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BIO018
Biology A' Level and Transition to University
This course is designed for Biology students transitioning from A' Level to Higher Education, and will guide students through a series of tailored modules built around the WJEC Biology A' Level specifications. Each module covers information from across the curriculum, helping to link key biological concepts and build from core knowledge to more complex applications. The learning activities will consist of a short (10 ¿ 20 minutes) recorded or annotated lecture that will include self-assessment of understanding by a short quiz consisting of multiple-choice questions. Further on-line materials will be provided to assist students with learning independently. Personal support will be available through online tutor meetings at arranged time.
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BIO253
Introduction to field zoology
Delivery of both teaching and assessment will be blended including live and self-directed activities online and on-campus.
This is a level 2 Biosciences module which is compulsory for zoology students and will be held from 2nd - 6th September 2024.
Not available to Visiting - Exchange students.
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BIO266
Climate Action Academy: Empowering Students to Manage Their Carbon Footprint
This course will provide students with the tools and information needed to understand and offset their carbon emissions whilst undertaking international fieldwork. This will be delivered by a variety of online methods, including recorded videos, quizzes, and interactive games.
The course will be divided into four main learning blocks:
- A brief introduction to the climate emergency based on current findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- Explore climate legislation at a national and local level, with a focus on Swansea University¿s commitments and pioneering technology.
- Exploring the carbon footprint, with an emphasis on international travel and dietary choices.
- Investigate the psychological impact of the climate emergency, including tools for self-help and available support.
- A bespoke carbon calculator to allow students to calculate their emissions and select what actions they will take to offset this.
-The course will finish with a pledge for students to commit to offsetting their emissions, which will be reviewed the following semester.
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BIO331
Professional skills in conservation
This field based module will introduce students to the professional techniques utilised to monitor and study animals and plants in a variety of terrestrial habitat types and in relation to conservation management and biodiversity monitoring in the United Kingdom. The course places a strong emphasis on ecological census techniques and basic classification and taxonomy. Students will develop key techniques relevant to the environmental sector including Protected Species (specifically birds, amphibians, mammals, reptiles and plants), River and Phase 1 habitat surveys and Environmental Impact Assessment. Students will also learn about the biotic and abiotic factors that define different UK habitats and be introduced to the natural history of Wales. A focus is on developing key transferable skills that enhance employability such as problem solving, data analysis, report writing, evaluation, communication and teamwork.This module is therefore suitable for students wishing to pursue a career in ecological consultancy or conservation.
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BIOM17
Global Biodiversity Challenges in the Himalayas
The Himalayan mountain range is not only the the youngest range on Earth but is also home to the highest peaks with the altitude ranging from 300 to 8,500 masl. Due it its unique global positioning, the Central and Eastern Himalayas cross three Biogeographic realms, four major biomes (tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine) and support numerous eco-regions and is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot and endemic bird area.
The Himalayas face a range of natural and anthropogenic threats. Each threat poses significant challenges to the region's ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities. The main threats include:
Climate Change: The Himalayas are highly sensitive to changing climatic patters, including changes to regular temperatures, fluctuating precipitation patterns impacting plant growth, groundwater storage, and creating soil erosion and retreating glaciers. These changes can have far-reaching consequences for groundwater availability, agriculture, and the livelihoods of millions of people.
Glacier Retreat and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Accelerated melting of glaciers is leading to the creation of glacial lakes. Sudden outbursts pose a risk of floods and bursting of dams further downstream. GLOFs in October 2023 resulted in devastating downstream impacts on communities, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Deforestation and Habitat Degradation: Deforestation, illegal logging, and unsustainable land use practices are contributing to habitat loss and degradation in the Himalayas and exacerbating the impacts of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts. Himalayan forests and rich and diverse and provide critical ecosystem services by playing a crucial role in regulating water flow, preventing soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity, but they are increasingly under threat from human activities.
Land Degradation and Soil Erosion: Soil systems in the Himalaya are incredibly diverse. However, due to the monsoon and general extreme slop angle of the landscape, unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, and deforestation contribute to land degradation and soil erosion in the Himalayas. Soil erosion reduces the fertility of agricultural land and leads to increased sedimentation in rivers and lakes, exacerbating flood risks.
