Interactive Learning Skills and Communication (ILSC) will help you to develop your academic, research, communication, and literacy skills in preparation for your undergraduate degree. ILSC covers reading, writing, speaking, and listening and will give you an understanding of institutional culture, practices, norms, and expectations of UK higher education. You will develop transferable skills such as effective communication to support ongoing study, career, and professional development skills.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) provides you with the practical computer skills needed for university. In this module, you will cover fundamental topics surrounding the use of technology and discuss these together with societal and ethical perspectives. This will allow you to reflect on and discuss the main challenges facing society and consider the implications of your technology use. This module requires no previous technical experience and will introduce you to practical ICT skills that will be needed for academic success across many areas of higher education. By the end, you should have sufficient proficiency in the Microsoft Office productivity suite for planning and producing presentations, using functions, and writing formula to display, formatting and analysing quantitative data, and producing written assignments to a standard appropriate to higher education.
Maths for Scientists will ensure that you have the necessary basic mathematical skills required for entry to level 4 on various science related degree programmes. By the end of the course, you will be able to carry out the basic mathematical manipulations and understand the relevant key concepts required to progress on to your chosen degree course. Each mathematical concept is introduced by a lecture, in which examples of how to use and apply the concept are demonstrated. The subjects covered are a range of arithmetic skills, algebra, areas and volumes, trigonometry, and basic statistics.
View the full module definitionThe Cellular Biology module will provide you with an introduction to key processes operating within living organisms, including energy provision, transport, control, and co-ordination alongside key ecological concepts. You will study the composition of cells and the structure, and function of the four groups of macromolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids.
View the full module definitionThis module aims to enable you to participate in and practice independent learning tasks for deeper thought and investigation as needed for higher academic pursuits. You will participate in a Socratic discussion based around conspiracy theories and source checking to encourage presentation and debating skills. You will be encouraged to invest in strategies that will deepen understanding and interpretation of processes, motives, argument, rationale, credibility, and possibilities which will then be applicable to a range of studies. You will also undertake research, based on an issue related to your degree programme, to review the main points of examining an argument in depth. You will then learn to create a personal response that analyses the content of the issue under study.
View the full module definitionBiology is the study of living organisms and physiology is an aspect of this which looks closely at the functions and mechanisms in a living system. In this module, you will study the science of body function and its relation to the structure, or anatomy, or the organism (physiology). You will learn how the main organ and regulatory systems work to enable the body to function and respond to change, whilst maintaining a constant internal environment. You will also gain foundation knowledge of organ systems and different regulatory systems, as well as learning to classify organisms and their major components. You will also be introduced to classification and the basic principles of genetic inheritance and consider this in the context of Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
View the full module definitionThis module will provide you with an elementary introduction to chemical science. You will not be required to have any prior knowledge of Chemistry for this, and you will study materials undergoing chemical changes, the periodic table, chemical equations, calculating concentrations, quantitative chemical analysis, chemical equilibria, and organic chemistry. The practical element of the course will allow you to gain practice in some basic laboratory techniques based on the concepts covered in the lectures.
View the full module definitionPhysics for Life Scientists introduces the principles and laws of physics which underpin all life sciences. No prior knowledge of physics is assumed for this module, and the focus will be on those aspects which are specific to the requirements of your studies at Level 4 and beyond. Some of the aspects explored include how organisms move in relation to their environment; how organisms perceive their environment in terms of light and sound; how the physics of fluids and gasses affect the anatomy and physiology of organisms; how electricity is used to allow communication, how radioactivity impacts on organisms, and the applications of physics in modern medicine.
View the full module definitionThe ways in which animals cope with the demands of everyday life, from feeding, moving and respiring to sensing the outside world and each other are as diverse as the animals themselves Within this module you will examine the ways in which an animal’s anatomy, physiology and behaviour allow them to adapt for survival and reproduction. You will examine the variety of ways in which an animal's anatomy and physiology are adaptations to the many tasks it faces to survive. Particular emphasis will be placed on comparing the solutions evolved to similar tasks by the various animal groups both vertebrate and invertebrate. Through a series of integrated lectures, practical sessions and active learning, you will examine main themes of cell biology, homeostasis, communication, locomotion and the function of the different organ systems in a variety of different organisms. Our study of animal behaviour will investigate the philosophy and multidisciplinary origins of the scientific study of behaviour. A synthesis of the fields of psychology and animal behaviour will be presented to you using a framework of proximate (developmental and mechanistic) and ultimate (functional and phylogenetic) explanations. You will also investigate behaviour through evolutionary processes, gene expression and environmental contributions. You will develop a strong scientific foundation in animal physiology and behaviour and the ecology of the animal. You will also develop transferable employability skills including self-management, organisational skills, resilience, critical thinking. IT, teamwork and communication & literacy; necessary in subsequent modules and biological careers.
