In this seminar students apply their knowledge on sustainable agriculture, tropical soils and land use to a case study related to a current research project from the Sustainable Agroecosystems group. The seminar offers interactions with researchers and extension specialists working in the context of agricultural development.
Learning objective
(1) Students analyze one concrete example of an agricultural research project in a tropical agroecosystem. (2) Students broaden their understanding of environmental and socio-economic challenges of smallholder farmers. (3) Students articulate complexity and challenges in agricultural development interventions. (4) Students develop their science communication skills by producing science communication materials in the context of the given case study. (5) Students practice their project management skills and write a project management plan.
Content
In fall term 2019 the case study will be on agroforestry in central Malawi. The case study is closely related to the ongoing research project "Trees for the enhancement of mycorrhizal functioning in low-input maize cropping systems" by Janina Dierks (http://www.sae.ethz.ch/research/Diverse_Agroecosystems/CroppingSystem.html) and science communication materials will be developed for the implementation in a rural context in central Malawi.
Prerequisites / Notice
Students signing up for this class should have a strong interest in tropical agriculture and science communication.
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course