Employers in the ecology and conservation sector place significant value on field skills as they are essential for effective, hands-on data collection and analysis. You will gain knowledge of identification of plants and animals to different taxonomic level depending on the group. The module also focuses on practical methods of sampling populations, monitoring habitats and assessing biodiversity and ecosystem services, which are crucial for understanding ecosystem health and supporting conservation efforts. You will also develop sampling protocols, collect data from the field and use analytical techniques to address ecological questions. The module has a strong field component taking advantages of the natural habitats both in campus and the protected landscapes near Lancaster.

Develop your understanding of the ecological principles of habitat management for biodiversity conservation and how these can be applied to manage a range of priority habitats in the UK. Looking at a range of habitat types you will critically examine the construction of their habitat management plans. Following this you will gain experience in writing such a plan with specified conservation objectives, threats identified and management actions defined. You will learn how to take into account the dynamic nature of ecosystems and conflicts of interest in land use. The module is taught by a mix of lectures and workshops on campus and excursions to local nature reserves where you will interact with reserve managers and take part in field activities.

This field-based, interdisciplinary module puts you at the heart of environmental sustainability case studies right on our doorstep in Lancaster. These may include:

• Pollution at Windermere
• Habitat restoration in the Cumbrian Lake District
• The energy transition from coal mines to renewables
• Innovative waste management schemes
• Local food initiatives

With each case study, our academic and research staff work alongside external stakeholders in the identification, assessment, and remediation of environmental challenges.

Our most pressing environmental sustainability challenges include biodiversity loss, climate change, waste and pollution management, uncertain food security and dwindling resources. There is an ever-increasing demand for graduates versed in these complex issues, whose critical thinking and original, creative problem-solving can make a difference.

You’ll gain both first-hand knowledge relevant to careers in environmental sustainability, and experience in effective communication that cuts across disciplinary boundaries and brings together the University, the private sector, and the wider public.

The dissertation allows you to conduct an independent research project that is at the forefront of the discipline, focusing on a specific topic relevant to your degree programme and interests. Throughout, you will receive one-to-one support from an academic.

This is the largest piece of work that you will complete during your degree and depending on your subject area, will enable you to develop skills including:

• Formulating a research question
• Contextualising it within research literature
• Identifying and using appropriate research methods and techniques to address your question
• Collecting and analysing data
• Interpreting and communicating your findings

You will be expected to present your findings in an extensive report akin to a research paper. In this, you will demonstrate your ability to conduct rigorous, independent research whilst working effectively with others, attributes valued by future employers.

Global food security means ensuring that everyone, everywhere, always has access to an affordable supply of safe and nutritious food. Today, up to a billion people remain undernourished, while many others face health issues linked to over-consumption. This interdisciplinary module explores the wide range of local and global factors that influence food availability, accessibility and utilisation. You’ll examine what makes a diet healthy and how access to key nutrients can be improved, for example through fish consumption or crop biofortification. The module also looks at how climate change affects food production, by influencing key biological processes like photosynthesis and reproductive development. You’ll explore the complex interplay between food, water and energy security, and assess the environmental footprint of the global food system, recognising the diverse needs and priorities of local communities who depend on food-producing regions.

Discover research advances in the field of ecology and conservation that provides key skills for working in the era of big data. You will be taught by world-leading researchers who are experts in biodiversity from coral reefs to tropical forests and freshwater lakes, ensuring deep understanding of how data science can generate actionable insights for global conservation. Throughout the module, you will understand the principles behind data science tools and techniques at the forefront of developing both fundamental understanding of the natural world and urgent solutions to the global biodiversity crisis.

Explore in-depth aquatic ecology, focusing on both freshwater and marine ecosystems. You will examine key ecological concepts such as species interactions, energy flow, nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning across different aquatic environments. The module will explore how physical, chemical and biological factors shape the structure and dynamics of both marine and freshwater habitats. Through case studies, fieldwork and practical applications, you will investigate the ecological processes in lakes, rivers, coastal zones and oceans and develop skills in data analysis, biological monitoring and conservation strategies. Special attention will be given to the conservation and management of aquatic habitats, with a focus on sustainable practices. You will develop a broad understanding of aquatic ecology and the skills required to address contemporary challenges in both freshwater and marine environments.

This module will introduce you to the increasingly holistic approach to conservation, emphasising the interplay between ecological and social systems, that recognises human behaviours, economic pressures and cultural values alongside biological factors.

You will discover how conservation is as much about human behaviours and values as it is about species and biological diversity. You will also begin to understand that conservation science has come to recognise the complex nature of environmental challenges, requiring a blend of knowledge from various disciplines. While the foundations of conservation are still in traditional biology, the incorporation of social sciences, economics and law are increasing.

You will explore the need for collaboration across diverse stakeholders. Through case studies, you will learn to apply interdisciplinary frameworks to real-world scenarios, to recognise and engage with the often-conflicting values and priorities. On completion of the module you will be prepared for careers in conservation organisations, government agencies and research institutions, empowering you to become effective agents of environmental change.

Develop a critical understanding of the core concepts, tools and strategies used in managing natural resources and the environment. This module places strong emphasis on tackling the complexity, uncertainty and conflict that often characterises real-world environmental challenges. You’ll explore a range of management approaches suited to rapidly changing or ‘turbulent’ conditions and examine contemporary environmental issues through both academic and policy lenses. By engaging in constructive debate, you’ll refine your ability to evaluate competing arguments and evidence and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of alternative management frameworks.

How do we make the decisions that will stop climate change, reverse the biodiversity crisis, keep our rivers clean and cope with a host of other environmental issues while providing the jobs, houses, renewable energy and other things we need for a high quality of life? This module will introduce you to the fast-moving world of environmental decision making through Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and the new approach of Environmental Outcome Reports (EORs). We take a practical approach, including site visits, to see how information is gathered and processed on plans, programmes and projects that may have a significant effect on the environment, and we explain the process, law, and key players right through to a decision. This practical approach helps you to gain confidence so that you’re ready to create and present a case either for or against a scheme.

We introduce you to the fundamental principles of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing and demonstrate how these complementary technologies may be used to capture/derive, manipulate, integrate, analyse and display different forms of spatially-referenced environmental data. We blend theory-led lectures with hands-on practical sessions using state-of-the-art software. Alongside core subject knowledge, you'll build transferable skills in synthesising geographical data, developing problem-solving strategies, managing your time effectively and presenting analysis through innovative graphical formats.

Explore fundamental soil processes, from the physical, to the chemical and biological, the value of sustainable soil management, and the challenges faced by soils in the light of global change.

You will gain an advanced understanding of the research that underpins our knowledge of soil formation, soil structure and soil chemistry, together with the cycling of nutrients, water and carbon within soils.

You will additionally examine soil biology and biodiversity, and the interaction between soil microbes, and soil biota and plants with respect to soil processes. Finally, you will critically assess the role of soils in addressing sustainability challenges, such as climate mitigation.