Overview

Become an ecological change maker

Solutions to the global biodiversity crisis require an appreciation of the ecological, social, economic, political, and ethical aspects of environmental challenges that influence the way in which we go about conserving the natural world.

Taught by experts in the area of global conservation science and management, this course will provide you with strong interdisciplinary expertise in managing biodiversity and natural resources with a focus on social, economic and policy aspects. Taking a global perspective, you will be trained in not only in the technical, scientific areas of biodiversity conservation, but also in the broader ethical and social issues that are part and parcel of conservation action on the ground. You will become skilled in areas such as geographic information systems (GIS), decision science and research methods. You’ll also gain first-hand practical conservation experience from one of the world’s leading conservation organisations - The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Through an understanding of the way that conservation projects are designed, managed, evaluated, and communicated, you will learn how to deliver effective conservation solutions in any situation. You’ll be highly employable in both the public and third sectors, for example the Wildlife Trusts, Worldwide Fund for Nature, the RSPB, and The Nature Conservancy, as well as by non-governmental organisations, where a multidisciplinary understanding of real-world problems is needed to arrive at effective solutions.

Learning and teaching

You’ll be trained in the technical, scientific aspects of biodiversity conservation as well as the broader issues in managing biodiversity and people depending on it through a variety of methods such as lectures, workshops, debates, and group or individual research.

You’ll have dedicated training sessions in team working, project management, grant writing, and leadership skills.

A large proportion of your learning will be led by experts from conservation institutions so that you not only experience the wider conservation sector in specific areas, but also gain an in-depth understanding of the sort of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary perspectives on conservation issues that are needed to develop effective solutions to problems. The global focus will provide you with insights into cultural and ethical differences among regions, but also in how threats to and solutions for biodiversity conservation may apply differently.

Career opportunities

On graduating from this course, you’ll be able to engage with all aspects of conservation work at a leadership level. You’ll be highly employable in both the public and third sectors, for example the Wildlife Trusts, Worldwide Fund for Nature, the RSPB, and The Nature Conservancy, as well as by non-governmental organisations, where a multidisciplinary understanding of real-world problems is needed to arrive at effective solutions.

With a clear understanding of how to manage environmental problems from multiple perspectives, you’ll also have the necessary knowledge and skills to work within public sector organisations such as Natural England, the Environment Agency, and regional equivalents around the world.