NATF100 Introductory Nature Management

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Ronny Steen

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Limits of class size:Maximum 36 students.

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:Throughout the semesters, students will participate in approximately 22 hours of lectures, 60 hours of day trips, and 12 hours of company visits. The field course will last 30 hours, while exercises will take 8 hours. Additionally, students will spend 120 hours working on the semester project, writing reports, reflection notes, and participating in a mini-seminar that includes presentations (posters) and self-study.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in August block. This course has teaching/evaluation in August block, Autumn parallel, Spring parallel.

About this course

The topics covered include the natural basis, different nature types and species, conservation and use of resources and nature types, public and private management, as well as an introduction to methods for monitoring nature and wildlife and fishery management.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, a candidate should have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge: Knowledge about the use and management of Norwegian nature, and current conflict areas related to trade-offs between use and conservation.

Skills: The ability to apply methods for collecting data for use in nature management, process and present these data. Be able to find, assess, and refer to information and literature and present it in a way that illuminates a scientific issue. Write scientific reports and present scientific content to a broad audience.

General Competence: In-depth knowledge of the value assessments that underpin multiple use and sustainable exploitation of Norwegian nature.

Learning activities
The teaching consists of lectures/exercises, excursions, and one field course. Activating tasks include writing a report and reflection note from excursions, data collection on field courses, processing of these data for use in own semester assignments, writing of semester assignment, gathering information from various sources, and producing a poster for presentation at a mini-seminar. Semester assignment writing and poster production are performed in group work with about 5 students in each group.
Teaching support
Guidance is offered in groups in connection with writing semester assignments and producing posters.
Syllabus
Material from lectures and excursions necessary for working on the semester assignment, as well as recommended reading material.
Assessment method
Portfolio assessment:
Students are assessed based on a written semester assignment and scientific posters presented at a mini-seminar. Both parts must be passed.

Portfolio assessment Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed
About use of AI
Reflection note: K1 - No use of AI
Field report and poster: K3 - Full use of AI.
The use of AI is permitted, but it must comply with the Guidelines for Use of Artificial Intelligens (AI) at NMBU.
Semester assignment/scientific report: K2 - Specified Use of AI
The use of AI is permitted in the semester assignment for:
- Idea generation (e.g., suggestions for research questions, structure, and angles)
- Translation (AI-generated text must be rephrased in the student’s own words)
- Text structuring (e.g., suggestions for the arrangement of chapters and paragraphs)
- Support in R statistics (e.g., troubleshooting, suggestions for methods, and coding)
Statement of AI use:If AI is used in the semester assignment, the student must provide a statement explaining:
- Which AI tools were used (e.g., ChatGPT, DeepL)
- Which parts of the assignment AI contributed to (e.g., text structure, translation, data analysis)
- How AI has influenced the content and structure of the assignment
Important:
- It is not permitted to submit AI-generated text directly in the assignment. The text must be the student’s own work and phrasing.
- AI may support analysis and discussion, but assessments and interpretations must be the student’s own work.
- Failure to provide a statement of AI use may be considered cheating under NMBU’s guidelines.
Descriptions of AI-category codes.
Examiner scheme
The semester assignment and the scientific poster are evaluated by the course responsible based on predefined criteria.
Mandatory activity
To be approved, students must have attended the first lecture and the field course, submitted one reflection note and one report from the field excursion, participated in group work with submission and presentation of a scientific report, created and presented a poster at a mini-seminar, and attended at least 80% of the remaining activities
Teaching hours
- Lectures: 22 hours.
- Day trips: 60 hours.
- Company visits: 12 hours.
- Field courses: 30 hours.
- Exercises: 8 hours.
- Seminar: 3 hours.
Preferential right
Bachelor students in ecology and management of natural resources.
Admission requirements
Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)