BSc Oceanography

BIO1433: Marine Biology

Life originated in the sea and therefore the study of marine biology can be viewed as the original bioscience. This module will provide a comprehensive understanding of the diversity of life in the sea, details of the key marine habitats, as well as describe the adaptations and constraints of living in the world's largest ecosystem. You will also be introduced to the myriad techniques for studying marine biology in the field, laboratory and remotely. By the end of the module, you will have developed a deep understanding of the study of life in the seas, which will form the fundamental building blocks for a degree in this subject. Moreover, you will be able to answer the question: what is marine biology?

You will be introduced to a wide range range of principles of marine biology by expert researchers in those fields. This will include training in basic oceanography and water chemistry, while also considering the role that other abiotic conditions have on life in the sea. The module will provide insight into the diversity of marine life and consider the key factors influencing their distribution. Using a range of examples you will be introduced to key marine habitats including intertidal systems, neritic waters, pelagic waters and the deep-sea. Also, a key constraint in the study of marine biology is logistics; studying life in the sea is far from straightforward.

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CGE1405B: Earth System Science

The Earth consists of a series of interacting natural systems (lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, atmosphere). The interactions between these systems, called feedbacks, are central to analysing the functioning of major aspects of the Earth, such as climate, sea level and biotic evolution. This way of looking at our world is also critical in analysing the human impact on the Earth system and identifying management strategies to mitigate, remediate or predict geological and environmental hazards and impacts, and in identifying resources. This module is therefore about connectedness and the development of an approach to understanding the Earth that emphasises the connections between the components rather than the components themselves. This module requires no prior skills or experience and is particularly suitable for interdisciplinary pathways.

This module aims to:

• Explore our understanding of Earth origins, the evolution of the solar system, of the ocean, the biosphere and the atmosphere.
• Introduce natural systems theory.
• Identify the Earth’s component natural systems and the Earth’s climate system, its forcings and feedbacks.
• Describe plate tectonics and the role of the internal system in determining or controlling rock formation, the sedimentary cycle, the carbon cycle, Earth surface landforms (geomorphology), oceanic gateways and barriers, biotic evolution.
• Analyse orbital and gravitational controls on the Earth: tides, days, seasons, years.
• Explore the influence of tides on the timing and rate of Earth-moon separation.
• Describe solar variability and its impact on Earth climate.
• Describe the Earth’s radiation balance, atmospheric and oceanic circulation and their role in redistributing heat around the Earth.
• Analyse interactions between the hydrosphere and the cryosphere.
• Identify and describe major biogeochemical cycles, in particular the carbon cycle.
• Explore the causes of major climatic changes through geological time.
• Discuss the evolution of hominids and the interactions of humanity with the Earth system.t

The module will involve a fieldwork component involving an investigation of evidence for sea-level change on the Cornish coastline.

This module will help you to develop and extend your awareness of the importance of taught and learnt skills in strengthening employability potential, especially through the application of critical analytical skills (review of scientific literature, simple calculations) to a range of contemporary global challenges, notably climate change and geoengineering. More generally, through attending the fieldwork and weekly lectures, alongside your own independent learning, you will develop the following academic and professional skills:

• fundamental problem solving (linking theory to practice with academic guidance), collaboration (learning about the views and values of others), and audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively, persuading others of the importance and relevance of your views, responding positively and effectively to questions).

The teaching contributions on this module involve elements of research undertaken by staff, such as work on sea-level change (Scourse). Moreover, you are encouraged to undertake enquiry-led learning, specifically through the field component.

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CGE1419: Introduction to Data Science

This module provides practical insights into how scientists use data to answer research questions in environmental, marine, and geographical sciences. The module is designed to build skills progressively: starting with foundational maths, moving on to programming in R, and culminating in the analysis of real environmental datasets using a range of statistical techniques.

Through a combination of lectures, practical workshops, and online resources, you will learn to:

• Handle, clean, and manipulate datasets
• Explore and visualise data effectively
• Apply descriptive and inferential statistics
• Conduct linear and non-linear analyses
• Integrate these skills to investigate applied environmental science questions

Weekly lectures introduce the theory behind the techniques covered in the practical classes. Practical sessions are supported by academic and teaching staff and focus on applying methods to real-world environmental data, including datasets from field studies, time series, and ecological measurements.

Assessment is through four online quizzes and associated practical exercises that give you hands-on experience of the full data analysis workflow, from messy data to interpreted results.

