MSc Conservation and Biodiversity

BIOM4009: Research Project

Learning to conduct original scientific research is essential for your scientific training, employability potential and future career. In this module, you will gain hands-on experience of conducting cutting-edge scientific research under the guidance of professional researchers. This involves conducting an independent research project on a subject of your choice related to conservation biology, ecology, evolution or behavioural ecology. Our academic staff offer a wide range of projects to pursue, which provide opportunities for building your skill set and experience in the process. With the support of your supervisor, you will be responsible for designing, planning and implementing the study, as well as analysing the data and writing it up for a world class peer-reviewed academic journal. As such, this project provides valuable experience of managing an original scientific research project, from its inception through to completion.

The aims of this module are:

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BIOM4023: African Biodiversity and Conservation Field Course

Many students look back on the Africa Field Course as the best learning experience of their lives. The module usually runs in Kenya and is long established, having run for over a decade with the same Kenyan company. Over 14 days you will see an amazing wealth of biodiversity from mountains and forests to lakes and savannahs, meet a range of conservationists and develop a deep understanding of the complicated nature of conservation in the developing world. All the while you will be developing your transferrable skills, spending a great deal of time with your lecturing staff and your peers, all under African skies.

This module aims to present the philosophy, sociology, ecology and practice of large-scale conservation. A practical understanding of these issues will be developed through visits to some of Africa's most important protected areas, as well as by an introduction to some of the day-to-day problems faced by conservation biologists in developing nations. You will be able to study the behaviour of animals in a natural ecological setting with a focus on large mammals, birds and insects, while guided by inputs from local practitioners. The practical work will be conducted in part during a safari through contrasting African ecosystems and participants will be able to acquire techniques for monitoring populations and communities.

Through attending the field course, you will further develop the following academic and professional skills:

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BIOM4025: Statistical Modelling

Biological data are famously complicated. However, modern statistical methods can accommodate many of these complications, and others can be avoided through careful study design and data collection. This module uses a series of lectures, interactive exercises and practicals to guide you through modern statistical philosophies and methods. It provides you with one of the most important transferable skills, both in and outside of academia, and it optimally prepares you for your dissertation project. The main software platform for the module is 'R', which is powerful, flexible and free. To accommodate students from a range of backgrounds and with different levels of prior experience, we start with the basics and gradually add complexity . By the end of the module , you will understand how to design a study , handle the data, analyse them , interpret the results , and provide graphical and written summaries. Many examples used will be drawn from recent research in ecology, evolution and environmental sciences .

Statistical modelling is an integral part of all quantitative research. Thereby this module provides key transferable skills in experimental design, data collection and handling, statistical modelling , and programming. More generally, it promotes quantitative and logical thinking.

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BIOM4049: Conservation and Biodiversity

The module takes you from the ecological theory behind biodiversity and conservation, through real examples of the challenges faced by those putting conservation into practice, with opportunities to put yourselves in conservationists' shoes during class discussion and presentations to the class. We also have visiting speakers covering issues such as adapting conservation to climate change, marine over-exploitation, and rewilding. In addition, you can choose two areas of interest, for a literature review, and for your own presentation to the class, giving you the opportunity to really get to grips with key topics in conservation and biodiversity, and helping you develop the skills that you will use later on, during employment or future research. Whatever your background, by the end of the module you should be thinking like a scientifically-informed conservation practitioner.

This module deals with the key Biodiversity and Conservation issues and will contribute to an understanding of the scientific processes that underpin much of conservation and ecology. The module particularly focuses on global biodiversity, measuring biodiversity, threats to biodiversity and how biodiversity can be conserved.

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BIOM4014: Preparing for Ecological Consultancy

This module acts as an introduction for any students that are interested in pursuing a career in terrestrial ecological consultancy in the UK. Throughout the module you will be given an overview of ecological consultancy and gain a more detailed understanding of key legislation, habitat surveys, protected species surveys and ecological impact assessments. During this module you will have the valuable opportunity to gain practical experience of completing habitat surveys and species survey techniques. This module will provide you with an excellent platform for a future career in ecological consultancy.

This module deals with the key issues and techniques involved in terrestrial ecological consultancy, an intended sector for graduates from the programme. Although focused on the skills needed for an ecological consultancy career, the module would be beneficial for anyone considering a career in UK conservation. The module will include a sectoral overview, and theory, process and practice of key techniques. As parts of this programme will be conducted in the field, you may wish to consider the physical demands of these aspects of the module before embarking on it.

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BIOM4051: GIS in Ecology and Conservation

This module aims to provide you with a good working knowledge of the theory and practice underpinning the application of GIS and geospatial analysis in the fields of conservation and ecology. Throughout the module you will be introduced to, and gain practical experience of using open-source GIS software (QGIS and R) to acquire, create, manipulate, analyse and visualise a range of spatial datasets. These practicals will underpin a range of complementary assessments that focus on enhancing your data visualisation, analytical and problem-solving skills using GIS software; thereby providing you with a breadth of experience for a career in applied scientific research, industry or as a conservation practitioner.

The ability to use and understand Geographical Information System (GIS) software to create, manage and analyse spatial data is a highly sought-after skillset that will enhance your employability in the fields of biodiversity conservation and management, and more broadly in the environmental sciences.

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BIOM421: Conservation Practice and Evidence

This module will give students hands on experience in designing and assessing practical measures in conservation. They will hear about practical examples of conservation and then must both design and write a conservation grant based on their acquired knowledge. This will give the students unique guidance in both how to implement conservation measures and how to gather the associated evidence that they are actually working.

This module aims to provide you with the key skills required to design, implement, and monitor conservation projects that consider the biodiversity, environment, and human communities that live alongside it. You will first be introduced to how to plan in conservation, including how to effect meaningful change to achieve a desired outcome. You will then gain experience in different techniques to monitor biodiversity and environmental change, and approaches to examine human and policy dimensions of conservation. Following this you will explore how to use conservation evidence to inform and scale actions and how to integrate predictive science into conservation decision-making. Finally, you will explore key conservation leadership and management skills to support you in your career as a conservation scientist and practitioner.

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BIOM422: Animal Behaviour and Global Challenges

The natural environment is changing at an unprecedented rate, leading to mass extinctions and biodiversity loss. Although humans are the drivers of the current biodiversity crisis, we also hold the solutions. Conservation biologists have traditionally aimed to maintain or restore populations by focussing on population size and genetic diversity. However, animals' first line of defence in response to environmental change is their behaviour. How can we apply insights from animal behaviour research to boost the success of conservation strategies and tackle global challenges? In this module, leading scientists in key behavioural domains such as animal migration, cognition and perception will take you on a whistle-stop tour of the ways in which anthropogenic changes impact animal behaviours. We will then critically assess how we might apply these insights to inform behaviour-based management and conservation planning. We will engage with front-line conservationists to learn how they are applying animal behaviour to address global challenges. Finally, we will consider how human behaviour and cooperation can be leveraged to make change happen.

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BIOM4043: Rewilding the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is economically highly developed, densely populated and intensively farmed and industrialised. This human-dominated system makes life very challenging for the wildlife that shares our country with us, and for the biota that provides us with ecosystem services like pollination, clean air, freshwater and recreation. Some of our precious biodiversity is considered 'pest' or 'weed' by people. Many of our natural systems suffer invasion by non-native species. Many of our natural habitats are degraded, fragmented, and very fragile in the face of anthropogenic climatic and environmental change. Yet, the UK is at the forefront of global efforts to conserve, rescue, replenish or replace native biodiversity.

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