View the full module definitionEcology is the science of how organisms relate to each other and their surroundings. Without a thorough understanding of ecology, we cannot develop effective conservation actions to ensure species and habitat protection. You will be introduced to the key aspects of these crucially important issues, building your knowledge of terminology and the role of ecological science in creating a sustainable planet. You will explore organisms and their environment, the interactions between them and the concept of the ecological niche. To start with you will consider key taxonomic groups such as birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, with some focus on species found in Britain. You will then explore the key conservation and management issues for each major group and for exemplar species. You will also consider changes in the distribution and abundance of wildlife, for example the challenges around invasive species, climate change, pollution and habitat loss and fragmentation. Next you will take a broader look at ecology across a range of taxa including plants, invertebrates and vertebrates. You will learn through a variety of lectures, practical lab work and team-based learning. You will enjoy hearing from guest speakers and participating in field trips, such as visiting nature reserves and a grey seal colony. You will therefore build the basic skills and knowledge required for a range of careers in ecology, conservation or wildlife biology.
View the full module definitionBiology is a wide-ranging scientific field, and encompasses the study of all life on Earth. A thorough understanding of the underlying principles of biology will pave the path for your course and is crucial for in a career in the biological sciences. We will start at the beginning of life on Earth, exploring theories of the origins of life and the various theories of evolution. You will study organisms from all the major groups of life, including microbes, plants and animals, and how they arose. We will integrate core principles from other scientific disciplines, particularly chemistry, physics and geology as they are fundamental to understanding biology. You will learn via a combination of theory, laboratory, computer and field practicals developing graduate skills in diverse and fascinating topics from the molecule to the animal. These may include DNA extraction, genetics, microbiology, and plant and animal biodiversity, and gaining skills in microscopy and computational analysis of data. You will also examine scientific research ethics and the broader philosophy of science. In short you will be prepared not only for the rest of your course and be equipped with practical scientific skills which will make you a better biologist, but will also become a confident scientist in a wide range of different practical settings.
View the full module definitionQuantitative skills are essential for understanding biological systems and undertaking biological research and are relevant to a wide range of graduate employment opportunities. These skills will also allow you to critically evaluate whether quantitative information is being honestly and clearly communicated, whether in a scientific, commercial or political context. You will develop your skills in a range of mathematical and statistical techniques and software tools. As you do so you will develop your ability to analyse data, construct and use graphs, write and run code, think logically to solve problems, and report quantitative information effectively. Mathematical topics in which you will build competency are size & scale, ratio & proportion, using formulae & equations, modelling and describing rates of change. Statistical topics in which you will build competency are understanding data and sampling, descriptive statistics, estimation, null hypothesis significance testing and the Generalized Linear Model. Types of software in which you will build competency are spreadsheets (such as Excel or Google sheets) and statistical programmes (such as SPSS or R). Material introduced during interactive lectures and tutorials is reinforced with hands-on computer practical sessions. There is an emphasis throughout on the use of real datasets within a biological context and reference to a wide range of biological examples.
View the full module definitionAt Anglia Ruskin University we strive to ensure that you receive an outstanding academic education and student experience - and understand that, whilst embedding employability skills within the credit-bearing curriculum is important, it is only part of the set of achievements needed to obtain employment. This zero-credit module will be used to track and verify the progress you've made with respect to key employability skills and endeavours. You'll work closely with your personal tutor, Students' Union Volunteering Service, Study Skills Plus, and Faculty Employability Advisor to engage with co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities and activities to enhance your personal attributes.
