Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
12460:[2025 Spring]IR18‐AE104 Introduction to Natural Science (RA) § 12461:IR-AS107 Introduction to Natural Sciences (RA) § 12462:Introduction to Natural Science (RA) § 12463:RUIR-1802 Introduction to Natural Science(RA) 2025 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

KOSHINKAN　KS201

Language

英語

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by April 1. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

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

Diversity of plants

Study tree species on the campus and investigate taxonomy, morphology and ecology
Instructions about the Ritsumeikan University biodiversity mapping project

２

Growing herb/vegetable species in pot: Long-term experiment

Grow one herbaceous plant species from seed in a pot and monitor the growth every week
Using the statistical software R to analyze plant growth

３

Diversity of insects and spiders

Study arthropod (insect and spider) species on the campus and investigate taxonomy, morphology and ecology

４

Mushroom hunting

Study mushroom species (fungi) on the campus and investigate taxonomy, morphology and ecology

５

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

Dissect two species of marine organisms bought from the 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

６

Dissection of fish: Essay writing

Write an essay based on fish dissection work

７

Lecture: Principles of ecology (1) What determines the abundance of species?

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

８

Lecture: Principles of ecology (2) What determines the diversity of species?

Competition and species coexistence in forest tree communities
Using computer simulations to understand what stabilizes the coexistence of competing species

９

Lecture: Principles of ecology (3) Climate change and ecological feedback

Studying examples of positive/negative feedback

 

10

Mapping biodiversity on the campus

Summarizing the results of the biodiversity mapping project (group work)

11

Growing herb/vegetable species in pot: Essay writing

Analyze the growth of plant since week 2 and write an essay about how the plant grows during the period

12

Preparation day

Students work on preparing for oral presentation
Bird song and animal foot print quiz

13

Global environmental problems: Oral presentation day1

Group presentation by students in the classroom

14

Global environmental problems: Oral presentation day2

Group presentation by students in the classroom

Class Format

The class Format for each class will be announced on manaba+R’s course news. Also, the class format for the first class will be notified on manaba+R’s course news before the first class(*).
For “Special Consideration”, please check manaba+R’s College of IR Student Page and the “Study Support Site”.

(*)To check the class format for the first class of the course, you will need to apply for the “early use request function.” Refer to the Registration Guidebook AY 2024 for details. Please be careful that applying for the early use request does not sign you up for the course. You will need to register for courses during the designated period separately.

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 about 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)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Participation to class activity is given 4 points per class, for a total of 56 points for 14 classes. Class participation is verified by either in-class assignment or submission of group work assignment. In the last two classes, individual students' performance in oral presentations is also counted towards the grade (4 points). The final report is worth 40 points.

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)

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:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/