Biology: Applied Ecotoxicology

This course aims to provide understanding and practical knowledge of how ecotoxicological theories and models are applied and implemented by different stakeholders in society, mainly outside academia. An overall aim is to identify the role of ecotoxicology in society and to practice use of your knowledge of ecotoxicology to resolve issues or problems caused by the use of chemicals. We will highlight present and historical case studies and practice how to develop strategies to handle and communicate these and similar issues in academia, authorities and the rest of society. You will be introduced to the concept of risk and perform state-of-the-art environmental risk assessments. You will get an overview of the most important actors dealing with pollutant issues in society and meet representatives during exercise and study visits. You will be tasked with addressing/solving an actual present ecotoxicological issue in an applied literature project commissioned from stakeholders in society. The knowledge and skills acquired will be fundamental if you want to work with and communicate environmental issues regarding pollutants.

You will learn and practice several different presentation techniques aimed at a variety of target audiences. In lectures, seminars and exercises you will develop your skills in oral presentations, scientific writing, report writing, and poster presentation.

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

During seminars you will present and discuss contemporary ecotoxicological issues based on current scientific understanding. Topics vary but examples are: microplastics, PFAS, and nanosafety.

You will perform two larger projects:

1. a probabilistic environmental risk analysis using Monte Carlo simulations and state-of-the-art risk software, using guideline models of exposure, and effects assessments (e.g. Species Sensitivity Distributions) The project is presented as a written article and a poster.
2.  an applied project from society. Actors in society: e.g. industry, consulting agencies, municipalities, regional county boards, NGOs, KEMI, university etc, commission issues and problems that the students will address during the course. This project is presented as a written report and orally.

During the course you will attend several study visits to experience how ecotoxicology is implemented in society. You will visit consulting agencies, facilities, and authorities to get a broad spectrum of activities where ecotoxicology knowledge is applied. At the end of the course there is an open seminar in the form of a conference where you present your projects. There is no written exam, and knowledge will be tested during seminars and written and oral presentations.

Entry requirements

105 ECTS credits Science studies including courses corresponding to BIOC02 Ecology 15 ECTS credits, Chemistry 15 ECTS credits, and BIOR41 Ecotoxicology 15 ECTS credits or KEMB06 Analytical Chemistry 15 ECTS credits. English 6/English Course B.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 46,250
First payment: SEK 46,250

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.