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Growing trees from cell cultures is used to save rare
species from extinction |
forest sciences at Aberdeen
Forest
Sciences brings together ideas and scientific skills to the understanding of
the processes that make forests function, and to understand how forests can
be used for the benefit of people, including the production of timber and
other products, environmental protection, and the maintenance, and the
enhancement of animal and plant habitats. Forest Sciences encompasses the
disciplines of forestry, ecology, zoology and plant
science. Central to Forest Sciences is an understanding of the biology and
ecology of forest ecosystems.
What do I learn?
Level 1: The aim of level 1 is to ensure that all students
understand the key basic sciences. The specific courses are as follows:
·
Organismal Biology (you will learn how all living forms
including microbes, plants and animals succeed in reproducing themselves,
growing and developing, moving, gaining nutrition from their environments,
deriving energy from it and disposing of the waste products)
·
Chemistry (this will provide you with a grounding in the
foundations of chemical science, including the mole concept, quantitative
chemical calculations, atomic structure, the periodic table, and chemical
bonding)
·
Ecology and Environmental Science (topics covered are biodiversity,
conservation, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, the
causes and consequences of global environmental change, waste management and
recycling, pollution problems associated with the mining and extraction
industries, causes and consequences of acid deposition, and agriculture and
the environment (including genetically modified organisms)
·
The Materials Forming our Dynamic Earth (you will be introduced to the
three major rock groups; igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary; their mode of
occurrence and processes of formation; identification of the common
rock-forming minerals in hand-specimen)
·
Plant Ecology and Taxonomy field
course
(you will be instructed on
how to identify plants and have the opportunity to become familiar with the
important elements in the coastal, woodland, moorland
and montane flora of North Sutherland)
·
Forestry Field Course (this course
introduces you to forest stand structure, tree species, and basic
relationships between the environment and the forest)
Level 2: At level 2, the foundation courses are covered that
include soil science, ecology, plant physiology and diversity. The specific
courses are as follows:
·
Introduction to soils (this course covers the origin and development of
soils; processes in the soil system; the soil physical, chemical and
biological environment (including element cycling, soil organic matter and
microbial habits)
·
Community Ecology (this course covers the cycling of
matter and energy in ecosystems; diversity, succession, stability and chaos;
how communities are shaped by competition, predation and herbivory;
the niche concept; dynamics of colonisation and extinction; ecology and
evolution of island communities)
·
PLANT DIVERSITY (you will learn about the origins and extent of plant
diversity of the major plant groups - bryophytes, ferns and their allies,
gymnosperms and flowering plants)
·
Plants, Man & the Environment (this course explores the major
aspects of modern plant biology, indicating their relevance to natural and
managed ecosystems, man and the environment)
·
Forestry Field Course (this course has visits to forests
and timber processing plants to study forest ecology, dendrology, silviculture, arboriculture, and timber processing)
Level 3: These courses form the basis of the
dynamics of forest stands. The specific courses are as follows:
·
Silviculture: Applied
·
Forest Measurement (you learn to measure single trees and tree
stands, forecast yield from thinnings and felling, learn about yield
regulation, methods of forest inventory, and the application of remote
sensing in inventories)
·
Experimental Design, Analysis and
Presentation (scientific method will be taught through experimental
design of a combined laboratory and field experiment)
·
PLANT BIOGEOGRAPHY AND CONSERVATION (this course covers the floristic
regions of the world and, in particular, the biogeography of the Northern
hemisphere, with special emphasis on the floras of
·
Plant/Environment Interactions (this course will cover plant
response to irradiance, CO2, drought, desiccation, water-logging, salinity,
extremes of temperature, snow, wind, neighbours, beneficial and pathogenic
fungi, herbivory and parasitism)
·
Plant Ecology (Theories of plant community
ecology: succession, gradients, niches, competition for resources, modelling
ecological processes. Description of plant communities: methods of vegetation
survey, classification and monitoring, including Phase II survey and the
National Vegetation Classification)
You have an opportunity to take a gap year within the forestry
industry or a forestry research institution between levels 3 and 4 to gain
practical experience. There is also the possibility of spending a year on an
overseas aid project.
