| BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND HUMAN SOCIETY | ENV-MA17 | 20 |
| This is an inter-disciplinary module focusing on the interaction between ecology, biodiversity and human societies. It examines the human drivers of biodiversity loss, the importance of biodiversity to human society, conflicts between human society and conservation and how these can be resolved, and institutions for biodiversity conservation and environmental management. It is designed for students of Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Geography and International Development. This inter-disciplinary module does not require previous detailed knowledge of ecological mechanisms: where a simple understanding of key ecological processes is important, this will be reviewed and taught in class. Key principles, issues and theory are covered in lectures by UEA faculty. These are supported by case studies from external speakers working in conservation, environmental and resource management agencies and NGOs. The module will comprise two core lectures plus one workshop / seminar / outside speaker each week. Co-taught with ENV-3A17. TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A17 OR EQUIVALENT |
| CATCHMENT WATER RESOURCES | ENV-MA60C | 20 |
| This module will adopt an integrated approach to studying surface water and groundwater resources in river basins. Approaches to catchment management will be considered in the context of improving water-dependent terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Topics of climate change impacts on water resources in terms of droughts and floods, as well as water quality issues arising from changing land-use patterns will be considered, together with the engineering and socio-economic methods necessary to adapt to future pressures on water resources. Co-taught with ENV-3A60 & ENV-MA60. THIS MODULE IS ONLY AVAILABLE STUDENTS ENROLLED ONTO THE VISITING STUDIES ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCES (EMAE). |
| CLIMATE CHANGE: PHYSICAL SCIENCE BASIS | ENV-MA49 | 20 |
| Climate change and variability has played a major role in shaping human history and the prospect of a warming world as a result of human activities (global warming) presents society with an increasing challenge over the coming decades. This module covers the science of climate change and our current understanding of anthropogenic effects on climate. It provides details about the approaches, methods and techniques for understanding the history of climate change and for developing climate projections for the next 100 years, supporting further study of the scientific or policy aspects of the subject in either an academic or applied context. Co-taught with ENV-3A49. TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A49 OR EQUIVALENT |
| CONSERVATION GENETICS | BIO-M522 | 10 |
| This module covers current knowledge of molecular technology as applied to ecological and evolutionary studies, and the principles and procedures underlying current molecular and analytical tools. It will also address how to determine the most suitable molecular tool to use when answering a given question in ecology and/or evolution, and how to read and interpret molecular data in ecological or evolutionary terms. |
| EARTH AND LIFE | ENV-MA38 | 20 |
| This module introduces Earth system science, taking a top-down approach to the Earth as a whole system, and tracing its development since its formation 4.5 billion years ago. The main focus is on the coupled evolution of life and its environment through a series of revolutions. Theoretical approaches are introduced, including Gaia, feedback mechanisms and systems theory, and practical sessions use models to build up conceptual understanding. The subject is inherently inter-disciplinary, including aspects of biology, chemistry and physics, and unifying the study of climate and global biogeochemical cycles. Co-taught with ENV-3A38. TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A38 OR EQUIVALENT |
| ECOLOGICAL MODELLING | ENV-MA72 | 10 |
| Modelling is a crucial methodology for answering many kinds of ecological questions and complement experimentation and field observations. The aim of this module is to introduce the use of modelling techniques to answer ecological questions. This module will provide an introduction to building ecological models using a combination of taught classes and project work. After completion of this module students will: understand the basic principles and approaches to ecological modelling and its potential applications; acquire the numerical skills required to develop quantitative ecological models; be able to develop basic quantitative models to answer ecological questions; learn to formulate hypotheses, write a project proposal and develop verbal and written communication and team working skills. This module is primarily reserved for those students studying on the European MSc in Applied Ecology but can also accommodate limited number of students from other programmes. |
| ECOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE | ENV-MA46 | 10 |
| The aim of this module is to examine biological responses to climate change over a range of levels from species to ecosystems. In this module students will examine the most recent literature on the effects of global environmental change on biological systems and will become familiar with different approaches and methods used for modelling biological responses to climate change. Students are recommended to take ENV-MA49 and ENV-MA74. |
| ECOLOGICAL SURVEY METHODS | BIO-M55Y | 20 |
| This is a practical module spanning the autumn semester and half of the spring semester. It covers a wide variety of methods for surveying and censussing plants, animals, and habitats. It includes a comparison of methods and use of statistics. This is a compulsory module of the MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation. The lectures and workshops will cover: reasons for censussing, assumptions of sampling techniques, mark-release-recapture, distance sampling and other techniques for monitoring different taxa and habitats, diagnosing declines, and project planning. |
| ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE | ENV-MA66 | 10 |
| The module will critically assess the assumptions and projections of social and technological change represented in climate change mitigation scenarios, with an emphasis on energy systems. This will include a review of the drivers and dynamics of historical energy transitions. |
| GIS FOR ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT | ENV-MA94 | 10 |
| Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are computer programs for the capture, management, analysis and display of spatially referenced data. They are now increasingly widely used in ecology and environmental management, both in the organisation and analysis of pre-existing data sets and for analysis of data collected during fieldwork. This module aims to introduce their basic principles, capabilities, applications and limitations. Only basic familiarity with a PC is required and there will be weekly practical classes using the ArcGIS software. The main emphasis will be on imparting an understanding of what a GIS is, the strengths and weaknesses of such systems, and their practical use in research contexts (including MSc dissertations). |