We share our world with a vast array of invertebrates, which account for over 99% of the 1.2 million or so animal species so far described. In this module you will be introduced to the diverse world of invertebrates focussing on aspects of their biology, ecology and behaviour. You will learn about invertebrate classification and you will practise relevant sampling and identification skills. Coverage of structural biology leads on to physiological functioning and consideration of adaptations that allow invertebrates to fill a range of specialised ecological niches. The major impacts that invertebrates have on both natural and man-made ecosystems lead on to applied topics, such as the impact of insect pests in agriculture. You will also consider various other aspects of invertebrate biology, such as their role in decomposition, the biology of social insects, insect-plant interactions, pollination and their survival in extreme environments. Since most invertebrate species remain to be discovered, anyone equipped with a few basic observational and experimental skills can make a significant contribution to this fascinating area of science. Field- and laboratory-based practical sessions are an important component of what you will gain from this module. The fieldwork and identification skills you will be introduced to are important in ecological consultancy and researchbased careers. You will also gain further practice in transferable skills such as data analysis and written communication skills that are valuable in a wide range of careers.
View the full module definitionVertebrates account for fewer than 1% of known species of animal life and yet they (including humans) are some of the most successful and widely adapted animals on earth. They occupy terrestrial, arboreal or marine habitats and have several different forms of locomotion. In this module you will focus on evolution, embryology and developmental genetics, and the comparative anatomy and physiology of vertebrates within a taxonomic framework. You will learn cladistical analysis (species classification) to help you to understand the evolution and taxonomy of vertebrates, exploring why they have evolved in certain ways, using skull analysis to support your learning. You will learn the processes of dissection to allow you to make comparisons of different anatomical structure and function and evaluate the differences you discover. You will also develop key employability skills including critical thinking, teamwork, resilience as well as self-management, IT and communication. Vertebrate biology provides detailed knowledge of the embryological processes and developmental genetics and vertebrate structural, functional and anatomical adaptations all leading to a variety of careers in the life sciences.
View the full module definitionGenetics unifies the biological sciences. Whether you are interested in animal behaviour, biodiversity, conservation or zoology, genetics is pivotal, offering a biological basis for morphological, physiological, and even behavioural traits in an organism. Genetics also gives us a molecular mechanism for the generation and maintenance of variation, and the raw material for evolution. Building on your knowledge of genetic concepts, you will learn how the rules of inheritance translate into the organisation of the gene-pool of a population and species. You will develop a detailed understanding of the relationship between genetic variation and evolution and will also be introduced to some of the genetic techniques used to answer behavioural, ecological and evolutionary questions. Your understanding of genetic processes will be developed through a variety of integrated lectures, workshops, case studies and laboratory sessions. You will expand your skill-set, developing your expertise in laboratory techniques and report writing useful in research and industry settings, as well as teamwork, problem solving, collection, handling and presentation of data.
View the full module definitionRuskin Modules are designed to prepare our students for a complex, challenging and changing future. These interdisciplinary modules provide the opportunity to further broaden your perspectives, develop your intellectual flexibility and creativity. You will work with others from different disciplines to enable you to reflect critically on the limitations of a single discipline to solve wider societal concerns. You will be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines to apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, seek and maximise opportunities to realise your potential to give you a distinctive edge and enhance your success in the workplace.
Learn how to plan research projects in preparation for the rest of your studies. These skills will be key to your final year where you will develop your own research project. You will be introduced to the knowledge and skills needed to ask critical biological questions and plan a project to discover the answers in a scientifically valid, ethical and safe way, through lectures. You will then consolidate your knowledge and practice what you have learnt during hands-on workshops. The quantitative, communication, critical thinking and IT skills that you’ll gain from this module are applicable to a wide range of graduate employment opportunities.
View the full module definitionHaving gained extensive background knowledge, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in the various components of field biology and put them into practice in a week-long residential field course. You will acquire the research techniques necessary to conduct fieldwork in temperate habitats, starting with the use of taxonomic keys to identify UK fauna and flora, a key skill for those wanting to work with conservation programmes and ecological consultancies. You will complete a set of exercises during the first part of the field course, where you will receive training in field techniques within marine, terrestrial and behavioural ecology. These short-term group exercises will be your introduction to conducting comprehensive field research projects from start to finish. You will then as a group choose to present the results from one of these exercises. Presentations are a major part of scientific conferences where research findings are formally discussed; thus this process will introduce you to the important transferable skills of field project implementation, analysis and communication. Careful project design is vital to ensuring the successful completion of field-based investigations. In the second part of the module, you will learn how to develop a specific research question under the guidance of an academic supervisor, and review relevant literature to support your idea. You will then develop appropriate methods of data collection and analyses, and carry this project out on the field trip, culminating in the production of an individual research project report. This module therefore also allows you to develop key transferable skills in self-management, problem-solving, teamwork, and scientific communication, ideal for future employment in the ecological sector and in research roles more widely.