Level 4:
The final year involves the preparation of a project that
allows all you have learned to be put into practice. Should you wish, you can
do the forest management plan exercise that involves studies into forest
stand dynamics. You choose three specialist
subjects, and a trip to study forestry in southern
·
Project (you will prepare a thesis based on
guided research work that students either choose from a selection provided or
develop from an interest of their own through discussion with staff)
·
Forestry Field Course (you will visit the
·
Forest Management Plan (optional) (3 weeks
are spent studying a 500 hectare forest where the soils, vegetation and the
forest stands. Observations and measurements made are used to prepare a
five-year plan that ensures the sustainable management of the forest.)
Three courses chosen from a range of
specialist options, which currently include:
·
Special Topics in Forestry (this course deals with current
issues of relevance in forestry world-wide)
·
Forest Protection (you will learn of the importance of
abiotic factors, pathogens and pests in forests; ecology and epidemiology;
management and control; tree defences against pests and pathogens)
·
Tropical Forest Ecology &
Management (this
course reviews the ecological basis for tropical forest management, including
tree seed production, dispersal and germination, seeding ecology, species
guilds, tree population dynamics and the effects of disturbance)
·
Trees in the Urban Environment (this course considers
trees and the law,
trees in relation to buildings, planting trees on derelict land, urban
ecology and recognition of hazardous trees)
·
Plant/Animal Interactions (this course explores the diversity
and ecology of interactions of plants with both mammals and insects and
discusses the underlying evolutionary processes involved)
·
Nature conservation in
What kind of jobs can I do with
this degree?
There is a demand for well-motivated and educated
individuals to improve the level of knowledge and understanding of forest
ecosystems. This knowledge is the basis of sustainable forest management. The
Forest Sciences degree will give you an opportunity to develop a career in
research, forest conservation, environmental management, and government
forestry officials. As a Forest Scientist with a knowledge
of forest management, you will be in increasing demand for similar posts, but
with an advantage over other graduates in the wider environmental sciences
due to the range of subjects and skills acquired.
The
WHAT SKILLS WILL I
ACQUIRE FOR THE WORKPLACE?
During your studies, you will develop a wide range of skills necessary
for the world of work. The practical skills include: computing, writing,
verbal presentation, team working, time management and research. The academic
skills include: the application of different theories, concepts and principles
to practice; the ability to collect, analyse, synthesise and apply
information; the ability to integrate knowledge and understanding to address
familiar and unfamiliar problems; and the ability to apply professional
judgement in making recommendations and solving problems.
IT ISN’T ALL WORK!
The student’s Forestry Society runs a wide range of social
events. These include a number of activities during Freshers’
Week, raising money for charity, in particular Tree Aid, arranging
recreational pursuits and social evenings throughout the academic year that
culminates in the Forestry Society Annual Dinner. This is an opportunity for
the undergraduates to meet the large number of graduates who attend the event
(and the graduates buy the wine!). It is an excellent centre for sports like
hill-walking, golf, water sports, skiing in addition to all the usual sports
of football, badminton, swimming, and so on. You may also wish to join some
of 50 sports clubs and 100 other societies, which cater for many and varied
interest.
What do I need to get in?
First year entry:
Scottish Highers BBCC or Advanced Highers CCD, A-Level CDD or 4AS at BBBB.
These must include good performance in at least two Mathematics/Science subjects.
Check with the Student Recruitment and Admission Service for second year
entry and non-standard entry requirements. Candidates with an HND in a
related subject may be admitted to second year of the programme.
If you require further
information, please do not hesitate to contact the advisor of studies, Dr
Louise Page (l.m.page@abdn.ac.uk).
How do I apply?
All
admissions are handled by the University’s Student Recruitment &
Admissions Service and not the department.
They can be contacted at the address below:
Student Recruitment
& Admissions Service
University Office
King's College
AB24 3FX
Tel. +44 (0)1224 272090 / 1
Fax: +44 (0)1224 272576
E-mail: sras@abdn.ac.uk
School of Biological Sciences·
Tel: +44 (0)1224-274230· Fax: +44 (0)1224 273731 ·