Module BIOL3391: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ECOLOGY (P)

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3391: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ECOLOGY (P)

Prerequisites

• Introduction to Whole Organisms and the Environment (BIOL1082).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To promote an understanding of how to analyse problems in contemporary areas of ecology and make recommendations on how best to tackle these problems.
• An appreciation of some of the current problems in ecology research.

Content

• Introduction to major problems in contemporary ecology.
• Guidance will be provided on how to assess complex problems.
• Specific problems will be selected by students.
• The subject area will be researched by students reviewing both the scientific and grey literature.
• Through teamwork students will analyse the problem and seek solutions, with guidance from a staff member.
• Team meetings will be minuted.
• Specific recommendations will be made by each student.
• Guidance will be provided on how to present a consultancy report and give a powerpoint presentation.
• Students will then present a short talk and a report.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module each student should be able to: appreciate some of the major ecological problems facing the world today.
• understand the major factors contributing to a particular ecological issue.

• know how to plan, run and produce a consultancy report.

• understand how to plan and execute an analyse of a complex problem.
• be aware of how to find relevant information from a variety of different sources.
• appreciate how to organise work when working as part of a team.
• understand how to present their work orally and in writing.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• This module is designed to help students analyse complex problems and make reasonable decisions and recommendations based on the available evidence.
• Teaching and learning in this component is primarily through a series of lectures and workshops.
• Each student will select one of three contemporary issues in ecology presented in a lecture by a member of staff.
• Supporting lectures will be given to provide students with information on how to find information about specific issues, how to present data and how to write a 'consultancy-style report'.
• Students will work individually and in small groups, during a series of workshops, in order to analyse and make recommendations related to their specific contemporary issue.
• The workshops will be organised with a chairperson and a secretary recording the minutes of each meeting.
• At the completion of this task students will deliver a PowerPoint presentation and a written report describing their work and conclusions.
• Skills will be acquired through the searching, retrieval, presentation of data and team work.
• Knowledge will be formatively assessed through production of a timeline and minutes of workshop meetings and summatively assessed by a written report and oral presentation.
• Understanding will be assessed by means of a written report.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Production of Timeline and Minutes of student workshops.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University