Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech

Environmental Biology (250552) – Course 2025/26 PDF

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

This subject aims to enable students to acquire the necessary zoological and botanical knowledge in the field of Environmental Biology. To this end, the main characteristics of cells, the large groups of organisms that make up ecosystems, their differential characteristics and the fundamental aspects of their biology and metabolism, as well as their distribution and relationship with the environment, will be studied. - Recognize the characteristics of living beings (what are they?, where do they come from?, how do they change? and why do they change?). - Understand the molecular bases of life - Identify the large groups of living organisms and the mechanisms that give rise to biological diversity. - Develop skills in laboratory techniques At the end of the subject Environmental Biology, the student must be able to no only to recognize the characteristics of living things, their complexity and their interrelations with their surroundings but also to understand the molecular bases of life and the mechanisms that make possible the existence of biological diversity.

Competencies

Especific

To know and apply the lexicon and concepts of the Marine Sciences and Technologies and other related fields.

Establish a good practice in the integration of common numerical, laboratory and field techniques in the analysis of any problem related to the marine environment.

Generic

Develop a professional activity in the field of Marine Sciences and Technologies.

Address in a comprehensive manner the analysis and preservation of the marine environment with sustainability criteria.

Total hours of student work

Hours Percentage
Supervised Learning Large group 40h 66.70 %
Laboratory classes 20h 33.30 %
Self Study 90h

Teaching Methodology

The course consists of 4 hours per week of classroom activity (large size group). Three hours are devoted to theoretical lectures, in which the teacher presents the basic concepts and topics of the subject, shows examples and solves exercises. The following hour is devoted to solving practical problems with greater interaction with the students. The objective of these practical exercises is to consolidate the general and specific learning objectives. The rest of hours devoted to laboratory practices. Support material in the form of a detailed teaching plan is provided using the virtual campus ATENEA: content, program of learning and assessment activities conducted and literature. To do the laboratory practices you need the following personal protective equipment (PPE): * White lab coat UPC Chemical

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

Ordinary Evaluation (OE) The qualification of the continuous assessment is the weighted arithmetic mean of the exercises/problems (Pr) carried out during the course, of the activities directed as practices or reports (Tr) and of two Exams (Ex, which will have the same value). There will be two partial exams and they will count for 70% of the grade. Problems will count 10% and directed activities will count 20%. The final grade will be EO=0.7*(average of Ex1 and Ex2) + 0.1*(average of Pr) + 0.2*(average of Tr). To pass, the EO grade must be greater than or equal to 5. Re-evaluation (RE) Qualification and admission criteria for reassessment (Re): Students who have failed the ordinary evaluation and who have regularly taken the evaluation tests of the failed subject will have the option of taking a re-evaluation test in the period set in the academic calendar. Students who have already passed, or students rated as not submitted or who have not handed in all the exercises/problems (Pr) and the papers and reports (Tr) may not take the reassessment test of a subject. The reassessment (RE) will consist of a single exam that covers all the content of the course. The maximum grade for the reassessment will be five (5.0). The non-attendance of a student summoned to the re-evaluation test, held in the set period, may not lead to another test at a later date. Extraordinary evaluations will be carried out for those students who, due to accredited force majeure, have not been able to take any of the continuous evaluation tests. These tests must be authorized by the corresponding head of studies, at the request of the professor responsible for the subject, and will be carried out within the corresponding school period.

Test Rules

If any of the laboratory or continuous assessment activities are not carried out in the scheduled period, it will be considered a zero score. The tests will be carried out individually, with multiple choice questions that can be theoretical or problem type questions. The exams can include, in addition to multiple choice questions, short questions to be developed by the students and exercises to be solved.

Office Hours

Friday 12:00-14.00

Bibliography

Basic

Resources

Students have access to videos and web resources at the Atenea to reinforce the content of face-to-face classes.