Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
15016:IR18‐AE104 Introduction to Natural Science (RA) § 15017:IR-AS107 Introduction to Natural Sciences (RA) § 15018:Introduction to Natural Science (RA) § 15019:RUIR-1802 Introduction to Natural Science(RA) 2022 Spring Tue1 College　Of　Law,College　Of　Economics,College　Of　Business　Administration,College　Of　Social　Sciences,College　Of　International　Relations,College　Of　Policy　Science,College　Of　Letters,College　of　Image　Arts　and　Sciences,College　of　Information　Science　and　Engineering,College　of　Sport　and　Health　Science　(tentative　name) KADOWAKI KOMEI 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

MEIGAKUKAN　MG001

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

This course deals with basic theories and major findings in particular fields of natural sciences and analyses their relation to human society and culture as well as approaches to global issues that the international society has faced. Teaching methodologies employed include hands-on exercises, lecture and discussion. Students taking this course will be able to understand human society and culture, global issues from the viewpoint of environmental science. This course will use both/either formative and/or summative evaluation.

Student Attainment Objectives

Students who complete this course will be able to:
 1. understand basic theories and major findings in natural sciences
 2. understand relations between findings of natural sciences and global issues

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
１

Guidance (Schooling day)

Introduction of the course
Icebreaking activity

２

Diversity of plants (Schooling day)

Tree species in the campus
Study plant taxonomy, morphology and biology in the classroom

３

Growing herb/vegetable species in pot: Experiment

Grow one herbaceous plant species from seed in a pot and monitor the growth every week

４

Diversity of insects and spiders (Schooling day)

Study arthropod taxonomy, morphology and biology

５

Mushroom hunting (Schooling day)

Find mushroom in garden, park or forest reserve near house
Make spore print using the collected mushroom and write a short essay
 

６

Dissection of fish: dissecting fish, shrimp, squid etc at home

Dissect two species of marine organism bought from supermarket
Study anatomy (observing internal organs, skeletons etc)
Note) an alternative assignment will be considered for vegetarian students who are not able to touch fish

７

Dissection of fish: Essay writing

Write an essay based on fish dissection work

８

Traditional vegetables, herbs and spices: your original cooking recipe

Select five vegetable (or herb/spice) species and study the taxonomy, morphology and biology of each species
Present cooking recipe using some of the selected species

９

Water scarcity: Estimating virtual water footprint

Calculate virtual water footprint based on breakfast, lunch and dinner menu
 

10

Overfishing: understanding the tragedy of the commons (Schooling day)

Study why and when the tragedy of the commons occurs using overfishing as an example

11

Climate change: understanding the feedback concept (Schooling day)

Studying examples of positive/negative feedback

12

Growing herb/vegetable species in pot: Essay writing

Analyze the growth of plant since week 3 and write an essay about how the plant grew during the period

13

Preparation day

Students work on preparing for oral presentation

14

Oral presentation day1 (Schooling day)

Presentation by students (in hybrid format including on-demand recording)
Instruction for writing final essay

15

Oral presentation day2 (Schooling day)

Presentation by students (in hybrid format including on-demand recording)

Class Format

[BCP Level 1 or 2]
- More than half the total number of classes are to be conducted face-to-face. The remaining classes are to be conducted web-based.
- The format of the web-based classes [live-streaming or on-demand] will be announced on the manaba+R course page.
- Contact information of the course instructor will be provided on the manaba+R course page before the first class.
- The first class will be conducted entirely web-based since the number of students registered for the first class is not yet fixed.
- If the BCP Level is changed to 3 or higher during the semester, all classes are to be conducted web-based (face-to-face classes will not be conducted).
- When a student is unable to attend face-to-face classes due to any of the following conditions, web-based classes will be provided. Students who fall under this category should notify their instructor by the first class.

[Conditions for web-based follow-up]
<1> Students who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill if infected, such as those with underlying conditions or chronic illness (*).
<2> Students living with a family member who is at high risk of becoming seriously ill if infected, such as those with underlying conditions or chronic illness (*).
<3> Students who are unable to enter Japan due to international travel restrictions.
(*) If the student has an underlying condition defined by the government, such as respiratory
disease, diabetes, heart failure, etc.

[BCP Level 3 or 4]
- In principle, all classes are to be conducted web-based. The format of the web-based classes will be announced on the manaba+R course page.
- Face-to-face classes may be resumed if the BCP Level is changed to 2 or lower during the semester.

※For more information on Ritsumeikan University's BCP Level, please refer to the following URL, Point No.1 “Measures to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).”
http://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/news/detail/?id=475

Recommendations for Private Study

It is important for students to be well aware of the beautiful nature and rich biodiversity of Kyoto, and increasing awareness of such local ecosystems paves the way for a better understanding global environmental problems.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 40

Based on the course attainment targets of the students, students will be asked to write essay about the best way to achieve sustainability and human well-being in the future and what they can do to their local environment now. Key criteria for the essay evaluation include organization, support and development of ideas, insight and clarity (logical coherency).

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 60

Based on the course attainment targets of the students, students will be asked to give oral presentation in the presentation day. Key criteria for evaluation will include engagement in in-class discussions during the course and preparation for oral presentation.

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Communication Paper,Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students

Other Comments

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html