Postgraduate Ecology 2026-2027

Foundational course to the Biodiversity Conservation MSc programme teaching the science behind contemporary conservation. Students will study how conservation and restoration of populations, communities and ecosystems is underpinned by ecological and conservation theory.

Case studies from terrestrial, marine, and freshwater systems provide context for applying theory to practice, for understanding how the complexity of content influences approaches, and how interventions are monitored and assessed.

Course features lectures, practical exercises and field trips to local biodiversity hotspots such as in the Cairngorms national park and coastal nature reserves.

QABC will teach students contemporary analytical skills to allow them to tackle current and future quantitative problems in conservation and restoration. These skills will also be transferable beyond biology under the broad umbrella of “data science”.

• Learn how to apply cutting-edge analytical techniques used on modern conservation biology
• Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of each approach
• Be able to recommend to non-experts in which contexts to use them and any caveats key for making decisions.
• Learn how to access diverse data sources
• Communicate complex analyses to both specialists and non-specialists
• Be introduced to machine learning