Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2024
Agricultural Sciences Master  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Major in Animal Sciences | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Methodology Competences | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Methods for Scientific Research | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 751-3801-00L | Experimental Design and Applied Statistics in Agroecosystem Science | W | 3 credits | 2G | A. Hund, C. Grieder, R. Kölliker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Different experimental designs will be discussed and various statistical tools will be applied to research questions in agroecosystem sciences. Statistical methods range from simple analysis of variance to mixed-models and multivariate statistics. Surveys and manipulative field and laboratory experiments are addressed and students learn to analyse data using a hands-on approach. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will know various statistical analyses and their application to science problems in their study area as well as a wide range of experimental design options used in environmental and agricultural sciences. They will practice to use statistical software packages (R), understand pros and cons of various designs and statistics, and be able to statistically evaluate their own results as well as those of published studies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course program uses a learning-by-doing approach ("hands-on minds-on"). The topics are introduced as short lectures, but most of the work is done on the computer using different packages of R – a software for statistical computing and graphics. In addition to contact hours exercises must be finalized and handed in for grading. The credit points will be given based on successful assessments of selected exercises. The tentative schedule contains the following topics: Introduction to experimental design and applied statistics in R Data handling and data exploration with tidyverse Designs of field and growth chamber experiments theory Design creation with DiGGer Fitting linear mixed-effects models with lme4 Marginal means estimation and post-hoc tests with emmeans Nonlinear regression fits Statistical learning techniques Principle component analysis, canonical correpondence analysis (CCA), cluster analysis Random forest This course does not provide the mathematical background that students are expected to bring along when signing up to this course. Alternatively, students can consider some aspects of this course as a first exposure to solutions in experimental design and applied statistics and then deepen their understanding in follow-up statistical courses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts will be available (in English) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | A selection of suggested additional literature, especially for German speaking students will be presented in the introductory lecture. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This course is based on the course Mathematik IV: Statistik, passed in the 2nd year and the Bachelor's course "Wissenschaftliche Datenauswertung und Datenpräsentation" (751-0441-00L) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 751-6003-00L | Training Course in Research Groups (Large)  | W+ | 6 credits | 13P | S. M. Bernal Ulloa, S. Neuenschwander, M. Niu, H. Pausch, M. Saenz de Juano Ribes, S. E. Ulbrich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The students will learn the conceptual and methodological background of research in the animal science groups of the Institute of Plant, Animal and Agroecosystem Science. In addition to teaching the theoretical background, the major aim of the course is to integrate the students into the research groups (on job training) and, hence, to focus on the practical application of the knowledge. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | - Introduction into the conceptual and methodological basis of research - Integration of the students into the research groups (on job training) - Application of the gained knowledge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The students will be integrated into the research groups’ day-to-day work and will thus deal with all aspects of scientific work. This comprises the planning (conceptually and logistically), execution (data collection, laboratory analyses) and evaluation (statistics, data presentation) of experiments as well as the basics of scientific writing (aim: later publication, Master thesis). The research topics and the range of methodologies vary between the animal science research groups in the Institute of Plant, Animal and Agroecosystem Sciences. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Specific readings after enlisting in a particular research group. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The number of training slots in the various groups is limited. It is therefore highly recommended to contact the group leaders early enough (first come first serve). The full integration in a research group often means to work on weekends. The total time budget is equivalent to about 180 hours. Active participation in group meetings (discussion, presentation) and short written reports about the work conducted are required for the 6 credit points. There are no grades, it is only pass or fail. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 751-6003-01L | Training Course in Research Groups (Small) | W+ | 3 credits | 6P | S. M. Bernal Ulloa, S. Neuenschwander, M. Niu, H. Pausch, M. Saenz de Juano Ribes, S. E. Ulbrich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The students will learn the conceptual and methodological background of research in the animal science groups of the Institute of Plant, Animal and Agroecosystem Science. In addition to teaching the theoretical background, the major aim of the course is to integrate the students into the research groups (on job training) and, hence, to focus on the practical application of the knowledge. