Please click on this link to download a copy of our flyer: MRes Aquatic Ecology & Conservation

This new MRes offers  research training in the fields of aquatic ecology and conservation.  Processes in the aquatic environment differ in key areas from those in the terrestrial environment, and this course aims to provide students with the practical skills to enable them to carry out a piece of scientific research on the ecological issues underpinning the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems.  Recent European, national and regional legislation have reinforced the need to develop frameworks for the sustainable use of water and the wider aquatic environment.  The course will furnish students with the ability to engage in a piece of independent research leading to a dissertation written as a scientific paper.

The course will appeal to graduates who want to engage in Aquatic Ecology research.  It offers an excellent one year platform for students wishing to pursue a PhD at a later stage.

Course Description

Compulsory Modules:

BIOM25 Science Skills & Research Methods (20 credits)
This lecture and practical based module covers science skills for students wishing to pursue postgraduate studies in Biological Sciences. It will teach students how to make good use of library and internet resources (including Web of Science, Voyager and Blackboard), to design and analyse their experiments, and to make presentations of their data during conferences and symposia. Lecture topics include Library and internet resources, including WoS, Voyager, e-mail, Blackboard + assignment, ethics and plagiarism, databases, spreadsheets, presentation skills, report writing. The module is taught in Teaching Block 1 (Sept-Dec).  Assessment for this module is 100% through continuous assessment. 

BIOM37 Conservation of Aquatic Resources (20 credits)
This mdoule will provide students with an overview of management and conservation issues in aquatic resources.  Lecture topics include water management as well as case studies in conservation of aquatic organisms.  The module is taught in Teaching Block 1 (Sep-Dec).  Evaluation is by continuous assessment (50% of mark) and a formal examination (50% of mark).

BIOM51 Literature Review (20 credits)
In this module, students will carry out a term paper (40% of mark) and a literature review (60% of mark) on Aquatic Ecology & Conservation on an aspect related to their intended dissertation topic.  The review will be written in a format suitable for publication in a peer review journal. This module is taught in Teaching Block 1.

Following by a Research Project in Part Two:

BIOM64 Research Project in Aquatic Ecology & Conservation (120 credits)
In this module students will carry out an independent piece of research leading to a dissertation written as a scientific research paper.  An oral presentation on the project will be given in October after submission of the dissertation.

Career Prospects

The course develops skills necessary to work confidently in vocational areas such as conservation, environmental impact assessment, environmental management, monitoring and education, and fosters an objective, scientific and realistic approach to environmental biological issues that students may have to face in a professional capacity.  Graduates go on to work for government agencies such as CCW, Environment Agency, English Nature, Scottish Heritage, Fisheries Research Services, CEFAS.  Other organisations include Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Reserve, National Parks, Environmental Departments, Research and Development of SMEs as well as large companies.  Graduates also go on to do postgraduate research.