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CGE1420: Atmospheric and Oceanic Systems, Their Interactions and Importance

How are atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns formed, how are these systems interlinked and how do they interact, what drives the weather systems, why is carbon important, and how do we know what our climate and weather was like in the past and what it may look like in the future? This module takes the first steps in answering all of these questions by giving you a solid understanding of the Earth's two major dynamic systems; the oceans and atmosphere. Weekly lectures are supported by seminar sessions where we discuss relevant case studies and group tasks to support the weekly lecture content. Two practical classes involve using interactive iPython/Jupyter notebooks to study the water carbonate system and atmosphere-ocean gas exchange in the North Atlantic and the Fal river. The module teaching includes the use of videos by invited speakers, Technology, Education and Design (TED) talks, journal papers, music, additional online resources, and examples of recent research advances made by staff at the all Exeter campuses.

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CGE1421: Marine and Environmental Science Field Course

This module provides early career training in fieldwork techniques that are fundamental to your degree in marine and environmental science. Cornwall is a natural laboratory with an incredible diversity of ecological and physical landscapes that you will have an opportunity to explore with academic staff. Specifically, you will receive instruction on marine science and environmental science techniques including, but not limited to, participant observation, recording field data, field sketching, sampling strategies and basic data handling, which is essential for your future career as a marine or environmental scientist.

The location of the fieldtrip will be in Cornwall, which has many areas designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with a high density of conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). Cornwall contains some of Britain's finest coastal scenery, including Land's End, the Lizard peninsula and twenty-two MCZs, and provides a perfect setting for marine and environmental exploration.

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CGE1450: Field Course: Environment and Sustainability on the Isles of Scilly

This module explores questions of environmental change and sustainability by looking at the practicalities of research design and methodology in relation to the Isles of Scilly, UK. The module supports you to develop the conceptual, analytical and practical research skills necessary for you to carry out independent research work. The Isles of Scilly is an ideal location in which you will get to think about a range of methodologies used in environmental science and in physical and human geography. This module has two aims: (1) to highlight processes of climate and environmental change and the ways in which communities (human and natural) respond; (2) to prepare you to complete research projects within your degree programme, introducing you to a range of skills relevant to your chosen discipline by means of enquiry in a particular field environment. Independent research constitutes a central element in your degree programme and is a critical skill in employability. The module will allow you to choose from projects focused on introducing and practicing a range of key research skills, including stratigraphy, social science surveying, landscape observation, policy analysis, marine science sampling, and mapping and monitoring environmental change. The module aims will be achieved via staff-delivered content, supported activities and group and individual projects. The module builds on the introductory fieldwork experiences of Stage 1 and prepares you for your field work and independent dissertation research in Stage 3. This module is compulsory for students on the BA/BSc Geography, BSc Environmental Sciences, BSc Geography and Geology, and BSc Marine Science programmes.

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CGE1408B: Global Issues in Environmental Science

This module is designed to give you a clear, two-part journey through critical environmental issues we face today. We spend the first half of the term focused strictly on the science of "Planetary Boundaries"—specifically looking at the current state of our air, oceans, land use, and biodiversity. We zoom in on these areas because they have already crossed into risky, unhealthy territory.

In the second half, we widen the lens to include the human side of the equation further. We explore how those ecological lines we crossed earlier connect to real-world social issues like global health, mining, and natural hazards. The big takeaway is that these aren't separate problems; crashing through an environmental boundary often hurts human health, while trying to fix social problems can put more stress on the planet. Rather than just looking at "trade-offs," we aim to teach you how to navigate toward a "safe and just space" where humanity can thrive without breaking the Earth's life-support systems.

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CGE1423: Biodiversity and its Conservation

Most people will be aware that the world is considered to be experiencing a biodiversity crisis. You’ll hear or read about it in the media all the time. But what do we actually mean by biodiversity? Where does it come from and how is it maintained in nature? Why is it important to humanity? How do human activities lead to its decline? What can be done to slow or even halt the decline? In this module, we will address all these questions to give students a solid foundation in the science of biodiversity and an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of biodiversity conservation.

This module will introduce you to the theory and concepts of biodiversity and conservation science. It aims to provide you with a basis on which to build expertise in this area and grow your understanding of how conservation requires input from many disciplines beyond biology.

In addition, you will gain practical experience in some aspects of this field, such as conducting biodiversity surveys, carrying out an IUCN Red List assessment, and planning conservation action.

