BIO-8511 ARCTOS Marine ecological research cruise East Greenland - 3 ECTS

Course contents
The course runs every second year and is based upon cruises with RV Jan Mayen to the waters off the east Greenland coastal zone (September/October; TUNU programme) Research questions relevant to the ARCTOS network will be studied in groups. The intention of the course is to give a detailed introduction to system ecological research in different Arctic marine ecosystems.

The course is dependent on the availability of the vessel. Please contact ARCTOS for more information or send a message describing your interests and needs to Paul Wassman.

Assessment methods 
Individual cruise reports (10-20 pages) mandatory after the cruise

Contact

Jørgen Schou Christiansen

BIO-8516 Arctic Frontiers PhD/student workshop - 4 ECTS 

Objective of the course
With the support of leading international specialists, ARCTOS arranges a new PhD workshop every year in concert with the annual Arctic Frontiers Conference (Tromsø, January). The subject of the workshop will change from year to year and will be on a "hot" research topic inspired by the theme of the accompanying Arctic Frontiers conference.

The students will have to participate to the Arctic Frontier Conference, both the political and scientific part, and either give a talk or present a poster at it. They will then attend in addition a 5 days seminar where they are working on topics related to the theme of the conference. During the seminar they will train in the preparation of a project proposal by writing a project proposal to an imaginary Research Fund. 
The seminar also includes more general lectures on art, local history, leadership, economics, or political sciences.

The course can be taken twice during the PhD study, but will have to be registered as BIO-8517 the second time. Originally this course was mainly intended for PhD students within marine ecology, but with time the course was broadend to be suitable for PhD candidates with a range of different subjects. Thus the title and course code changes from 2012.

Assessment methods 
Powerpoint presentation of results and conclusions from discussion groups at the end of the workshop

Contact

Stig Falk-Petersen

BIO-8603 Philosophy of science and ethics (6  ECTS)

 
The course is divided in three themes:

1. Philosophy of science (epistomenology and ontology, history and introduction to module
2. Scientific method and causal inference. (scientific interference, modeling approaches and study design)
3. Ethics (ethics in science, bioethics, ethics in research communities and society including supervisor-student responsibilities)

The teaching will be given as lectures and seminars, both of which are mandatory. The lectures will provide a theoretical framework for the seminars. Active participation by students on the seminars is essential and expected. Towards the end of the course the students will present a 10 min power point lecture focusing on their PhD project in a theoretical framework. A panel of fellow students will serve as opponents. The duration of the course is limited to 6 days to facilitate participation of PhD students with other obligations related to their work. Due to the extent of the course and short duration, it is strongly recommended that the student start reading the literature prior to the course.

BIO-8510 ARCTOS Marine ecological research cruise Spitsbergen and Barents Sea - 3 ECTS

Course contents
The course runs each second year and is based upon cruises with RV Helmer Hanssen to the waters around Spitsbergen and the Barents Sea. Research questions relevant to the ARCTOS network will be studied in groups. The course also opens up for individual students to obtain necessary samples for their PhD work. The course is dependent on the availability casino online of the vessel. Please contact ARCTOS for more information or send a message describing your interests and needs to Paul Wassman.

Assessment methods
Individual cruise reports (10-20 pages) mandatory after the cruise

Contact

Paul Wassman

BIO-3007 Ecotoxicology: A practical introduction to environmental monitoring tools (5 ECTS)

A contribution to EWMA (http://northernwastemanagement.com/)
Responsible: Jasmin Nahrgang & Paul Wassmann (AMB/BFE/ARCTOS) 

The course gives knowledge of ongoing national and international monitoring programs, the guidelines and demands that are linked to the programs and the monitoring tools that are utilized in the programs.

Environmental monitoring involves chemical measurement of environmental pollutants in biota and abiotic compartments (water, sediment) as well as measurement of environmental pollutants bioavailability and bioactivity through implementation of biomarkers and bioassays that provide insight into the causality of any higher-level adverse effects that may be observed. Cod (Gadus morhua) and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) are recommended species for monitoring faunal effects of anthropogenic activities.

An experimental setup will be conducted to simulate an acute oil spill where cod and blue mussels are exposed to crude oil. Through this experiment the students will gain practical training in sampling procedures and up-to-date chemical and biological analysis utilized in environmental monitoring programs: Measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in sea water, blue mussel (body burden) and cod muscle; lysosomal membrane stability in blue mussel haemocytes; EROD activity in cod hepatocytes and PAH metabolites in cod bile.

The results from the experiment are to be presented and discussed in a written laboratory report. The written report, together with an oral presentation of it, constitutes the foundation of the student evaluation from the course.

Several courses at UNIS are also available to PhD students under the ARCTOS PhD school.