Polen

Palynology

INFO:
Study program: UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY STUDIES
Lecturer: Prof Smiljka Šimić, PhD
Organiztion: Laboratory for palynology Team
Type: ELECTIVE
ESPB: 5
Conditions: PASSED EXAMS: Plant anatomy and morphology, Sistematics and philogeny of cormophites and General zoology

CONTENT:
According to the course program there are 13 working weeks in summer term. During 10 weeks students that attend Palynology will have 2 lecture hours and 2 hours of exercises each week, and last three weeks are reserved for completing seminar and for final assessment . The theoretical information will be presented during lectures as well as description and basis of important methods in aeropalynology, melissopalynology, zoopalynology, palaeopalynology and application of fundamental palynology in plant taxonomy.

TEACHING METHODOLOGY:
First part of the course aims to teach on pollen function, structure, development and morphology and duration of this part of the course is 5 weeks. Each theoretical lecture is followed by practical exercise. Goal of these exercises is to develop skills in using light microscope for pollen observation and to present the most important morphological features of pollen grains. During exercises each student at working place will have a light microscope and collection of microscopic slides and their task will be to explore these slides in order to observe morphological features presented in the lecture. Since classroom is equipped with monitors, students are able to see micrographs of the features which have to be found and explored under microscope during the exercise. In basics, during the exercise students will have task to find morphological feature given on the monitors by themselves. Such organization aim to encourage and develop independent work with the microscope and to eliminate learning of morphological features by hart.

Second part of the course lasts 5 weeks during which students will be taught about basic palynologycal disciplines and methods applied in these disciplines. Each week is reserved for one discipline. Lectures will cover theoretical knowledge about definition, achievements, application and methods of particular discipline. Exercises give opportunity to students to practice important steps of particular palynologycal method which is presented in detail during the lecture in the same week.

Finally, it should be noted that due to database of micrographs which is made based on the reference slides used during practical exercises, learning process will not be limited only to classroom equipped with microscope but it could be continued at home as well. Script could be considered as manual for performing basic palynologycal research in various disciplines. At the end of each chapter in the script, there is a list of literature which is important for particular topic. Students are welcomed to search for more information about various aspects of palynology.

EXAMINING METHODOLOGY:
During the semester student’s knowledge will be constantly assessed and their work will be evaluated according to this plan:

Description	Maximum score
Attendance to lectures and practical exercises	4% (0.2% per each lecture and exercise)
Written test of theoretical knowledge (during each exercise 10 minute test that cover information which are presented at the lecture and which is important for conducting the exercise)	45% (4.5% per each test)
Seminar (optional and it includes preparation of microscope reference slides and making microphotographs of prepared slides for 5 independently collected pollen types)	6%
Assessment of independence in conducting one of palynologycal methods	45%
	Total 100%
Score ranking: 0-55%.........F (failed to pass) 56-60%.......E (pass - narrow) 61-70%.......D (pass) 71-80%.......C (pass) 81-90%.......B (pass) 91-100%.....A (pass - excellent)

TARGET GROUP – BENEFITS FROM THE COURSE:
During 2006/2007 school year modified course “Palynology” is going to be organized for undergraduate students of biology at their 3^rd year. According to curricula of undergraduate studies on biology, starting with school year 2008/2009 this course is going to be organized for students of biology, ecology and molecular biology at their at 4^th year of their undergraduate studies.

The knowledge obtained in the course will benefit both the students and various bioanalysis laboratories (such as laboratories that conduct routine airborne pollen monitoring). Graduated students will get important knowledge and skills to offer to their employers and laboratory manager will have skilled employees which are capable to cope with work in biological laboratory that performs pollen analysis.

RELEVANCE OF THE COURSE:
Although there are many applications of pollen analysis there is no course on Universities in Serbia which will teach students on variety of methods used in this scientific discipline. Students that pass this course will be concurrent worldwide not only in conducting basic methods but in having possibility to continue their studies in various disciplines of “Palynology”.