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CSM1031: Earth and Environmental Chemistry

A sound appreciation of chemistry is relevant for understanding the environment we live in and the challenges we face. This module starts with an exploration of atomic structure, highlighting how atoms are classified in the Periodic Table of Elements and linking this to fundamental concepts in chemistry, including thermodynamics, kinetics, pH and redox. The distribution of chemicals in natural systems is addressed, emphasising the role and types of chemical reactions in different environments and methods for their detection and analytical characterisation. Aims of the module:

- To gain an understanding of atomic structure;

- To gain an understanding of atoms in materials;

- To gain an understanding of chemical reactions;

- To gain an understanding of chemical analysis;

- To gain an understanding of fundamental principles of thermodynamics;

- To gain an understanding of chemical transformations in aqueous environments;

- To gain an understanding of chemical laboratory and analytical practice;

- To gain an understanding of the major mechanisms which govern the mobility, fate and remediation of environmental chemical pollutants

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CSM1041: Quantitative Methods for Geoscientists

Mathematics and data are at the heart of all science and engineering subjects: we create mathematical models to understand and predict the behaviour of physical systems and we use mathematics to understand data and make precise, quantitative statements about the world. Provided at least a good grade at GCSE level mathematics, this module takes students of all levels of experience or confidence and brings them up to a level required to use mathematics as a tool in their other chosen pathways and modules.

This module aims to:

1. provide a solid foundation in key areas of mathematics;
2. develop your quantitative reasoning skills in the context of the geosciences;
3. develop your appreciation for the role of mathematical modelling and the complexity of mathematical issues in the geosciences.

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LAW1016C: A Legal Foundation for Environmental Protection

In this module you will be introduced to law in the context of the environment and how important the legal process is in its protection. The module seeks to provide you with an overview of all the different ways in which law can be used to protect the environment and give you the tools to choose which types of law are most suitable in different environmental contexts.

You will develop empathy for the different stakeholders in environmental issues. We will consider pathways to reconcile competing interests in an attempt to strike a balance between developmental or industrial progress and the need to protect our environment.

You are not expected to have any legal knowledge or experience and the module is therefore ideal for students on an interdisciplinary pathway, as well as being a compulsory element of the Environmental Science degree.

The module is designed as an essential foundation for those seeking employment following graduation in an environmental field where a working knowledge of law and policy will be assumed. It also provides an excellent foundation for further legal study.

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CGE2441: Remote Sensing for Environmental Management

Spatial data acquired by satellites, and other flying platforms are increasingly used in decision-making processes about the natural environment. These ‘remotely sensed’ data are fundamentally measurements describing the way that electromagnetic radiation interacts with materials and substances on the Earth’s surface and scientists can use these to create dynamic maps and build models describing Earth system processes through space and time. In this module you will learn about the different ways that we can use remote sensing to monitor the Earth, starting from the ground and working upwards into space where Earth observation satellites are in orbit. In this module we cover the theory and applications of remote sensing drawing on examples from terrestrial and marine applications.

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CGE2457: Physical Ocean Processes

This module will provide core knowledge of the physical processes than govern our oceans. The module will describe and explain both the distribution of different water masses present in the oceans and the movement of water by phenomena such as tides, waves, ocean currents and turbulent mixing. The important role that these phenomena play in both the global climate system and ocean biogeochemistry will be highlighted. Instrumental platforms from which we make physical measurements in the ocean will also be introduced covering both traditional shipboard measurements and remote sensing techniques to state-of-the-art autonomous vehicles and acoustic mapping.

The module introduces physical concepts from a largely descriptive approach, with practical tank experiments/demonstrations to aid understanding and promote inquiry -led learning. The module also includes some computer-lab practical sessions in Matlab to learn how to access and analyse real oceanographic data, and a field trip to collect oceanographic data in the Fal. Regular problem sheets will be provided for students to work through to underpin and embed the concepts covered in the course.

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CGE2469: Research Design and Methods

How do you design and conduct high-quality rigorous research? This module will introduce you to the key conceptual, analytical, research, and communication skills necessary for undertaking a robust, independent research project within and beyond the University. Through this module you will gain a grounding in the knowledge and skills required to understand and apply a range of methods and techniques of data collection and analysis and an in-depth understanding of how to design, and do, high-quality research.