| GLOBALISED AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS | DEV-M106 | 20 |
| The aim of this module is to understand how food security is affected by policies, environmental processes, and actions that occur at the international level. Food security is a central theme, and how it is constructed and contested at international level, involving global institutions, interest groups, and diverse policy agendas. This exploration does not confine itself exclusively to production, but also considers other areas of concern, including: global environmental change, dietary shifts, ‘post-production’ concerns with food quality or ecosystem integrity, agribusiness, public versus private agricultural innovation, intellectual property rights, and strategies for technological development. Students will gain critical understanding of these debates and how different policy actors engage with them at both the local and the global level. These actors include firms, public R&D institutions, civil society, farmers’ movements, consumers’ groups, and major donors and philanthropic organizations. The module will help students develop a critical and inter-disciplinary understanding of key international policy debates that have relevance to agriculture. Additionally, students will gain a better understanding of how trends in globalised agriculture affect poor people, particularly smallholder farmers, but also consumers and those involved in value chains. |
| MARINE ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | ENV-MA15C | 20 |
| This module examines the ecological processes that underpin our dependence on and use of the marine environment for 'goods and services'. Students will study the ecology of marine organisms (from bacteria to fish), which provide the 'services' of climate modulation, nutrient regeneration and food production, threats to the sustainability of these services and the management challenges that result. The module will cover the evolution, biodiversity and molecular ecology of bacteria, diatoms, coccolithophores and nitrogen fixers, the physiology and distribution of zooplankton, the ecology of exploited populations and management of the marine environment including fisheries. Example ecosystems such as the Antarctic, mid ocean gyres and Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems will be studied in detail and predictions of the impact of environmental change (increasing temperature, decreasing pH, decreasing oxygen, changes in nutrient supply and human exploitation) on marine ecosystems dynamics will be examined. Biological oceanographic methods will be critically evaluated. The module also includes lectures by biological oceanographers from the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). THIS MODULE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS ENROLLED ON THE APPLIED ECOLOGY - EUROPEAN PROGRAMME. |
| MULTIVARIATE STATISTICS | BIO-M517 | 10 |
| This is a compulsory module of the MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation. Multivariate statistics used in advanced ecological analyses are covered in this module. These include General Linear Models, Analysis of Variance, Logistic Regression, and Principal Components Analysis. Students will learn how to run these tests using the statistical package SPSS and how to critique, interpret, and present the results. Previous knowledge of basic statistics is necessary (e.g. BIO M519 or equivalent). |
| NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS | ENV-MA44C | 20 |
| Have you ever wondered why human economic activity seems to be so bad for the environment? Does it have to be like that? Is it possible for human beings to enjoy high standards of living and a high quality environment? Through the study of the principles of Environmental Economics this course sets out to answer those questions. Addressing a wide-range of economy-environment problems including car pollution, over-fishing, climate change and declining oil stocks, the course shows that most environmental problems can be solved through the adoption of policies crafted with the careful application of economic reasoning. Co-taught with ENV-3A44 and ENV-MA44. THIS MODULE IS ONLY AVAILABLE STUDENTS ENROLLED ONTO THE VISITING STUDIES ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCES (EMAE). |
| PRACTICAL CONSERVATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE | BIO-M56Y | 10 |
| This module entails 5 days of unpaid work placement in various international, national or local conservation organisations and ecological consultancies. The days may be carried out with more than one organisation, need not be consecutive and may be spread across both semesters. Students can receive help from faculty in setting up placements but will be responsible for their transportation to and from the workplace. |
| RESTORATION ECOLOGY | BIO-M512 | 10 |
| In this module, the causes of habitat degradation and practical solutions for habitat enhancement, restoration and creation are examined using real case studies. Particular emphasis will be placed on reviewing methods and outcomes of restoration of aquatic habitats, including fens, shallow eutrophic lakes and rivers, although terrestrial habitats such as lowland heathland, beaches and dunes, and woodland will also be considered. 3 field trips to local habitats will give first-hand experience of restoration in action, usually to include Suffolk sandlings heathland, the Broads, and the beaches and dunes near Sizewell Power Station on the east coast. |
| SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION | ENV-MA83 | 20 |
| This module investigates the impacts of consumption on social and environmental systems, and how these might be reduced. It presents the key theories and debates around sustainable consumption, and critically examines a range of strategies for achieving it, covering governmental, business, community and individual actors. A mainstream policy approach to sustainable consumption is contrasted with an alternative ‘new economics’ model, and we examine a range of perspectives on what drives consumption patterns. Workshop exercises to apply these theories to ‘real world’ examples will provide experiential learning opportunities. We then critically assess a selection of sustainable consumption initiatives in detail, for example local organic food, eco-housing, Transition Towns, local currencies and community-based behaviour-change campaigns. Co-taught with ENV-MA85, which is restricted to Norwich Business School students taking the MBA course. |
| UNIVARIATE STATISTICS | BIO-M519 | 10 |
| This is an introduction for some students and a refresher for others. Simple tests for trends (correlation, regression) and for differences (Chi-square, t-tests, ANOVAs) are introduced using a friendly statistical package (SPSSx for Windows). The link between statistics and experimental design is stressed. Students studying on the Master of Science degree programme in Applied Ecology and Conservation MUST undertake this module if they have no previous statistical experience. |