View the full module definitionModern technological developments that enable us to study the natural world include Geographical Information Systems (GIS), an invaluable tool which allows us to monitor a variety of aspects in nature, including species distribution. You will learn valuable practical skills in the use of GIS within biological sciences, includes the concepts of the system and the training on how to use the tools. You will learn how to use the software and the various techniques during practical sessions and will also apply your knowledge to relevant case studies. During your practical sessions, you will explore a variety of online spatial data resources relevant to the study of terrestrial and marine organisms in the context of ecological and behavioural studies and wildlife conservation, at both local and global scales. These include species distribution, protected areas, habitat maps, physical and climate data, and remote sensing. You will be introduced to free-to-use Open Source GIS software (QGIS) and will also learn to apply your Global Positioning System (GPS) skills to capture locations in the field and map them. The latest developments in tracking device technology will also be covered, and you will learn how to represent and analyse data acquired from these devices. Knowledge of GIS and the uses of these techniques are valuable practical skills, both on this course and in your future employment in a wide range of industries due to the transferable nature of the software. Furthermore, the skills you develop in data management and analysis, scientific writing, problem solving and critical thinking will prepare you for a wide range of careers.
View the full module definitionAt Anglia Ruskin University we strive to ensure that you receive an outstanding academic education and student experience - and understand that, whilst embedding employability skills within the credit-bearing curriculum is important, it is only part of the set of achievements needed to obtain employment. This zero-credit module will be used to track and verify the progress you've made with respect to key employability skills and endeavours. You'll work closely with your personal tutor, Students' Union Volunteering Service, Study Skills Plus, and Faculty Employability Advisor to engage with co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities and activities to enhance your personal attributes.
Animal health and disease are broad and fascinating topics. We will focus on the contribution of nutrition and parasites to health and disease, discussing how animals interact with food from a biochemical point of view, how changes in nutrition can affect health, and how animals deal with parasites. Nutrition is a crucial factor in animal health - after all, you are what you eat. Therefore, what should we feed animals in our care? We will also discuss how different parasites affect animal health, the effects these parasites have on the health of their human caretakers, and how diseases can spread through a population and between species. You will learn through a combination of lectures, practical sessions, including laboratory analysis, problem solving and computer simulations, giving you ample opportunity to delve into the world of animal health and disease from different angles. In doing so you will hone your skills in nutritional analysis, parasite identification and assessment of parasite burden. These skills are applicable to careers in a range of sectors, such as analytical laboratories in the pet food industry, zoos, and animal rescue centres. We will also discuss how evolution has provided the world with a fascinating diversity of highly adapted pathogens, and ask fundamental questions such as how hosts avoid parasites and whether parasites can actually change the behaviour of animals. Knowledge about nutrition and disease is fundamental for anyone planning on working closely with animals, whether your own pet, in zoos, or wildlife in general.
View the full module definitionEvolution is a key driver in determining animal behaviour. The evolution of behaviour is a broad subject, encompassing the evolutionary history of the behaviour, the genetic underpinnings, and the current function of the traits we see today. You will explore the genetic basis of behaviour, how it develops in individuals, and how it is modified over time through process of learning. You will discuss the organisation of behaviour, covering topics such as migration, communication, and the ultimate problems of survival and reproduction. Through your lectures you will explore how researchers have reached their conclusions in the study of behaviour and learn to interpret their data and figures, exploring what this means in the context of behavioural biology of the specific animal system. The ability to critically interpret this biological data is a key skill for those who are interested in a career in research, while data interpretation more broadly is an important transferable skill for a broad range of careers.
View the full module definitionYou will create in a substantial piece of individual research and/or product development work, focused on a topic of your choice. You could choose your topic from a variety of sources including research groups, previous/current work experience, your current employer, a suggestion from your tutor or a topic you are specifically interested in. You will identify problems and issues, conduct literature reviews, evaluate information, investigate and adopt suitable development methodologies, determine solutions, develop hardware, software and/or media artifacts as appropriate, process data, critically appraise and present your finding using a variety of media. Regular meetings with your project supervisor will ensure your project is closely monitored and steered in the right direction.
