Conservation Research Methods is a skills module focused on enhancing skills important for employability within the conservation science sector.

More specifically, it provides students with botanical species identification and data analysis skills that will support them in assessments for other modules on the programme, such as Conservation Science Project, and in their future careers.

The focus on botanical identification skills stems from their role as the basis for a range of ecological surveys.

To complete the module, you must work through a series of mini-courses that will teach and assess a range of key conservation skills, including botanical identification and analytical skills.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced botanical species identification skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to use data analytical skills which are relevant to conservation science and practice.

Careers / Further study

This module develops practical botanical identification, GIS and ecological data analysis skills that are highly valued across the environmental sector.

Students will gain competencies relevant to:

• Ecological consultancy
• Conservation NGOs
• Local authority ecology teams
• Environmental charities
• Protected area management
• Government agencies

The analytical and research skills developed also provide a strong foundation for independent research projects, MSc dissertations and progression to PhD study in ecology, conservation biology or environmental science.

Content

The module typically covers a range of key conservation skills through a series of mini-courses, including:

Botanical species identification

• Advanced botanical species identification.
• Identification of plant species relevant to ecological surveys.
• Building practical identification skills to support conservation and ecological assessment.

Ecological modelling

• Introduction to ecological modelling.
• Applying analytical approaches to conservation science and practice.

GIS

• Introduction to GIS.
• Developing practical skills in geographical data analysis relevant to conservation.

Qualitative data analysis

• Introduction to qualitative data analysis.
• Applying analytical methods to conservation research.

Multivariate analysis

• Introduction to multivariate analysis.
• Developing analytical skills relevant to ecological and conservation datasets.

Learning and Teaching

• Scheduled learning includes a one-hour in-person introduction to the module and four optional online or in-person drop-ins to help complete the different elements of the assessment portfolio. Dates and times for these modules will be agreed between students and module lead after the module begins.
• Independent learning includes completing a series of mini-courses covering botanical identification and data analysis skills.

Study time

The module includes a one-hour in-person introduction, alongside optional online or in-person drop-in sessions and independent completion of the module's mini-courses.

Assessment

Summative Assessment

Research skills portfolio (100% of module mark): A portfolio consisting of:

• A herbarium of 20 correctly identified and accurately labelled plant species (50%).
• A series of online data analysis mini-courses in R and ArcGIS Pro (50%).

The portfolio enables students to demonstrate their practical botanical identification and data analysis skills and apply these skills within a conservation science context.