transports in the plant; physiological roles of nutrients in the plant). Then the role of nutrients for yield formation and their effects on crop quality is dealt with. Finally, the bases of crop fertilization are taught (availability of nutrient in soil; N, P and K fertilization; different types of fertilizers).
Lecture notesWe will distribute a script for the part dealing with the physiology of plant nutrition. For the part on fertilization we will use the booklet of ACW and ART presenting the recommendations for the fertilization of crops and grassland in Switzerland (GRUDAF/DBF).
LiteraturePhysiology of plant nutrition:
Epstein and Bloom 2004. Mineral nutrition of plants: Principles and perspectives
Taiz and Zeiger 2002. Plant physiology.
Marschner 1995. Mineral Nutrition of higher plants.
Schilling 2000. Pflanzenernährung und Düngung.
Schubert S 2006 Pflanzenernährung Grundwissen Bachelor Ulmer UTB
Pictures of nutrients deficiency symptoms:
Bergmann, W. 1988. Ernährungsstörungen bei Kulturpflanzen.
Link
Water balance:
Kramer, P.J., Boyer, J.S. 1995. Water relations of plants and soils.
Lösch, R. 2001. Wasserhaushalt der Pflanzen.
Ehlers, W. 1996. Wasser in Boden und Pflanze.
751-4801-00LSystem-Oriented Management of Herbivore Insects IW2 credits2GD. Mazzi
AbstractThe focus is on the potential to assess strategies and tactics of pest management, taking into account the demands from the economy, the environment and the society. Significant agricultural approaches will be explained using practical examples, including prevention using natural resources, surveillance and forecasting, resistance management, as well as product registration, incl. ecotoxicology.
ObjectiveThe students gain a good understanding of fundamental aspects of pest management in agroecosystems. They will have the ability to assess options for action in view of requirements from the economy, the ecology and the society. Further, they will learn to perform searches on relevant issues in pest management, and to critically evaluate case studies.
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