Master's Program - Applied Branch

Ecotoxicological work often seeks to study the potential risks of anthropogenic substances in the environment. Whereas human health risk assessment assesses the risk to one species (man), ecotoxicological risk assessment must take into account millions of species that differ with regard to their physiology, sensitivity, living strategies, habitats, and niches, positions in food webs and roles in the energy flow. Ecotoxicology is thus an interdisciplinary subject, which draws on environmental chemistry, toxicology and ecology.

Although scientifically oriented, Ecotoxicology is intimately associated with policy and regulatory issues, which truly makes it an applied interdisciplinary subject. The ecotoxicology branch of our master program in applied environmental science builds on the interdisciplinary approach. The mandatory course (Applied aquatic ecotoxicology), Trainee course and Master degree projects will all be planned and performed in close association with e.g. the Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate (KemI) and other environmental institutions. Key scientists and governmental representatives in the area will be engaged as lecturers or supervisors during the program.

Applied aquatic ecotoxicology, 15 hp, embraces the main aspects of applied ecotoxicology, i.e. theories and mechanisms related to the sources, distribution and exposure of chemicals. This includes key topics such as bioavailability, bioaccumulation and toxicity at different levels of biological organization. The course will also focus on current national and international chemical legislation and on technical solutions to overcome environmental problems related to the release of anthropogenic substances into the environment. The teaching will be based on case studies (Problem Based Learning) but will also include lectures and laboratory experiments related to the key topics.

Apart from this course and the other two mandatory courses at ITM, the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University provides a wide range of relevant elective courses for students that choose the ecotoxicology branch of applied environmental science at ITM.

The Degree Project, 30-45 hp, may be performed, either in association with environmental agencies and companies, or as part of the research activities at ITM. The latter include many interesting opportunities, with everything from laboratory experiments to field work, studies of specific cellular markers to population changes, investigations using bacteria, algae, crustaceans or fish, etc. In all cases, you will profit from ITM’s expert knowledge via supervision and technical assistance.