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Module

NES2201 : Soil and Ecosystem Science

  • Offered for Year: 2026/27
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Yit Arn Teh
  • Co-Module Leader: Dr Tom Reershemius
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To develop an in-depth understanding of:

1. How terrestrial ecosystems function and the factors that underpin ecosystem processes among biomes.

2. Soils and ecosystems as complex, integrated systems with interactions and interdependencies among their biotic and abiotic components.

3. The key role that organisms play in regulating biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients.

4. How human activity and external forcings impact ecosystem processes and biogeochemistry.

5. The applications of soil and ecosystem science to sustainable management of land, including agri-food systems.

6. How innovations in technology and practice address key sustainability challenges (e.g. UN SDG 2 – Zero Hunger, UN SDG 13 – Climate Action, UN SDG 15 – Life on Land).

Outline Of Syllabus

Key topics include:

1. Primary production and its controls.

2. Plant mineral nutrition and plant-soil interactions.

3. Soil chemistry and its role in ecosystem structure and function.

4. Soil organic matter and nutrient dynamics.

5. Role of microbes in modulating ecosystem processes.

7. Role of land-use change, management practices, climate change and environmental pollution in sustainable land-use.

8. Potential for innovations in technology and practice to increase land-use sustainability.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion114:0014:00Preparation for and completion of formative assessment (problem solving exercises)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture181:0018:00In person lectures with supplementary material available online
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion130:0030:00Exam completion and preparation, including research, analysis and synthesis of information from the peer-reviewed literature
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical24:008:00In person laboratory-based exercises to develop students’ abilities to prepare and analyse environmental samples
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical32:006:00In person computer-based data analysis and digital literacy exercises
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading92:0018:00Weekly reading of book chapters and journal articles
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork16:006:00In person fieldwork activity
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Lectures and Directed research and reading: The lectures, reading and directed research will introduce key principles, theories, concepts, and information for soil and ecosystem science. Examples and detailed case studies will be presented to illustrate how this knowledge is applied to a diverse range of ecosystems to solve critical environmental and sustainability challenges [PC1-D].

2. Practical (Computer-based): Develops students’ data and digital literacy [PC4-D, PC6-D].

3. Practical (Laboratory) and Fieldwork: Develops students’ practical skills, including experimental design and analysis of environmental samples [PC3-D].

4. Assessment preparation and completion: Preparation for, and completion of, the formative and summative assessment will develop and assess the students’ research skills (PC2-D, PC2-A], understanding of the fundamental subject matter [PC1-D, PC1-A], information literacy [PC2-D, PC2-A], and ability to effectively communicate complex information [PC5-D, PC5-A].

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Digital Examination1801A100Exam consisting of: (A) multiple choice, multiple answer, short answer questions and (B) an essay question. There is approx. one hour for the multiple choice/multiple answer/short answer questions and two hours for the essay question.
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Prob solv exercises1MFive short problem-solving exercises using knowledge and skills gained in the practicals and fieldwork
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

1. Digital Examination 1 (summative): The exam will consist of two parts: a multiple, multiple answer, and short answer section (30% of the final mark) and an essay section (70% of the final mark). The multiple choice, multiple answer, and short answer questions tests the students' grasp of core principles, concepts and knowledge, including the students' ability to interpret data (e.g. evaluate data presented in graphs or tables) and undertake simple numerical calculations. The essay question will develop and assess the students' research skills, capacity for reasoned thought, ability to synthesise knowledge, and critically analyse information. Because the essay question requires the use of higher-order skills, students will be provided with several relevant review questions prior to the exam to research and critically analyse. During the exam, they will be expected to write an essay based on the knowledge obtained preparing for the review questions.

2. Problem Solving Exercises 1 (formative): Students will be provided with five formative assessments during the semester to test and consolidate the knowledge and skills obtained during the Practicals and Fieldwork. These include exercises such as quizzes, numerical calculations, data interpretation (e.g. analysis of graphs or tables), and/or textual analysis (e.g. rapid analysis of a short peer-reviewed publication).

Reading Lists

Timetable