NES3301 : Biodiversity Science and Management
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Professor Philip McGowan
- Lecturer: Dr Marion Pfeifer, Dr Sarah Coulthard, Professor Giles Budge
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 120 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The Biodiversity Science and Policy module has three key objectives:
(1) Introduce the students to a selected set of methods and approaches that can be used to guide policy and
decision-making on biodiversity conservation
(2) Highlight a set of key challenges - from local to global scales - for biodiversity conservation
(3) Introduce relevant policies targeted at conserving biodiversity
This is a research-led module that draws on the research experience of staff working at SNES on core areas of biodiversity science: modelling, data and evidence collection and policy.
Outline Of Syllabus
The planet’s biodiversity, comprising individuals, species, habitats and ecosystems, is threatened. The main threats man-made and include hunting, disease spread, climate change and changes in land use and management. Yet despite large-scale efforts to ensure biodiversity conservation, we have witnessed population extinctions and massive deforestation and fragmentation of natural habitats in recent decades. Conservation tries to deal with the challenge of maintaining biodiversity and the function it provides in the face of social and economic growth in industrialized and developing countries.
This module will zoom into key aspects of modern conservation science, drawing on the research experience of staff at the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. The module will draw on a series of lectures that will
(1) Introduce the students to a selected set of methods and approaches that can be used to guide policy and
decision-making on biodiversity conservation,
(2) Highlight a set of key challenges - from local to global scales - for biodiversity conservation,
(3) Introduce selected relevant policies targeted at conserving biodiversity.
The module will equip students with the ability to critically evaluate the evidence and policies that exist to aid biodiversity conservation. Students will be able to engage with a set of research and policy challenges in the field led by research interest of staff teaching on the module. Possible topics could cover: invasive species and disease spread, human:wildlife interactions and potential mitigation solution, meta-analysis for critical assessment of the evidence underlying policies and practical challenges in policy making.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 64:00 | 64:00 | essay on two questions that are determined by their choice of workshop |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | Recordings. Delivered via Strea,s and Canvas. Online lecture materials via Canvas |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | Engagement with material taught and wide reading |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 31 | 1:00 | 31:00 | Lecture follow-up. Engagement with tasks. Preparation of workshops |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 3:00 | 6:00 | Students to sign up for two of six workshops max. Essay questions will be aligned with workshops. |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 38 | 1:00 | 38:00 | Critical reflection & use of wider literature on tasks. Extending knowledge beyond lecture material |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | Tutorials in classroom: discussing set questions on lecture content |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | SO module talks at beginning and end of module: intro - all four lecturers. End - Pfeifer |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Teaching comprises online lectures and facilitated debates/workshops supported by directed reading and guided independent study and reflection. Lectures will be used to introduce current knowledge and approaches to many of the major topics that will be covered and this will be supported by directed reading of the significant literature to which students will be pointed. Workshops will provide the opportunity for students to develop arguments about applying scientific knowledge. Each student will be able to attend two of six workshops. Each workshop is capped at 45 maximum. The cap will be determined by number of students signed up for the course in any year.
As this area of science is very fast moving and the link between concepts, fieldwork and conservation practice is very dynamic, lectures will concentrate on presenting a selected set of topics, drawing on recent research implemented by staff at the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. This will be supported by reference to a range of challenging analyses and perspectives from the literature and students will be guided towards this further reading. As there will be a significant body of conceptually diverse literature for students to explore, it is important that they have adequate time to comprehend the material within the context presented during lectures, and to reflect on it (including revision time). Taken together this will provide a sound platform from which students can develop their own understanding of science and how it relates to biodiversity science and policy.
Workshops and the debate will help students analyse information, and then frame and articulate arguments in different contexts.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | 100 | 2 essay questions will need to be answered and the two questions align with the workshops attended by the student. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | Formative feedback will be provided verbally to students in the discussion groups during the scheduled workshops. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The in course assessment requires scrutiny and understanding of information and then decision-making. In the questions test for knowledge, logical thought and objective analysis. They will require application of skills developed during the workshop processes and the associated independent study and the knowledge provided in the lectures and gathered in directed reading.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES3301's Timetable