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Academic year 2009/2010
Master's Degree (MSc) on NATURE SCIENCES
QUATERNARY ECOLOGY

Coordinator Prof. Renato Chemello
Class of Master's Degree (MSc) on Natural sciences (LM-60)
2 years

Free access
Course Code
2056

Course info
This 2nd cycle degree course is characterised by a manifest interdisciplinarity. It is, in fact, one of the natural opportunities for graduates of the class L 32 - Science and Technology for the environment and nature,-also interdisciplinary in its articulation. The course aims at deepening the knowledge acquired during the 1st cycle of three years and aims at training graduates possessing a thorough knowledge of structural and functional components of ecosystems, in current as well as in past environments, and outline the conceptual tools aimed at the environmental conservation, defense and management. Adequate knowledge will be also provided for the analysis of biodiversity at various levels of organisation (from the genetic one to specific and environmental ones),as well as competences to evaluate ecosystems. The course might be articulated in various curricula, described in the educational Regulations, in order to address the various aspects of the evolution of ecosystems. Among the areas which are investigated in depth, it is worth mentioning: the analysis, management and conservation of natural environments through the acquisition of the theoretical principles and modern technologies for the analysis of environment; the systemic analysis of recent past natural environments, and namely of its evolutionist and anthropological dimension; the study and analysis of continental water ecosystems in a way to conjugate the exploitation of water resources with the defence and conservation of the biological heritage, in accordance with EU directives and with the requirements of the local agencies for land management. The educational programme will be integrated with laboratory activities, stages and practice periods, also within public institutions and private facilities, as well as with field experimentation, through multi- and interdisciplinary educational trips. At the end of the course, graduates will have acquired advanced knowledge with respect to the study of biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, to the conservation of these latter, to the management techniques for land and for the processes affecting the quality of the environment and the conservation of biodiversity.
Graduates of this course may find professional opportunities: In the public sector, in: - universities and research institutes; - environmental management and services companies; - ministries, local administrations and other public bodies; - National and Regional Agencies for Environment Protection; - Institute of Health; - Experimental Stations; - Archaeological Superintendence. In the private sector graduates might carry out their activities in different types of businesses and professional firms dealing with environmental issues. The educational programme prepares to further pathways provided by law for the training of teachers of science subjects in different school levels. Additional areas of employment are: - Activities within museum or natural science museums; - Science communication and journalism; - Design of parks and park plans; - Management of protected areas
It consists of the discussion of an original experimental or theoretical research project, which will be awarded with 30 credits. The research work should be carried out during the internship in a public or private research laboratory; it should be prepared by the student under the guidance of a supervising Professor and possibly a correlator. Students should also produce a written paper and/or other form of communication adequate to the research, indicating clearly the studied issue, the experimental approach used, the results obtained and the critical discussion of these latter. Students should be able to discuss the content during the final exam of their Course. The Course Board regulates the criteria for assigning an appropriate mark to the quality of work done, taking into account the coherence between expected learning outcomes and objectives achieved throughout the curriculum.

course outline
Teachings first year \ in common with the others curricula\profiles
credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
05660 - PAEDOLOGY PALERMO (AR) 6.0 Yearly V B AGR/14
14051 - STATISTICS FOR EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH BONO (PA) 6.0 Yearly V B SECS-S/02
14052 - CONSERVATION OF NATURE CHEMELLO (PO) 6.0 Yearly V C BIO/07
14523 - ZOOGEOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY - INTEGRATED COURSE SARA' (PA) 9.0 Yearly V
ANIMAL ECOLOGY SARA' (PA) 6.0 B BIO/07
ZOOGEOGRAPHY SARA' (PA) 3.0 B BIO/05
14059 - EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY - INTEGRATED COURSE ROCCHERI (CU) 9.0 Yearly V
PHYSIOLOGY OF EVOLUTION MONTALBANO (PQ) 3.0 B BIO/09
APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGIES CARRA (RU) 3.0 B BIO/06
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY OF VERTEBRATES ROCCHERI (CU) 3.0 B BIO/06
14064 - GEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY - INTEGRATED COURSE AGNESI (PQ) 12.0 Yearly V
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY AGNESI (PQ) 6.0 C GEO/04
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY PARELLO (PO) 6.0 B GEO/08
Teachings second year
credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
05917 - FINAL EXAMINATION 30.0 Yearly G E
08442 - INSULAR BIOGEOGRAPHY SARA' (PA) 3.0 Yearly V B BIO/05
14053 - PALEOBIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF QUATERNARY MASINI (CU) 6.0 Yearly V B GEO/01
14054 - GEOLOGY OF THE QUATERNARY WITH ELEMENTS OF RECENT TECTONICS D'ANGELO (CU) 6.0 Yearly V B GEO/02
14055 - EVOLUTIONIST ANTHROPOLOGY SINEO (PO) 6.0 Yearly V B BIO/08
14058 - PREHISTORIC ECOLOGY AND EXCAVATION METHODOLOGIES - LABORATORY DUMAS (RU) 3.0 Yearly G B L-ANT/10
Stage and others 6.0 F
Free subjects 12.0 D
Elective activities
Stage and others credits Term Val. Area Scientific sector
13121 - PRACTICE 6.0 Yearly G F
Explaination
Term Term/Semester
Val. Valutation: V = mark in 30/30, G = note
(*) Teaching attended in english
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