EK5510: ECOLOGY, CONSERVATION AND SOCIETY (2023-2024)

The aim of this module is to examine aspects of interface of ecology, conservation and society and to explore aspects of environmental sustainability. In the course we will examine these questions:

1. Given how our world is changing, do we need to change how we do science? ;
2. How does science influence policy? How do we consider the impact of research?;
3. How does the move towards interdisciplinary approaches to complex environmental problems impact the practice of conservation and ecological sciences?;
4. What characterises resilient, flexible and adaptable socio-ecological systems and what are the messages for ecologists, environmental scientists and conservation biologists?; 
5. How and why is the public being encouraged to participate in science?;
6. What is good practice in relation to communicating science to the public?.

In the course students will:

• Engage with scholarly work from anthropology, philosophy, environmental economics and human geography to promote reflection on the role of epistemology in problem definition and interpretation;
• Develop communication skills relevant for facilitating discussions, engaging with the public, raising awareness through a video presentation, and writing focused, concise essays;
• Interpret and analyse scientific publications and position papers and develop focused and critical discussion essays;
• Develop knowledge and understanding related to the key themes addressed during the course and increased their awareness and appreciation of the ethical and moral issues embedded in conservation, sustainable development and environmental management;
• Develop their skills in facilitating group discussions, dealing flexibly with new situations, and becoming adept at taking different perspectives;
• Develop their capacity for attentive exchange, informed argument and reasoning and the ability to express their ideas concisely;
• Develop their skills in interpreting complex ideas and in writing creatively, concisely and critically;
• Develop their willingness to question accepted wisdom and their capacity for self-reflection and an enhanced awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses;

By the end of the course students

• Should have an understanding of the complexity of addressing ecology and conservation issues by considering society aspects
• Be able to read, understand and discuss a complex topic presented in recent research papers
• Be able to communicate an ecology and conservation issue through different media (essay, video, discussion)
• Be able to facilitate a discussion

Taught topics covered include:
impacts through climate change
ecosystem services
nature-based solutions
agriculture
evidence-based conservation
interdisciplinary approaches
citizen science and communicating science
decolonising ecology and conservation
stakeholder conflicts
data visualisation

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

• 3 Seminars during University weeks 26 - 31

More Information about Week Numbers

There are no assessments for this course.