Beyond your degree, this module also equips you with key employability attributes for professional careers through skill development embedded within the module. These include:

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CGE2470: Research Cruise

This module entails a residential field course in oceanographic sampling. During the course, you will develop the practical and analytical skills required to carry out oceanographic sampling at sea. You will learn about historic and modern instrumentation used to measure the physical, chemical and biological properties of the ocean on a research cruise, how these instruments are prepared before going to sea, and how they are operated and maintained. You will learn how to process oceanographic data collected using the instrumentation and interpret this data in the context of local oceanographic processes. This module is compulsory for students undertaking the BSc in Marine Science. During the module you will have access to marine science lecturers to discuss ideas and learn new skills that maybe useful for your dissertation.

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BIO2462: Marine Ecology

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms, and the interactions between organisms and their environment. The marine realm contains a wonderous array of species from the smallest microbes, whose ancestors invented photosynthesis, to the largest marine mammals, who roam vast tracks of ocean and play key roles in shaping the habitats through which they pass. This diversity of marine life is matched by the enormous range of environments within the marine realm from warm tropical seas to frozen polar oceans, where life is shaped by sunlight, to deep sea hydrothermal vents where communities of organisms are shaped by unusual and extreme environments. In this module, we'll see how understanding fundamental processes and concepts allow us to understand the complex array of life in the marine environment.

The aim of this module is to investigate the ecological processes that shape all marine organisms from primary producers to top predators.

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BIO2465: Wildlife Exploitation

'To exploit' means to make full use of and derive benefit from a resource. Humankind has exploited both the terrestrial and the marine realms for millennia for food, trade, travel, leisure, and has developed a variety of ways in which to extract resources to meet the growing needs of the global population. Exploitation has had negative environmental consequences and is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss, affecting the delivery of the goods and services with which we have become accustomed. You will take a detailed look at particular issues regarding both extractive and non-extractive exploitation of resources and their associated impacts, which will put you in a stronger position to make informed arguments regarding the sustainable management of wildlife.

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CGE2440: Geographical Information Science and Systems

How can spatial information be used to effectively manage the natural environment? In this module you will learn how to use geographical information software to analyse environmental data. In a major piece of coursework you will use Cornwall as a natural laboratory to investigate where to situate a nature reserve for conservation of the nationally rare silver studded blue butterfly.

This module aims to develop your understanding of the theoretical and practical skills required to create and manage complex spatial datasets for environmental purposes. The ability to use and understand GIS is a highly employable skillset. In addition, through weekly computer practicals, you will further enhance your professional skills in problem solving (linking theory to practice, being able to respond to novel and unfamiliar problems), time management and decision making.

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CGE2449: Green Consultants

DESCRIPTION

With a greater requirement than ever before to manage resources more efficiently and sustainably, the ability for organisations to perform effectively while reducing their environmental impact is fast becoming a critical capability. Acting as trainee consultants you will learn how to interact and consult with professionals, and how to influence the management of key resources such as waste and energy. You will help to introduce strategies to manage these resources more effectively, supporting organisations to operate more responsibly and positively contribute to broader environmental goals. The module reflects the interdisciplinary nature of research on the campus and is complimentary to a variety of other modules that focus on the environment more widely.

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CGE2450: Biogeography

How does the living world interact with the physical landscape? Why do plants and animals live where they do, and how do they adapt to, and shape, the physical environment? How are these relationships between life and landscape adapting to a rapidly changing planet? In this module we will examine current themes in biogeography and landscape ecology, including the historical, geographical and biological processes which determine the past and current distributions of species, and how these distributions are shifting under a changing climate. We will investigate in detail some of the ecological patterns, processes and feedbacks that occur in both natural and human-dominated landscapes across spatial scales from the local to the global. In coursework you will be encouraged to apply this knowledge to contemporary issues of environmental management and biodiversity conservation.

This module aims to introduce you to the theory and concepts of biogeography and landscape ecology and to develop an understanding of how this theory is applied in current research and environmental management. Drawing on ideas from physical geography, ecology, meteorology and other disciplines, you will gain an integrated understanding of the forces influencing the distribution of plants and animals, and how they interact with the physical environment, being both shaped by, and in turn shaping, the landscape.

