Postgraduate Course: The Modern Zoo (BIME11019)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh Medical School |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will present the principle activities of the 'modern zoo', based around their common goals of education, conservation and research in addition to their more traditional role as visitor attractions and entertainment centres. There will be examples of how zoological collections can contribute to conservation efforts, from providing funding to in-situ projects, to education for visitors on conservation themes, to the conservation breeding of threatened species. |
| Course description |
The long history of people keeping animals for interest and entertainment points to a deep connection between humans and their wild animal counterparts. The establishment of exotic animal collections and the exchange of animals as gifts between nations also points to the inherent value people have placed on them.
Weekly lectures will present a range of primary literature and zoo-based online resources around the four key activities of what might be considered a Modern Zoo:
1. Animal collections for public exhibition
2. Conservation
3. Research
4. Education and communication
Students will be encouraged to consider the validity of these activities and their own personal opinion on what should be most important in a modern zoological collection.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the principles behind zoological collections in the 21st Century and critically assess their value.
- Incorporate knowledge of the historical development and traditions of zoological collections to understand their current priorities.
- Apply sound reasoning and academic rigour to the controversial issues associated with zoos, such as captivity, animal welfare in the context of conservation and the artificial protection of species.
- Synthesise the concepts and data from a wide range of resources to explore ways in which zoological collections can contribute effectively to conservation, education or research.
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Reading List
Textbook:
Rees (2011). An Introduction to Zoo Biology and Management. John Wiley and Sons, UK.
Journals:
Zoo Biology: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1098-2361
International Zoo Yearbook: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1748-1090 Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research: http://www.jzar.org/jzar
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Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.web.mvm.ed.ac.uk/ |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The study materials provided in this course will enhance the student¿s abilities to search for, read and understand the relevant scientific literature, to use this to support specific arguments and to present the findings in a coherent and appropriate way. They will also develop skills in ICT through the use of an online learning platform, online search engines and word-processing and presentation packages. Online discussion with tutors and peers will develop confidence in communicating with others and the skills to engage in high level academic discourse. The independent study aspect of the course will enhance the student¿s abilities in time-management and self-motivation.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Harriet Thatcher
Tel: (0131 6)50 3508
Email: hjones13@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Stepha Heck
Tel: (0131 6)50 3160
Email: stepha.heck@ed.ac.uk |
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