ETHNOBOTANY:THE ROLE OF PLANTS IN OUR LIFE
cod. 1009233

Academic year 2020/21
2° year of course - Annual
Professor
- Anna Maria MERCURI
Academic discipline
Botanica sistematica (BIO/02)
Field
A scelta dello studente
Type of training activity
Student's choice
16 hours
of face-to-face activities
2 credits
hub:
course unit
in ENGLISH

Learning objectives

Students will improve their knowledge on the following topics:
- concepts and practice on interdisciplinarity;
- theoretical basis and applications of the ethnobotanical research;
- cultural evolution and role of plants in the (past and on-going) process.
In accordance to Dublin descriptors:
• Knowledge and understanding of ethnobotany and the relationships
between humans and plants
• Applying knowledge and understanding in ethnobotanical investigations
• Making judgements on use/value-recognition of traditional plant resources
• Communication skills improvement in the English and scientific topics
• Improvements in the MOOC learnig skills.

Prerequisites

Basic Plant Biology

Course unit content

To understand the importance of botany in relation to human behavior and culture the course illustrates the interdisciplinarity of the naturalistic-humanities sciences, placing the relationship 'plants and man' at the center of scientific research.

Full programme

The course introduces Ethnobotany as the science which study the (environmental and cultural) relationships between humans and plants, with focus on medicinal and food plants. It will be organized in 22 slide shows reporting on three main topics:
1- introduction: definition, history, associations and modernity of the research (4 lessons); the transition from an observatory science to an academic field; an evergreen field of research with increasing new attention to local traditions and folk-lore and TEK.
2- methods of investigation, data collection and first studies (5 lessons); partecipative interviews and inventory; data collection and processing; reports and reproducibility;
3- case studies (from the European project PaCE, to archaeobotany and the network BRAIN; examples of palaeoethnobotany from the Sahara and from the Mediterranean Basin). Future applications of ethnobortanical approach.

Bibliography

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Teaching methods

The course is in English and made as MOOC (Massive Open Online Course on the EDUOPEN platform). It consists of 22 slide shows (about 15' each) showing the professor who talks and use pictures and written texts to explain the content of the lesson. There are two tests with multiple replies.

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral examination after passing all MOOC assignments in three steps: 1- see and listen the lessons; 2- compile two tests (10 questions each - one after lesson n.10 and one after lesson n. 21); 3- post a file asking for the exam: oral exam with the teacher.
There is a final composition "Tell a story of plants and humans" (One or two pages text). It is not required to send it before the exam, and take with you to the exam.

Other information

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