Undergraduate Course: Conservation Science (ECSC10036)
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 | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Conservation Science is an honours course combining natural and social science perspectives on the field of conservation. |
| Course description |
This course will introduce students to the field of conservation science, integrating scholarship from the natural and social sciences. Students will learn about the development of conservation science into an interdisciplinary, problem-focused and value-laden field of study, patterns of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity, and the diverse approaches that are taken to prevent further biodiversity loss. The course is designed to encourage critical engagement and reflection on contemporary debates and challenges in conservation, and includes lecture-based material, interactive small-group activities and discussions of relevant journal articles.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course has an overall quota of 40 students. GeoSciences students will be given priority for the first 35 places, with SBS students given priority for the remaining 5 places. If these allocations are not filled, places will be offered to visiting students and students from other Schools.
The course does not have any formal pre-requisites, but students are expected to have a background in a relevant natural or social science (e.g. ecology; geography) and to be comfortable reading and interpreting literature from both the natural and social sciences.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Successful completion of introductory ecology or biology courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 30,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
166 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Presentation (15%) & Presentation Peer Feedback (5%)
Due week 6
Opinion Piece (40%)
Due week 7
Reflection Pieces (40%)
Due weeks 5, 8, 9 & 10
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- 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 to communicate science to academic, public and policy audiences.
- Give a poster presentation, write an opinion piece and write a POSTnote on selected topics in the field of conservation science.
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Reading List
| No texts are recommended prior to the course, but details of specific papers to be discussed each week can be found in the course schedule. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Conservation,Biodiversity,Land-use change,Protected areas,Ecosystem services |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Aidan Keane
Tel: (01316)50 5094
Email: aidan.keane@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Francesca Nadal Finnegan
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: Francesca.Finnegan@ed.ac.uk |
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