BIOS4218 – Field Course in Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Biodiversity

Course content

The course provides insight in tropical ecology, flora and fauna, focusing on Brazil. In addition it will cover the conservation of tropical rainforest from a regional and global perspective along with current and future threats to biodiversity through human activity. The course provides a unique opportunity to get practical and theoretical instruction from a broad group of experts and facilitates intensive interaction with them as well as with Brazilian students.

Learning outcome

After this course, you will have:

  • Good insight in the ecology and conservation of tropical rainforest
  • Knowledge on the most important taxonomic groups in tropical rainforest
  • Practice in designing and implementing tropical field studies with minimal prior knowledge and logistic support
  • Experience with international collaboration, scientific writing and presenting research results.

Admission to the course

There are 8 places on this course and it is open for students in biological sciences at UiO and NMBU. The study places will be divided 50/50.

For students at UiO:

Application deadline 1st of July

Students fro UiO apply by sending an e-mail to studieinfo@ibv.uio.no within the deadline.

Applicants at UiO are ranked by the following criteria:

1.Students who have been admitted to "Biodiversity and Systematics" at UiO.

2. Other master students in biological science at UiO.

3. Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally.

For students at NMBU:

Application deadline 1st of June

Students from NMBU apply by sending an e-mail to studieveileder-mina@nmbu.no <mailto:studieveileder-mina@nmbu.no> within the deadline

Applicants at NMBU are ranked by the following criteria:

1. Students who have been admitted to the master program in Ecology, study option "Tropical ecology and management of natural resources".

2. Other master students in biological science at NMBU. Applicants will be ranked from their relevance in background and further study (especially the topic for the master thesis).

Applicants from NMBU have to apply for admission to Single course studies on Master’s level at the latest on the 15. of June.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Students must have been admitted to an MSc program in the biological sciences.

Teaching

The course consists of a 3 week field trip to Brazil from early September.

Presentation of seminars and attendance to field activities, lab and classes are mandatory during the course. 

Attendance is mandatory for the first lecture. This also applies for those on the waiting list. You will lose your seat on the course if documentation for absence is not provided to the student administration studieinfo@ibv.uio.no prior to the first lecture.

As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Cost of taking the course

Students are responsible for getting the necessary vaccinations and applying for a visa if this is required. The costs for this, as well the activities in Norway (including transport to and from Gardermoen Airport) are covered by the students themselves. Plane tickets and accommodation in Brazil, including transportation and meals in the field station, are covered by the course.

For further information please visit the following website: https://www.brcbn.com/field-course-bios4218

Examination

Evaluation is based on three seminar presentations and one final report. Each seminar presentation counts 25% towards the final grade, and the report of the final project counts 25% towards the final grade.

All parts must be passed.

Submit assignments in Inspera: You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read more about how to submit assignments in Inspera.

Use of sources and citations: You must familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citation. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating or attempted cheating.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Common Student System) Mar. 29, 2024 9:35:40 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn

The course will not be taught autumn 2024. The course will be taught next time in autumn 2025.

Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English