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | - Introduction into the conceptual and methodological basis of research - Integration of the students into the research groups (on job training) - Application of the gained knowledge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The students will be integrated into the research groups’ day-to-day work and will thus deal with all aspects of scientific work. This comprises the planning (conceptually and logistically), execution (data collection, laboratory analyses) and evaluation (statistics, data presentation) of experiments as well as the basics of scientific writing (aim: later publication, Master thesis). The research topics and the range of methodologies vary between the animal science research groups in the Institute of Plant, Animal and Agroecosystem Sciences. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Specific readings after enlisting in a particular research group. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The number of training slots in the various groups is limited. It is therefore highly recommended to contact the group leaders early enough (first come first serve). The full integration in a research group often means to work on weekends. The total time budget is equivalent to about 90 hours. Active participation in group meetings (discussion, presentation) and short written reports about the work conducted are required for the 3 credit points. There are no grades, it is only pass or fail. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Project Management for Scientific Research | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Title | Type | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-6001-00L | Forum: Livestock in the World Food System | W+ | 2 credits | 2S | S. Meese | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This forum is a platform for the critical reflection of relevant topics of livestock in the frame of the world food system comprising issues from basic knowledge to acceptance in society. The exchange is operated by scientific writing and presentation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | In the Forum "Livestock in the World Food System", a topic of significance for livestock agriculture is selected by the students and subsequently dealt with from various angles (from scientific basis to production systems, environmental aspects and to the acceptance by society). The students learn to present a scientific subject in writing and orally to an audience and to defend the presentation in a discussion. Further, feedback is intended to improve the presentation style. Furthermore, the review process of a scientific paper will be demonstrated and applied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The Forum "Livestock in the World Food System" will take place in blocks of 2 hours each. Once the general topic has been selected, it comprises two parts: Part 1 Aspect 1 - Oral presentation: The students form small groups and are lecturers. Aspect 2 - chairperson: There are moderators which are chosen from outside of the presenting groups and they will lead the discussion and the remaining students and the lecturer are the audience and ask questions. Aspect 3 - feedback: At the beginning, students form teams of 2, which are not in the same group, to give each other feedback on their presentation style. Part 2. Aspect 1 - Scientific writing: Preparation of a critical review of a chosen publication and individual exchange with the lecturer. Aspect 2 - Defense: There will be a discussion in small groups on several dates to discuss the chosen publication in detail and the observations during the process. Introductions to both presentation forms will be given by the lecturer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | no scriptum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Requirements for allocation of the two credit points: - oral talk with sufficient handout - delivery of the scientific writing in sufficient quality - active participation during all presentations (in case of absence there will be additional tasks) - feedback on the presentation style of a student | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 751-5201-10L | Tropical Cropping Systems, Soils and Livelihoods (with Excursion) IMPORTANT: Students who enroll for this course are strongly recommended to verify with lecturers from other courses whether their absence of two weeks may affect their performance in the respective courses. | W+ | 5 credits | 10G | J. Six, K. Benabderrazik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems and food systems. Students gain practical knowledge of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods for tropical soils and agroecosystems. An integral part of the course is the two-week field project in the Mount Kenya Region, which is co-organized with the University of Embu (Kenya) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | (1) Overview of the major land use systems in Tropical agroecosystems in several contexts Africa (2) Interdisciplinary analysis of agricultural production systems (3) Knowledge on methods to assess agroecological performance of a tropical agroecosystems (4) Hands-on training on the use of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods. (5) Gain practical knowledge on how to assess to climate resilience and farming systems. (6) Collaboration in international students and stakeholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | This course guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems. Students of ETH Zürch will work together with the students from Embu University (Kenya) in an interdisciplinary and intercultural team. Students will focus on the Agroecological performance and climate resilience of diverse farming systems in the Mount Kenya Region. From October 28th to November 11th, The students will take part in a field course in the Mount Kenya Region. Students will then gain practical knowledge on field, meeting several stakeholders of the agricultural and food systems and conducting various assessments related to climate resilience and farming systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | We would require the students enrolled to the class to send a short cover letter (1-page max.) by September 18rd 2023, justifying your motivation to enroll to this class. A selection of 20 students will be done on the basis of the letters. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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