View the full module definitionEcophysiology is the interrelationship between an organism's physiology and the environment, including the effects of climate, nutrient availability and species interactions that allows specialisms in niche separation, success in extreme habitats, enhanced fecundity, and ultimately survival of the species. In addition, an important emerging research field of conservation physiology studies organisms' physiological responses to human-made environmental change, required for the development of conservation strategies in areas under stress. We'll critically analyse the limits imposed on organisms by their physiology. We'll investigate the cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms that underpin animal adaptations to environmental conditions, in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms, both marine and terrestrial. These are central mechanisms which underpin animal diversity and adaptation. While many extreme environments pose a stress on organisms, with potential disruption of homeostasis, the organisms that live in these environments are able to grow, mature, and reproduce under otherwise challenging conditions. We can determine how a given species copes with an extreme environment through studies of specific physiological mechanisms, and apply these findings to conservation strategies.
View the full module definitionConservation science applies scientific methods to the challenges of maintaining and restoring global biodiversity and ecosystem services. We shall critically evaluate current research underlying conservation biology and explore the multi-dimensional issues faced by professional wildlife biologists. You will examine real-life conservation problems, including their important socio-political dimensions and the ways in which conservationists set out to find solutions to these issues. You will evaluate the principle that protecting biodiversity is not only about protecting species, but also about protecting functioning ecosystems, habitats, evolutionary and ecological processes, and genetic diversity. Conservation genetics is an increasingly important area within this discipline - and you will discuss the application of new genetic technologies in conservation, including the management of captive breeding of endangered species. Identifying priorities for the conservation of global biodiversity and assessing the successes and failures of conservation initiatives are key areas that you will critically examine. You will also explore how to make conservation initiatives more effective by discussing the principle that human interests must be included during conservation planning. The complexity and multi-faceted nature of wildlife conservation will be explored using a range of examples. A substantial part of the scheduled teaching will include group discussion and active learning sessions. You will learn, through a combination of lectures and practical exercises, how to plan conservation projects and apply for funding. This approach will help you develop key skills in grant writing, team-work, communication, and critical analysis, which are applicable to a range of careers in conservation and wildlife management.
View the full module definitionPopulation ecology is the study of the factors that affect a population, and how and why a population changes. Knowing how populations will respond to interventions is vital to wildlife management. You will explore the first principles of population ecology and the quantitative methods used, prior to seeing how these theories are applied practically in wildlife management. We will study the demography and dynamics of wildlife populations and you will be guided in how to use the mathematical tools and models to understand population change. Population ecology can also be explored in the wider context of current developments in population genetics, evolutionary biology and animal behaviour. Through the study of examples, you will review and assess the factors which are important in the population dynamics, management and conservation of wild populations. The current scientific literature is a critical resource; you will read scientific papers relating to marine and terrestrial ecosystems, looking at both exploited and threatened populations that are conservation priorities. You will work in groups to address practical challenges in population ecology, developing skills in teamwork, problem solving and the application of IT. An important theme throughout the module is the development of critical thinking skills and their application in understanding the advantages and limitations of population models when applied to real world ecological systems. These are skills that are relevant to a wide-range of careers in biology and ecology, as well as in other industries.
View the full module definitionThe tropical regions of our world have always held a fascination for biologists due the amazing and varied biodiversity that can be found there. You will be able to experience some of this firsthand on the tropical ecology field course, which forms the core of this module. You will also have a series of classroom-based learning sessions with a mixture of lectures and interactive learning. On the field course you will work in groups to undertake fieldwork on a range of aspects of tropical ecology and you will visit one or more locations to observe, record and interpret various aspects of tropical fauna, flora and habitats. Through your experience of the country where the field course takes place and the classroom-based sessions, you will be made aware of a range of anthropogenic influences and pressures on tropical habitats (e.g. effects of population growth, tourism, economic development etc) and how these relate to conservation. The field course normally takes place in the time of between levels 5 and 6 (years 2 and 3) and is self-funded. The field trip can be challenging physically, and you will find yourself living in more basic conditions than you may be used to. If you are interested in researching in the tropics or in conservation-based careers more generally, this module provides very valuable practical experience. You will gain a greater understanding of complex ecosystems and conservation issues as well as the very different cultural contexts that can be found in the tropics. The fieldwork you will practise in this module are valued in ecological consultancy and research-based jobs. You will also gain further practice in transferable skills such as teamwork, data analysis and written communication skills that are useful in a wide range of employment.