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CGE2451: Ice Sheets: Glaciology, Climate and the Oceans

Rising sea levels caused by retreating ice sheets and shrinking Arctic sea ice are two of the effects we think of first when thinking about climate change. This module explores the fundamental role of Earth’s polar regions in the global climate system, offering a comprehensive overview of glaciology and polar science. Students will be introduced to the dynamics of ice—including internal deformation, basal sliding, and gravitational driving stresses—and analyse how the mass balance of the continental ice sheets is changing. We will delve into the interactions between the oceans and ice sheets, exploring key tipping points associated with the marine ice sheet and ice cliff instabilities. Past ice sheets are studied through geological archives including ice cores and sediment records. By examining the geological record alongside modern ice sheets, students will critically evaluate future sea-level rise projections. We will explore how such sea level projections are produced and introduce the different approaches to ice sheet modelling. Mechanisms of sea-level rise are considered across spatial and temporal scales. The module examines sea ice and its global impacts, contrasting Arctic and Antarctic environments and their influence on ocean circulation and the albedo effect. We will explore polar biology, the history of polar exploration, and the highly contentious debates around glacial geoengineering.

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CGE2463: Hazards and Human Society

Our world is a violent and turbulent place with extreme forces of nature having significant and varying physical, environmental, social, and economic impacts on human societies around the world. Such forces have shifted and changed over time with such changes increasing at a more rapid rate due to anthropogenic climate change, globalisation, and increases in interconnectedness. Through an applied, interdisciplinary approach, this module explores the various extreme forces ranging from the geophysical, geomorphological, and meteorological, their impacts, mitigation, and differing societal responses throughout recorded history and across spatial scales. For this, the module draws on themes including theodicy, development, sustainability, and policy amongst others.

Through the workshops and creative assessments, you will be exposed to management and policy challenges regarding these threats and will work on real-world authentic tasks relevant to the discipline of geography and environmental science and that are specific to the study of natural hazards, disaster management, and disaster risk reduction. These include working on a project to produce a public information campaign relevant to a hazard/hazards in a particular location. In the last week of the module, you will complete a formative end-of-module assessment that takes the form of a simulation exercise.

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CSM2183: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

This module will provide the fundamentals of sedimentology, tracing the physical and sedimentary processes from source terrain to sedimentary rock. You will review depositional sedimentary environments and the observations required to infer these from sedimentary successions. Practical work will include optical microscopy and hand specimen description. A central part of the module is a six-day field course to the Wessex Basin of southern England where your ability to describe and interpret sedimentary rocks in the field will be developed. You will also learn about the principal techniques used to date, correlate, and interpret the origin of sedimentary strata. In this module you will learn how fossils, stable isotopes, orbital cycles, rock magnetic properties and geophysical or geochemical logs can be combined to provide an integrated understanding of how we date rocks and how sediments are deposited. In addition, you will be introduced to sedimentary basins and the stratigraphic methods used to reconstruct their depositional histories.

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ECE2001: Oceans and Human Health

Around 80% of people live in close proximity to the sea globally. Coasts, seas and the global Ocean provide a wealth of ecosystem services, from dietary protein to recreation, but also pose many dangers, from flooding to harmful algal blooms. Our seas are under increasing threat from overexploitation, climate change and pollution. This has important direct and indirect consequences for human health and wellbeing now and in the future. You will examine the wellbeing, resilience, and sustainability of coastal human populations and ecosystems in the face of rapid global environmental change. You will cover a range of pressing marine environmental issues (e.g. plastic pollution, sea level rise and ocean acidification) integrating insights from fields as diverse as Geography, Biology, Social Sciences, Public Health and Medicine.

Delivered in Penryn, this module is part of the Medical Science Program. However, the module is highly interdisciplinary in focus, and is open to students enrolled in different programs, for example Marine Biology or Environmental Sciences.

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EMG2001: Python Programming

This module is available to students following the Data Science Minor during their second year of study. It is available at Penryn Campus. Students at the Exeter campuses can select the module COM2033 Python Programming.

Learn how to turn data to insight through the popular data science language of Python. This hands-on module introduces programming step-by-step, from writing your first lines of code to creating complete data analysis flows. You will learn how to decompose problems into components that can be implemented to provide a software solution. You will use tools such as Jupyter notebooks to explore, visualise and interpret datasets. No prior coding experience is required.

There are no prior knowledge, skills, experience, or pre / co-requisite modules required to take this module.  

This module will ensure that students are able to create software solutions to problems arising in a variety of fields and industries. They will learn concepts that enable them to implement software using Python efficiently, as well as assuring the software is correct using code testing.

