Postgraduate Ecology 2024-2025

Field visits to examine river systems and forested catchments provide context and opportunities to discuss a diverse set of environmental management problems with professionals working in the field.

Practical sessions provide structured activities focused on the identification of freshwater invertebrates and applications of GIS approaches for analysing data to support catchment management planning. You apply theoretical and practical knowledge to a case study, demonstrating your capacity to evaluate site specific data and to interpret relevant legislation and regulation. Working individually and with a group you will write and present a management plan for a location of your choosing.

The course provides background information about the origins and development of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, and its implementation in the UK and elsewhere. It also highlights the impacts of planned activities on the environment, including impacts on biodiversity, vegetation and ecology, water, and air. Throughout the course you will learn about the different stages of the EIA process, but you will also learn to identify, evaluate and mitigate the likely environmental impacts of a variety of development projects. A combination of lectures, seminars and workshops will be used, providing an opportunity to develop transferrable skills valued by employers, such as time-management, communication of science, and critical appraisal.