Undergraduate Course: Conservation Science (ECSC10035)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will introduce the field of conservation science focussing on changes in biodiversity, threats to biodiversity, protected area management, and people-focused conservation. The course will involve introductions to concepts, critical assessment of the literature, and discussion of current issues in conservation. |
| Course description |
Week 1: Introduction to conservation science
Week 2: Patterns of biodiversity
Weekend fieldtrip to the Cairngorms: Conservation management in practice
Week 3: Background population ecology for conservation
Week 4: Threats to biodiversity
Week 5: Why do we conserve biodiversity?
Week 6: Conservation Science Mid-term Conference
Week 7: Protected areas
Week 8: People-focused conservation
Week 9: Applied techniques in conservation: GIS
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Successful completion of Ecology and Environmental Science first and second year. |
| Additional Costs | Cost of field trip to Cairngorms (approx £25) |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Give an oral presentation, write an opinion piece and construct a blog on a selected topic in the field of conservation science.
- Understand the concept of biodiversity change and identify threats to global biodiversity.
- Understand how and why we conserve ecosystems and populations.
- Understand people-focused conservation.
- Use ecological and social science methods in relation to collected conservation data and write a POST Note.
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Reading List
| Scientific papers for compulsory and additional reading will be provided to the students in advance of each lecture. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Communication skills, oral presentations, social media, opinion writing, critical thinking, discussion |
| Keywords | Conservation,biodiversity,land-use change,protected areas,ecosystem services,people |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Isla Myers-Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 7251
Email: Isla.Myers-Smith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Matthew Hathaway
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Matthew.Hathaway@ed.ac.uk |
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