View the full module definitionBehavioural ecology has been an established discipline within the natural sciences since the 1970s, bringing together the theoretical understanding of evolution and ecology with the observational practices of early ethologists. The underlying premise is that the survival value of behaviour depends on environmental circumstances, both physical and biological. You will explore this premise across four major themes: communication; finding resources and avoiding being eaten; living with others of the same species; and producing the next generation. You will discover the different analytical approaches used by behavioural ecologists, through a wide range of examples and in what context these have been used. You will also examine cost-benefit analysis to predict optimal behavioural strategies, which is a key feature of research in this field. Through this module, you will take a research-focussed approach, critically evaluating and discussing relevant primary literature from a range of sources. You will acquire a skill base relevant to a range of careers, including any roles that require data interpretation and analysis. In addition, the quantitative and critical evaluation skills you will develop are applicable to a wide range of graduate employment opportunities. You will develop your understanding of this subject through lectures, workshops, group discussions, research seminars, practical exercises and reading textbooks and journal articles.
View the full module definitionBiogeography explores the distribution of living things in both space and time, and how they have been affected by global change. This 'synthetic' science contains elements of climatology, geology, geography and computer applications, but is firmly rooted in biology. Many 19th-century naturalists, including Darwin, wrote the fundamental theories on large scale distribution patterns within the natural world. We will use computer technologies to verify and model these theories. You will use a group of animals, plants or microbes that is of interest to you, as a model to show your understanding of ‘biogeography’ through computer analyses of distribution and physical and molecular characteristics appropriate to your group. You will combine your analyses with maps of modern and ancient Earth to develop an integrated, evolutionary history of your chosen group. You will become proficient with a range of relevant computer techniques including cluster analysis, ordination methods, area cladograms, and track analysis, as well as phylogenetic analysis of both the structure and DNA of your chosen group of organisms. This module will enable you to become familiar with arrange of computer software which will support your work and give you key competencies in data handling.
View the full module definitionZoos and Zoo Animal Management addresses the question "What are zoos for?" You will discuss the current and historical role of zoos including their purpose as recreation, education, conservation and research centres. The module has at its core a field course to major European zoos, designed to introduce you to zoos, the animals they keep, how they are exhibited, and the reasons for keeping them. On your return to the UK, the module is taught through a series of team-based learning sessions. Through these sessions and your experience of the zoos on the field course, you will consider the history and philosophy of wild animal collections and the various roles played by zoos in modern society. Zoos today face both biological (e.g. captive breeding) and non-biological (e.g. finance and public relations) problems relating to the management of collections of wild animals in captivity. You will explore these problems from several perspectives, ranging from the animals’ welfare to the perceptions of the general public when visiting zoos. From this module you will understand the complexity of the political, ethical and legal aspects of keeping wild animals in captivity. Taking Zoo and Zoo Animal Management will provide you with the opportunity to interact with zoo professionals, work in teams, and present ideas to a specialist audience. Such opportunities and skills strengthen the employability skills of graduates who might want to work in a zoo or other conservation-based environment. The field course, which is compulsory for the module, normally takes place in the summer vacation period between level 5 and level 6 and is self-funded.
View the full module definitionProfessional Field Ecology is comprised of a series of lectures and practical workshops in preparation for a residential field course at a UK ecology field station. On the field course you'll learn advanced practical skills relevant to professional ecology and conservation in the UK including species identification, survey design, standardised survey techniques and project management. The fieldwork will focus on the following three elements: (i) Identify key Taxa from marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems to appropriate levels using biological keys; (ii) Design and implement a variety of survey types and monitoring strategies, including habitat mapping and Ecological Impact Assessments; (iii) Set objectives and take account of good practise and risk management in ecological surveys. Your fieldwork skills and knowledge acquired from this field course will help you to develop key project design, project management and team-working skills on site at an ecology field station. This field course would normally run at the end of Trimester 2 in your third year. Please see the additional fees section for any costs relating to this module on your course.
