Short course
Plants on a Changing Planet
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
15/04/2027 - 13/05/202710:30 - 12:30
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£190.00
The climate on Earth has changed significantly since plants first evolved. Plants can survive extreme conditions on land because of the way they have adapted over time. From extreme temperatures, too much or too little water, or different air composition, plants survive, despite being rooted to the ground. This course will explore properties of plant life since their first existence as terrestrial life forms, and how plants survive in different biomes. We will aim to understand how some plants have adapted to thrive in intense heat or cold, flooding and drought, as well as changing atmospheres. We will understand how research helps to develop crops that can withstand climate change. Finally, we will explore a living laboratory at the Oxford Botanic Gardens to observe how plants adapt around the world.
This course will be of interest to those who have a curiosity of plant life and climate change.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Contact the team
Phone: +44 (0)1865 280900
Course starts Thursday 15 April 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Week 1: Life as a plant on a changing planet
Week 2: Too hot or too cold?
Week 3: Water-too much or too little?
Week 4: The changing atmosphere
Week 5: Visit to Oxford Botanical Gardens. Students will need to pay an entrance fee to enter the botanical gardens.
Please note: students will have to arrange their own transport for the field trip, and cover the cost of any entry fees.
Course aims
Course aim:
The aim of this course is to understand, through plant behaviour, how plants adapt to survive in different environments.
Course objectives:
The course will enable students to:
- Understand the sessile nature of plants and their properties which enable them to survive
- Compare and contrast extreme conditions on Earth which plants are exposed to
- Grasp the mechanisms by which certain plants survive in certain locations
- Learn how human interactions with plants play a role in the changing climate
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand plant biology to explain how they adapt to their environment
- Appreciate that different geographies allow different species to exist
- Grasp how humans influence plants in a changing climate
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.
Teaching methods
The course will consist of lectures supplemented with discussions, quizzes, and videos. The environment will be informal and interactive, allowing students to engage and ask questions.
Assessment methods
This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework.
Dr Radhika Desikan
Dr Desikan is a plant scientist who has taught plant science for several years and researched and published on the behaviour of plants facing various abiotic and biotic stresses.
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £190.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All short course students (online and in-person) may register to borrow from the Oxford Lifelong Learning Library, for the duration of their course.
Further information about the Oxford Lifelong Learning Library can be found on the library website.
Preparatory reading
- Plants at the margin. Ecological limits and climate change / Crawford, RMM
- The Nature of Plants: an introduction to how plants work / Huegel, Craig N.
Module code: O26P420BIW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
