GEO9160 – Fate and transport of organic contaminants in the environment
Course description
Course content
Large quantities of organic chemicals are released in our environment. This course focuses on the fate and transport of persistent organic contaminants with the main focus on soil, groundwater and sediments. Using physical/chemical parameters, the environmental behaviour of these contaminants can be predicted. Sorption and biogeochemical processes will be of primary interest to estimate transport and persistence. Field sampling methods will be discussed and computer modelling exercises will be part of the course.
The complementary course GEO9900 – Chemical Processes in Soil and Ground Water focuses on inorganic environmental geochemistry.
Learning outcome
The course will give the students the knowledge and experience to evaluate the fate of organic contaminants in soils and sediments, build simple models and interpret datasets from field studies. Understanding the fate of contaminants is a prerequisite of being able to evaluate the environmental risk associate with the various contaminants
Admission
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The course is advanced and requires a good background in environmental chemistry/geochemistry.
Recommended previous knowledge
KJM3700 – Environmental Chemistry I (discontinued) and KJM5700 – Environmental Chemistry
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with GEO4160 – Fate and transport of organic contaminants in the environment (continued)
Teaching
The course consists of lectures/seminars/computer labs. Participation in tutorial groups is compulsory and oral and written assignments will be given. Students are required to lead a seminar. Students will interact both through colloquia groups and through a web-based classroom.
Examination
The student lead seminar must be appoved. A written project assignment (counts 100% of total grade) to be handed in by December.
General information about examinations at the faculty can be found at www.matnat.uio.no/english/studies/index.html
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
External auditor: Stein Bondevik
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Other
The course title was Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution up to autumn 2010.