Courses taught by Dr. Hecker at the University of Saskatchewan
ENVS 803 – Research in Environment and Sustainability
The purpose of this course is to introduce graduate students to conceptual, practical, and ethical issues in conducting interdisciplinary research about environment and sustainability. By the end of the course, students will have a research plan from which their proposal and research activities can be developed.
ENVS 832 – Risk Assessment and Negotiation of Environmental Issues
This course introduces the concepts of risk assessment and environmental negotiation. Negotiations and consultations are central to managing relations among diverse stakeholder groups in assessing and addressing environmental issues. This course uses experiential learning where students actively investigate an environmental issue, conduct a risk assessment, and negotiate an outcome among stakeholders through role play.
TOX 844 – Toxicology Techniques
Provides theoretical background and hands-on experience in methods and techniques typically applied by toxicology professionals in academia, industry, and government. It is a modular course that covers a broad spectrum of procedures, ranging from proper handling of field equipment to biological test methods and analytical processing of samples.
TOX 870 – Introduction to Chemical Risk Assessment and Problem Formulation
This course introduces the concept of chemical risk assessment and provides an overview of current frameworks considered by regulatory authorities. Students will develop a common vocabulary and basic understanding of risk assessment and its use in decision making. The initial phase of a risk assessment, the Problem Formulation phase, is emphasized.
TOX 871 – Historical Lessons in Chemical Risk Assessment
This course presents and discusses classic historical cases or topics in toxicology from a risk perspective. It focuses on lessons learned and how that has helped improve current chemical risk assessment principles and approaches. It also covers key regulatory systems and discusses similarities and differences in approaches. The importance of proper Problem Formulation is emphasized.
TOX 873 – Principles of Ecotoxicological Hazard Characterization
This course will introduce students to the fundamental principles of toxicology and ecotoxicology, including toxicodynamics, systemic toxicology, molecular-, cellular-, organ-, individual- and population-level effects, mechanisms of toxicity, estimation of toxicity endpoints and benchmarks, direct and indirect effects, bioavailability and bioaccumulation, experimental approaches for generation of ecotoxicity data, categories of pollutants (case studies), assessment of terrestrial and aquatic systems, functional ecosystem endpoints, and energy transfer in ecosystems.
Dr. Markus Hecker 