View the full module definitionThe way in which we manage our land has profound implications for biodiversity and ecosystem function. If you are interested in halting the degradation of our ecosystems and building a sustainable future, then this module is for you. Following on from your earlier learning, you will develop the practical and theoretical skills needed to evaluate the ecological impacts of land management practices. You will learn through a combination of lectures, field trips and computer workshops that will address the sustainability of current UK land management practices and teach you about the policies that influence nature conservation. Topics include national and international legislation, urbanisation, ecological restoration, agriculture, national parks, charity-led initiatives, and trade-offs in ecosystem service provision. You will also develop key skills relevant to those considering careers in ecological consultancy. In particular, you will learn how to conduct your own UK Habitat Classification Survey and prepare a report assessing the ecological impact of a proposed housing development. You will also critically evaluate and debate the environmental and social trade-offs associated with alternative land management practices. Guest speakers will provide firsthand insights into how different organisations (ecological consultancy firms, local councils, charities) influence land management and conservation.
View the full module definitionFrom pest control to captive breeding and the management of wild populations, you will apply your theoretical knowledge regarding the science of animal behaviour and show how behavioural theory and research can be applied to a wide range of practical problems. You will apply your learning of behavioural research to both vertebrate and invertebrate husbandry. You will discuss the historical, philosophical and development of the science of animal welfare, including the variety of ethical approaches to the use of animals by humans for varying purposes. There are a number of methods on how to assess animal welfare through behavioural and physiological indicators, and we will address these controversies and review specialist techniques. You will be taught by lectures and active learning sessions, with guest lectures from industry-relevant professionals (e.g. RSPCA, laboratory animal welfare organisations, companion animal specialists). The knowledge gained here will help to prepare you for careers in both animal-focussed industries, and postgraduate scientific research. You will build your understanding of the application of the scientific study of animal behaviour and its relationship with other measures, particularly with respect to the evaluation of welfare, in a range of animal management scenarios. In addition, you will learn many relevant transferable skills such as critical thinking, IT, word processing, self-management and organisation skills.
View the full module definitionThe relationships between humans and animals are complex, and the actions of humans towards animals in domestic, working, captive and natural contexts can profoundly influence the behaviour and welfare of animals. Through the exploration of what underpins human behaviour towards animals, you will develop graduate skills to effectively influence career professions such as animal caretakers, captive animal and animal rescue centre staff and veterinary nurses. You will gain an understanding of the relevant aspects of human psychology as they relate to human-animal interactions, and thereby learn how to effectively manage human behaviour in relation to animals that are pets, therapy animals, working animals, farm, research or captive/wild animals. We will explore factors that influence the human-animal bond, including how animals affect human physical, physiological and mental health. You will develop your ability to employ survey techniques as tools to utilise the understanding of human-animal interactions and to design information and guidance to improve negative attitudes towards animals and enhance positive attitudes. Working in teams throughout the module, you will collaboratively construct and apply your knowledge of the different topics with the module content. Utilising guest lecturers from appropriate professional environments, the influence of legal and ethical frameworks on human-animal interactions will be considered and evaluated. You will gain an understanding of the factors which strongly influence human-animal relationships, such that you will be able to relate effectively to staff engaged in work within captive animal environments, rescue centres, other professionals e.g. vets/vet nurses, the general public, and those with negative attitudes towards animals.
View the full module definitionHow do animals learn? Can they count? Do they think like us? You will be taught an advanced knowledge and understanding of the study of animal cognition, combining ‘proximate’ and ‘ultimate’ perspectives. We will discuss two main topics: physical cognition, covering space, time, number, physical causation; and social cognition, including social knowledge, social learning and cooperation. Through a series of lectures and discussion sessions, you will develop key skills, such as critical evaluation and synthesis. You will learn how to approach your critical evaluation through breaking down concepts into their core components to see how each have an effect. You will then evaluate the evidence for specific cognitive abilities in non-human animals, involving: development of a conceptual definition of that ability; identification of alternative explanations; critical evaluation of existing studies in the literature; and drawing conclusions about our current state of knowledge on that cognitive ability. This type of approach is relevant to most other fields of scientific research. The knowledge you will gain in this module will prepare you well for any career in pure or applied animal behaviour, including welfare and conservation.
View the full module definition