An internet discussion workshop on climate change and its affects on weed communities and
management was conducted in March and April, 2009 between participating
students in Sweden, the UK and US. Students from the UK are studying
for a Master of Science degree in Plant Bioscience for Crop Production at the University
of Warwick, UK. The current course module in weeds is called Weed Ecology and
Mangement. The US and Swedish students are those enrolled in Agronomy 517, Weed
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Iowa State University. The workshop was jointly
organized and led by instructors Paul Neve in the UK and Jack Dekker in the US.
This forum is an experiment of a new, highly interactive, teaching approach, purposely aimed at a very heterogeneous and international group of student scholars. The forum is organized in 3 parts:
Part 1, Student Essays
Each student will submit (as an MSWord document attached to an email sent to jdekker@iastate.edu) a half to one-page document
outlining your ideas about what may be the likely impacts of climate change on
agricultural weed communities and weed management. No need to go to the library -
just your well-considered reflections on this important topic. Take your time
writing. BE CONCISE AND BRIEF, you are more likely to be read and heard if your
points are well presented. Your essay will be posted on this web site for everyone
to read and respond to.
Part 2, Student Responses
Read the essays written by each student on this web site, review the thoughts of everyone.
Aren't you glad everyone was BRIEF AND CONCISE. From each students
consideration of what they read prepare a written response (Paul says 2 pages, Jack says 1
page. BE CONCISE AND BRIEF. Your review of others can be good or bad, you
should include what you think are the 3 biggest and most likely impacts of climate change
and why you think these are the ones. Send your review as an MSWord document
attached to an email sent to jdekker@iastate.edu.
These responses will also be posted on this web site for everyone to read, and for
the instructors to comment on in part 3.
Part 3, Instructor Summaries
Paul Neve and Jack Dekker will write a brief and concise summary document on their take on
the topical area as well as reflections on the ideas and comments of the students.