Kristopher McNeill: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2021

Award: The Golden Owl
Name Prof. Dr. Kristopher McNeill
FieldEnvironmental Chemistry
Address
Organische Umweltchemie
ETH Zürich, CHN F 31.2
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
E-mailkristopher.mcneill@env.ethz.ch
URLhttp://www.envchem.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
701-0201-00LIntroduction to Environmental Organic Chemistry3 credits2GM. Sander, K. McNeill
AbstractThis course is an introduction to the environmental chemistry of organic molecules, focusing on equilibrium partitioning processes and non-redox reactions.
ObjectiveThe students are able to
- name and recognize the most important classes of environmentally relevant anthropogenic chemicals and identify chemical moieties governing their fate processes.
- explain, on the basis of physical-chemical foundations, the most important processes (i.e., partitioning and substitution and elimination reactions) which determine the environmental behavior of organic pollutants.
- identify, on the basis of chemical structure, the processes relevant for the environmental behavior of a compound.
- critically evaluate published work and data.
Content- Overview of the most important classes of environmental organic pollutants
- Molecular interactions that determine the partitioning behavior (adsorption and absorption processes) of organic compounds between different environmental compartments (gas, liquid, solid)
- Physical-chemical properties (vapor pressure, aqueous solubility, air-water partition constant, organic solvent-water partition constants, etc) and partitioning behavior of organic compounds between environmentally relevant phases (air, aerosols, soil, water, biota)
- Chemical transformation reactions of organic pollutants in aquatic and in terrestrial environments (hydrolysis, elimination, addition)
Lecture notesScript will be distributed
LiteratureSchwarzenbach, R.P., P.M. Gschwend, and D.M. Imboden.
Environmental Organic Chemistry. 2nd Ed. Wiley, New York, 1313 p.(2003)

Goss, K.U. and Schwarzenbach, R.P. (2003). "Rules of thumb for assessing equilibrium partitioning of organic compounds-success and pitfalls", Journal of Chemical Education, 80, 4, 450-455.
Prerequisites / NoticeDie Lehrveranstaltung richtet sich nicht nur an jene Studierenden, welche sich später chemisch vertiefen wollen, sondern ausdrücklich auch an alle jene, welche sich mit der Problematik von organischen Schadstoffen in der Umwelt vertraut machen wollen, um dieses Wissen in anderen Vertiefungen anzuwenden
701-0225-00LOrganic Chemistry2 credits2V + 1UK. McNeill
AbstractBasics of Organic Chemistry.
Reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry (substitutions, additions, eliminations, condensations, electrophilic aromatic substitution and NMR spectroscopy)
ObjectiveThis course builds on General Chemistry I and II.

The students will learn the basic reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry. They will be able to understand and formulate simple organic reactions.
ContentDescriptive chemistry of functional groups (alkyl halides, alkenes, aromatic systems, carbonyls).
Reaction mechanisms (substitutions, additions, eliminations, condensations, electrophilic aromatic substitution).
NMR spectroscopy.
LiteratureCarsten Schmuck, Basisbuch Organische Chemie, Pearson
Prerequisites / NoticeDer Stoff der Basischemie wird vorausgesetzt.
701-1302-00LTerm Paper 2: Seminar Restricted registration - show details
Prerequisite: Term Paper 1: Writing (701-1303-00L).

Only for Environmental Sciences MSc and Science, Technology and Policy MSc.
2 credits1SL. Winkel, M. Ackermann, N. Casacuberta Arola, K. Deiner, N. Gruber, J. Hering, R. Kipfer, R. Kretzschmar, K. McNeill, D. Mitrano, A. N'Guyen van Chinh, M. Sander, M. H. Schroth, C. Schubert
AbstractThis class is the 2nd part of a series and participation is conditional on the successful completion of "Term Paper 1: Writing". The results from the term paper written during the previous term are presented to the other students and advisors and discussed with the audience.
ObjectiveThe goal of the term paper seminars is to train the student's ability to communicate (scientific) results to a wider audience and the ability to respond to questions and comments.
ContentEach student presents the results of their term paper to fellow students and advisors and responds to questions and comments from the audience.
Lecture notesGuidelines and supplementary material are distributed on the Moodle platform.
Prerequisites / NoticeThere is no final exam. Grade is assigned based on the quality of the presentation and ensuing discussion.

