Program Overview

Program Overview

The MSc Programme in Agriculture and MSc Programme in Environmental Science offer a course titled "Pesticide Use, Mode of Action and Ecotoxicology" (NPLK14006U). This course covers the science behind pesticide development, their use in natural, agricultural, and civic environments, modes of action, effects on humans and the environment, and regulation.

Course Content

The course emphasizes the importance of pesticide mode of action, linking it to chemical properties, uptake, translocation, and metabolism in target and non-target organisms. It also addresses the evolution of pesticide resistance, principles of assessing pesticide selectivity, and the development of novel biological and biotechnological products as alternatives to conventional pesticides.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the course, students will have acquired knowledge in the following areas:

• Chemical and physical properties of pesticides and their effects on uptake, distribution, metabolization, and excretion in plants and animals.
• Site and mode of action of exemplary pesticides, including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and growth regulators.
• Principles of pesticide use in crops and non-agricultural purposes, including resistance risks, application technologies, and effects on target and non-target organisms.
• Data analysis and interpretation, including statistical programming with R.
• Pesticide development, registration, and regulation.

Skills

Students will develop skills in:

• Setting up experiments to test pesticide effects on target and non-target organisms.
• Performing statistical analysis and biological interpretation of dose-response data.
• Assessing pesticide effects on humans and the environment using experimental data and statistical models.
• Predicting mixture toxicity effects of pesticide mixtures.

Competences

The course enables students to:

• Evaluate pesticide applications to target and non-target organisms in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
• Discuss pesticide use from a scientific standpoint, considering its controversial issues in the public domain.
• Understand how knowledge of adverse effects on humans and the environment is used in risk assessment and legislation of pesticides in Europe.

Literature

The exact editions of course literature will be specified on Absalon. Examples of course literature include "Pesticides and the Environment" by Stephenson G.R. and Solomon K.R.

Recommended Academic Qualifications

Basic knowledge in chemistry, biology, plant physiology, and statistics is recommended, equivalent to a BSc degree.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course includes lectures, practical and theoretical exercises, and an excursion to the Department of Food and Safety. Lectures outline the theoretical background, while practical exercises address topics such as herbicide application, symptom development, and assessment of efficacy.

Workload

The total workload for the course is 206 hours, distributed across lectures, class instruction, preparation, theory exercises, practical exercises, excursions, project work, and exams.

Feedback

Feedback is provided through written and oral feedback on reports, peer feedback on presentations, and continuous feedback during the course.

Exam

The exam is an oral examination, 20 minutes long, with preparation time. The examination prerequisites include submitting and having approved three reports.

Course Information

• Language: English
• Course code: NPLK14006U
• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 3
• Schedule: A
• Course capacity: 30

Study Board

The course is under the Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science.

Contracting Department

The contracting department is the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Contracting Faculty

The contracting faculty is the Faculty of Science.

Course Coordinators

The course coordinator is Paul Neve.

Lecturers

Lecturers include Paul Neve, Nina Cedergreen, Signe Marie Jensen, and Hans Lyngs Jørgensen.