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HIC2041: Critical Elements of Environmental Humanities: Cultures of Earth and Water

How can the humanities help us understand and respond to the ecological and climate emergency? How do these emergencies challenge traditional approaches to the study of human culture and ‘nature’? This module approaches these urgent questions through the study of landscapes and waterscapes as both a physical and ideological entity. Every landscape and waterscape is shaped by the often unintended consequences of its human and nonhuman histories. On this module you will investigate landscapes and waterscapes (from oceans to rivers and lakes) shaped by a range of connected processes such as mining and extraction, farming, energy production, conservation and recreation, pollution and waste. We will examine the multiple, often competing meanings that landscapes and waterscapes hold across societies and cultures, both locally and globally. We will engage critically with the visible and invisible legacies of colonialism and extractivism. We will also seek out possibilities for hope in acts of and in the regeneration of ruined landscapes and waterscapes.

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LAW2016C: Environmental Regulation and Redress

If you are concerned about environmental destruction and ensuring accountability on a global basis, then learning to articulate your argument and back it up with a sound grasp of the law might help you to make a real difference! The module will help you establish a working knowledge of how the law can be used as a mechanism to reconcile competing values in the protection of the environment and seeks to develop an understanding of the legal avenues available to mitigate environmental harm. As an environmentally aware individual, how can you use the law to prevent harm and what can you do if you feel that another individual or business has committed an environmental wrong? How can legal tools be used to redress and repair environmental harm? As you progress through the module, you will discover answers to these and other questions.

You will look at the role of national and international law in setting environmental standards. You will critically reflect on the extent to which the law across the world, including indigenous laws and cultural norms, might be used to embed pro-environmental and sustainable behaviour.

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CGE3324: Professional Placement

Increasingly, graduate positions request that applicants have work experience applicable to the role. This year-long module will enable you to immerse yourself in a professional environment; you will learn to apply the skills learnt during the first and second years, improve personal and transferable skills, make new contacts and enhance employability. Feedback and support will be provided by the module convenor and the placement host.

This module will enable you to develop subject-specific and general professional skills. You will research suitable organisations, consider the opportunities that positions offer you and practice writing covering letters and CVs. This module offers an excellent opportunity for you to immerse yourself in an environment where you can develop subject-specific and general professional skills, gain a greater understanding of the use of your degree and ultimately improve your CV. You will gain feedback throughout the placement from the placement host and the module convenor and you will be encouraged to reflect on your experiences during the placement to help you to make career decisions for the future. The module allows you to apply your learning during your degree to a real-world setting.

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CGE3508: One Year Study Abroad

The Geography, Environmental Science, and Marine Science degrees in Cornwall offer you the possibility to apply for a place to study abroad at a partner university. You must attain average grades of 60% or above in your first year of study, and maintain an average of 55% in your second year, to continue on or enter the “with Study Abroad” programmes. The full application process is described on the Global Opportunities website at https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyabroad/outbound/.

If you meet the requirements and accept your university placement, you will spend one academic year abroad, usually the third year of a four-year programme. At the end of your Study Abroad year, your marks are translated into the Exeter grade system and contribute to your degree.

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CGE3477: Dissertation in Marine Science

Doing a genuinely original piece of research is a crucial part of your academic training. In this module you will get hands on experience of participating in world-class marine research, guided by professional researchers. You will learn how to design, plan and implement a self-contained research project and will have the opportunity to draw on the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout your degree programme.

The dissertation provides you with the opportunity to undertake your own independent and original piece of research, drawing on the substantive intellectual themes developed in the Marine Science programme. The aims of the dissertation are for you to develop:

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BIO3409: Symbiosis in Marine Systems

In this module we will examine the diversity, ecological relevance, and evolutionary origins of symbiotic associations within marine systems. We will begin by exploring the diversity of organisms that form symbioses and the range of ecological processes that are impacted by such associations. The module will then focus on endosymbioses (in which symbionts reside within hosts) and consider the profound role that such associations have played in the origins and diversity of eukaryotic life. We will explore the critical ecological role played by a broad range of photosymbioses (e.g. those occurring between invertebrates, such as corals, and their algal symbionts), examine the physiological adaptations that underpin such interactions, and consider how stable symbioses form despite potential antagonism between hosts and symbionts. We will complete the module by discussing the impacts of environmental variation and persistent climate change on symbiotic associations and examine how modern ecological and evolutionary theories allow us to predict the responses of symbioses to contemporary patterns of environmental change.