To obtain the credits, it is mandatory to attend at least 60% of all seminar dates offered in the fall and spring semester. Active participation in discussion and feedback rounds is expected.
701-1303-00LTerm Paper 1: Writing Restricted registration - show details
Only for Environmental Sciences MSc and Science, Technology and Policy MSc.
5 credits6AL. Winkel, M. Ackermann, N. Casacuberta Arola, K. Deiner, N. Gruber, J. Hering, R. Kipfer, R. Kretzschmar, M. Lever, K. McNeill, D. Mitrano, A. N'Guyen van Chinh, M. Sander, M. H. Schroth, C. Schubert
AbstractThe ability to critically evaluate original (scientific) literature and to summarise the information in a succinct manner is an important skill for any student. This course aims to practice this ability, requiring each student to write a term paper of scientific quality on a topic of relevance for research in the areas of biogeochemistry and pollutant dynamics.
ObjectiveThe goal of the term paper is to train the student's ability to critically evaluate scientific literature and to summarise the findings concisely in a paper addressing a research question.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- narrow down a research question.
- identify relevant literature to address the research question.
- concisely summarise and critically evaluate their findings.
- formulate key outstanding questions.
ContentEach student is expected to write a paper with a length of approximately 15-20 pages. The students can choose from a list of topics prepared by the tutors, but the final topic will be determined based on a balance of choice and availability. The students will be guided and advised by their tutors throughout the term.

The paper itself should contain the following elements:
- Motivation and context of the given topic (25%)
- Concise presentation and critical evaluation of the state of the science (50%)
- Identification of open questions and perhaps opportunities for further research (25%)

In addition, the accurate use of citations, attribution of ideas, and the judicious use of figures, tables, equations and references are critical components of a successful paper. Specialised knowledge is not expected, nor required; neither is new research.
Lecture notesGuidelines and supplementary material are distributed on the Moodle platform.
LiteratureOriginal scientific literature will be identified based on the chosen topic.
Prerequisites / NoticePlease enrol latest until the first week of the semester. Contact termpaper(at)env.ethz.ch if you don't yet have access to MyStudies.

The term paper course is primarily aimed at master students majoring in biogeochemistry & pollutant dynamics and ISTP students with a solid background in natural sciences and a strong interest in biogeochemistry & pollutant dynamics.

Each student submits a term paper that will be reviewed by one fellow student and one faculty. The submission of the term paper and a written review of another student's term paper are a condition for obtaining the credit points.

There is no final exam. The grade is assigned based on the quality of the term paper and the submitted review as well as on the presentation in the following term.

Results from the term paper will be presented to fellow students and involved faculty in the following semester ("Term Paper 2: Seminar").
701-1701-00LHuman Health, Nutrition and Environment: Term Paper Restricted registration - show details
Only for students of the Major Human Health, Nutrition and Environment.
6 credits13AJ. Nuessli Guth, T. Julian, K. McNeill, M. B. Zimmermann
AbstractWriting of a review paper of scientific quality on a topic in the domain of Human Health, Nutrition and Environment based on critical evaluation of scientific literature.
Objective- Acquisition of knowledge in the field of the review paper
- Assessment of original literature as well as synthesis and analysis of the findings
- Practising of academic writing in English
- Giving an oral presentation with discussion on the topic of the review paper
ContentTopics are offered in the domains of the major 'Human Health, Nutrition and Environment' covering 'Public Health', 'Infectious Diseases', 'Nutrition and Health' and 'Environment and Health'.
Lecture notesGuidelines will be handed out in the beginning.
LiteratureLiterature will be identified based on the topic chosen.