NATF300 Conservation Biology

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Simon Diederik Schowanek, Milda Norkute

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:Max 40 students

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:

Lectures: 20 hours

Group work: 20 hours

Read scientific papers: 40 hours

Course essay: 45 hours

SUM: 125 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course has teaching/evaluation in the autumn parallell.

About this course

The course covers conservation biology theory and practice and focuses on global challenges and solutions. We consider topics related to species extinction, habitat loss and shifting baseline syndrome, but we also discuss international conservation cases and trade-offs between different interests. A selection of examples from conservation biology is highlighted through lectures, some by invited guest lecturers, and by reading and discussing relevant scientific papers.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The student has advanced knowledge of scientific theory and methods in conservation biology. This includes relevant knowledge in genetics, demography, ecology, land management and social sciences. The student can apply this knowledge in new areas within the subject area.

Skills:

The student can find and acquire relevant background material on specific challenges and academic issues in conservation biology, and can analyze, present and contribute to academic discussions about these challenges and issues. The student can analyze and relate critically to various sources of information and can use these to structure and formulate their own professional reasoning within conservation biology.

General competence:

The student masters the subject area's forms of expression, and can apply his knowledge and skills to carry out advanced work tasks and projects, as well as contribute to professional discussions of this. The student can communicate about academic issues, analyzes and conclusions within the subject area, both with specialists and to the general public.

  • Lectures, group assignements, individual writing assignements, self-study.
  • The teacher responsible for the course is available during office hours to answer questions about the subject.
  • ECOL200, NATF200.
  • The course grade is based on a combined assessment with 2 elements:

    1. Your final ssay (70% of the course grade)

    2. The presentation of your group´s conservation case (30% of the grade)

    Both elements must be passed to pass the course.

  • An experienced external examiner is responsible for the grading of both exam elements.
  • The first lecture and in total 80% of the lectures. In addition weekly group assignments.

    In addition to this, a first version of your course essay must be handed in by the set deadline. Late hand-ins will not be checked and will be counted as not passed.

  • Registration for the course no later than 31 August. After this, the 40 places in the course will be distributed.
  • Lectures: 20 hours
  • Students that have the course compulsory (M-ECOL). Then M-NF, M-SF, M-REIS.
  • Letter grades
  • Special requirements in Science