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BIO3433: Ocean Management and Conservation

Oceans and seas were once thought to be too vast to be affected by anything other than localised human impacts. The persistence of this view well into the Anthropocene has been helped by the fact that, as a land-living creature, our attention is directed stubbornly above water and that the ocean surface conceals most of what goes on in the sea. While it is true that human impacts in the sea have lagged those on land, that impact is now rising fast. In recent decades human influence has expanded to even the remotest regions of the high seas, and to the bottom of the deepest abyss. Despite accumulating evidence of the growing scale and intensification of human impacts on the sea, management action has been slow, patchy and has lagged well behind efforts made to protect terrestrial wildlife. This module will introduce you to some of the most important dimensions of human influence on ocean life and ecosystems and the timescales over which they have developed and intensified. It will examine and assess the impacts seen on ocean life and explore options to manage and mitigate their effects.

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CGE3455: Marine Climate and Environmental Change

This module traces the evolution of the oceans from their origin, through their changing distribution and morphology as a function of plate tectonics and explores how changes in ocean distribution and changing circulation patterns have influenced the Earth’s climate system. The module takes a telescoped chronological perspective by exploring issues in Deep Time, through the Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles, to changes during the Holocene and over the last millennium and ends by exploring predictions of the future based on numerical modelling. Techniques used to investigate the climatic and environmental history of the oceans, including physical, biological and biogeochemical proxy records, instrumental series and coupled ocean-atmosphere numerical models, will be explored. There are no pre-requisites but useful complementary modules to have taken in the second year include GEO2428B Atmosphere and Ocean Systems, GEO2451 Ice Sheets: Glaciology, Climate and the Oceans, and complementary modules in the final year include GEO3454 Antarctica: Science from a Frozen Continent and GEO3456 Arctic Climate Change.

This module aims to:

• explore the hypotheses proposed to explain the origins of the oceans on Earth
• demonstrate how the Earth’s climate system is controlled over geological timescales by ocean distribution and morphology as a function of internal tectonic forcing
• emphasise the significance of changes in the Earth’s orbit in controlling marine climate and sea level
• identify the significance of Earth system feedbacks in controlling marine climate and environmental change
• explore the relative significance of solar variability, volcanic eruptions and anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions as controls of marine climate and circulation during the last millennium, and the leads and lags between the atmosphere and the oceans over this timescale
• introduce the major techniques used in proxy-based reconstructions of the marine environment (physical, biological, biogeochemical) and the statistical techniques used to analyse time series
• introduce the main instrumental series and observational platforms used to measure changes in ocean circulation (e.g. the RAPID array)
• discuss coupled ocean-atmosphere models that both hindcast and forecast ocean climate in response to a range of forcings
• emphasise the role of internal variability in marine climate change (ENSO, North Atlantic circulation).

Through attending the lectures and practical sessions and through completing the assessments, you will work towards developing the following graduate attributes:

• laboratory skills (microscopy)
• general analytical skills
• report writing skills
• problem solving (linking theory to practice)
• developing your own ideas with confidence
• being able to respond to novel and unfamiliar problems
• task management (identifying key objectives, setting clearly defined goals, developing strategies to ensure individual success)
• time management (managing time effectively)

The teaching contributions on this module involve elements of research undertaken by staff, such as work on high resolution marine climate change (Scourse).

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CGE3466: Biological Oceanography

Biological Oceanography takes a view on life in our oceans from bottom upwards. Focusing on microorganisms (phyto- and zoo-plankton) at the base of the food chain, that reside in the photic zone, this module looks at how the ocean’s physical and chemical environment shapes plankton diversity, productivity, and distribution, at global, seasonal and longer time scales. It investigates the role of plankton in the food chain and in ocean biogeochemical cycles. Techniques used to monitor plankton in the laboratory, in situ, from satellite and robotic platforms, are reviewed, and used with mathematical modelling to help understand plankton ecology and how plankton may respond to a changing ocean. The module is linked to broader environmental science topics (e.g. climate change, biogeography, biodiversity and ocean health) taught in the programme. There are no pre-requisites, but it would be useful to have undertaken ocean-based modules (e.g. GEO2457 Physical Ocean Processes) in your second year.

