Teaching in Practice

In this first-year module, I introduce students to the basic characteristics and importance of microorganisms in agriculture, with a specific focus on introductory plant pathology, plant disease, and crop protection. 

This final-year BSc Agric and honours-level module focuses on plant disease epidemiology and the role of disease management in diverse production systems. Students learn to connect plant pathology with society, decision-making, ethical reasoning, and the practical realities of managing disease risk in the field.

My approach to teaching this module has been deeply influenced by Professor Emerson Del Ponte from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa in Brazil. I was blessed to have Emerson as my PhD supervisor and had the opportunity to visit his laboratory for approximately 3 months in 2019, before the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also had the privilege of attending his online course in plant disease epidemiology at UFV, which later inspired the redesign of this module, originally inherited from Professor Neal McLaren.

The syllabus I have designed is currently undergoing further development, particularly in response to advances in artificial intelligence and the need to ensure fair, meaningful, and authentic student assessment in this new era. The syllabus is a living document, annotated by students who have previously attended the module, and visitors are welcome to view it and leave comments.

You can view the syllabus by clicking on this icon 📑

One of the core teaching resources used in this module is the r4pde book created by Professor Del Ponte, which supports students in engaging with plant disease epidemiology through data, examples, and applied learning.