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CGE3470: Marine and Coastal Social-Ecological systems

The question of how human societies can live within environmental limits has been debated for hundreds of years. Exponential growth and the pressure of human activities on the Earth could be destabilising critical biophysical systems and causing irreversible environmental change, with catastrophic consequences for human wellbeing. These issues are exemplified in coastal and marine systems, where the impacts of humans on the marine environment and the ways in which the natural environment can affect coastal communities clearly demonstrate the need to consider social and ecological systems. In this module you will start to unpack the complex relationship between social and ecological systems through an understanding of poverty, wellbeing, ecological tipping points and trade-offs. You will study a range of interdisciplinary and cross-cutting topics across different regions of the globe to explore how coastal and marine resource management can intentionally and unintentionally impact the sea and the people and communities that depend on it. Lectures will be supported by seminars in which you will discuss and debate current sustainability challenges from a variety of different perspectives and explore proposed solutions and their consequent impacts on nature and society.

This module aims to develop your understanding of marine and coastal sustainability through a series of lectures that will:

• Examine the complex relationship between social and ecological systems in marine environments and coastal communities.
• Apply these ideas to understanding the unintended consequences of marine and coastal management
• Discuss key concepts and debates across different disciplines such as politics, geography and economics
• Use Research-Inspired Inquiry-Led Learning to look at real-world problems

The module content explores topical research areas of global relevance, drawing on current research from examples in both temperate and tropical environments. We will explore cutting-edge research, for example to investigate how links between ecosystem services and wellbeing are being explored in East Africa and how human behaviour is key to understanding UK fisheries. You will learn about the tools required to study such problems, and think about how such processes are measured in the field.

Through the seminars and assessments, you will develop skills relevant to future employment:

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CGE3480: The Southern Ocean and Oceanic Eddies

In this module you will explore the Southern Ocean circulation, the dynamics of oceanic eddies and in particular their contribution to the regional and global ocean circulations. You will learn about traditional and novel methods of studying oceanic physical processes, with a focus on cutting-edge strategies where field and numerical studies meet. You will also consider a research-led topic on the feedback of oceanic processes, occurring at small scales, onto the ocean dynamics in a changing context. Lectures will be supported by seminars, invited speakers, journal papers and practical demonstration that may include data analysis, tank experiments and boat excursions.

Module field trips may have to be moved online/replaced in the event of continued COVID-19 lockdown/social distancing rules. Practical classes may also have to be performed as interactive remote demonstrations.

Through a series of lectures and practical sessions you will:

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CSM3072: Climate Change: Past and Future

This module will provide a broad introduction to Earth’s climate system, past and present, and will equip you with the tools used to study the geologic record for evidence of past environmental and climatic change. You will learn to interpret and critically evaluate the evidence for a varied range of important past changes in Earth’s climate over the last 66 million years, guided by current internationally important research. You will learn about the importance of oceans in the Earth system, and about how climate and the carbon-cycle interact on a variety of time and spatial scales. You will learn how the Earth’s climate has changed both very slowly over million-year timescales, and occasionally shifted very dramatically over much shorter hundred to thousand year timescales. You will examine the influence of external orbital forcing on the climate and carbon-cycle throughout the Cenozoic. You will learn about the impact of recent human activities on Earth’s climate and about the implications of anthropogenic activities for future climate.

- To provide an introduction to the workings of Earth’s modern climate system (ocean-atmosphere-biosphere-cryosphere) with a particular emphasis on the role of the carbon cycle in regulating climatic change;

- To equip you with knowledge of the tools used by geologists to reconstruct past changes in Earth’s climate;

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ENE3003: Marine Renewable Energy

Marine Renewable Energy is an advanced module covering marine (primarily wave and tidal) energy. The aim of this module is to provide you with a broad understanding of the technical, operational and environmental aspects of the wave and tidal energy industries. It has an initial focus on resource assessment, intending to equip you with the ability to calculate the available power at a site from raw data, and to perform, analyse and interpret resource assessment studies with direct relevance to device operation. It will then introduce you to wider operational aspects including offshore operations, environmental consenting and impacts, and ongoing challenges facing the industry. It includes a practical tutorial on the industry-standard wave modelling software SWAN, and development of programming and analysis skills using Matlab.

This is a specialist module that requires a good level of mathematical and computational ability, and is not recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.

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LAW3301C: Law and Policy for Sustainable Organisations

This module seeks to develop understandings of the integral role that the concept of sustainability plays in establishing effective environmental protections through environmental law and policy at the domestic and international levels.

You will be introduced to sustainable strategies and programmes developed at the local level and applied to public and private organisations to respond to environmental challenges, as well as international laws and policies developed at the higher levels of international governance to confront the significant environmental challenges facing the planet today, including marine pollution, waste management and climate change. The module extends thinking from domestic programmes to develop sustainable practices, through to global strategies to build and enhance environmental responsibility at the international level.

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