Water Pollution: Rapid urbanization, industrialization, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff and inadequate waste management practices contribute to water pollution in the Himalayan region affecting water quality and posing risks to human health and aquatic biodiversity.
Invasive Species: The introduction of invasive plant and animal species threatens native biodiversity in the Himalayas by outcompeting native species for resources, disrupting ecosystems, and altering ecological processes, leading to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Tourism Pressure: The Himalayas attract millions of tourists each year for trekking, mountaineering, and other recreational activities contributing to environmental degradation, pollution, habitat disturbance, and cultural erosion if not managed sustainably.
This course takes students to the heart of the Himalayas, a small Indian state called Sikkim, to study the threats first hand. Sikkim is a rapidly developing Indian nation, however, its Green State mission align with UN Sustainability goals. Students will use enquiry-based learning to evaluate how Sikkim's biodiversity is being impacted by these threats and if the policies to more sustainable manage the ecosystems are effective and could be improved
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BIOM22
Advanced Techniques in Biodiversity Assessment
This module aims to introduce advanced professional techniques in biodiversity assessment and management.
Students will learn how to use, interpret and evaluate appropriate metrics and methodologies to assess the impacts of new developments on biodiversity such as Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), UK Habitat Classification, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Environment Net Gain (ENG). Students will also learn the evaluation of ecological and broader environmental features as part of an economic valuation of the environment e.g. for ecosystem services assessment, natural capital valuation and/or environmental net gain.
This module provides students with highly employable skills within the environmental and conservation sector, aligning with the CIEEM's Competency Framework. While undertaking the module student will gain the experiences and develop a portfolio to allow them to apply for Qualifying Membership with the CIEEM.
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BIOP00
Protected Terrestrial Mammals: Ecology, Survey Techniques and Legislation
Many of Britain's terrestrial mammals are protected by law and it is an offence to kill, capture or disturb them or damage their habitats. These species are often encountered on sites proposed for development and it is therefore important to understand their ecology to ensure their protection. This course is aimed at environmental professionals or learners aspiring to work in the environmental sector that wish to learn about the survey techniques, ecology and legislation for several of Britain's protected terrestrial mammal species (primarily dormouse, badger, otter, water vole, bats and pine marten).
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BIOP01
Pine Marten Ecology, Survey Techniques and Legislation
This course builds on Terrestrial Mammals: Ecology, Survey Techniques and Legislation by focusing on pine martens. Pine martens are protected by law and it is an offence to kill, capture or disturb them or damage their habitats. These species are often encountered on sites proposed for development and it is therefore important to understand their ecology to ensure their protection. Due to their reduced distribution they are also a focal species for reintroduction programmes within England and Wales. The course is aimed at environmental professionals or learners aspiring to work in the environmental sector that wish to specialise on this particular mammalian species and gain in-depth knowledge about the survey techniques, ecology, legislation and best-practice guidance for monitoring and reintroduction based on the latest evidence-based research.
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BIOP03
Introduction to terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates
Terrestrial invertebrates can be used to monitor environmental change and their presence is fundamental in measuring biodiversity. Successful identification of these groups plays an important role in maintaining our ecosystems.
This course is aimed at environmental professionals, or learners aspiring to work in the environmental sector, that wish to learn the major groups of terrestrial invertebrates and their key survey methods. The course will focus on those easily-recognised and familiar insect groups such as butterflies and dragonflies.
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BIOP04
Freshwater macroinvertebrate biological indicators
This course is aimed at environmental professionals who wish to improve their freshwater invertebrate identification skills. The syllabus will enable learners to apply taxonomic and problem solving skills in the identification of freshwater invertebrates. Course participants will be guided on the use of identification keys and will be introduced to freshwater sampling techniques. Practical training is provided through a combination of e-learning and personal study. The professional learner will develop the confidence and tools they need to know how to identify the major groups of British freshwater invertebrates. The course uses active learning to ensure the learners can identify the key features of the macroinvertebrate families. An optional on-campus workshop is provided for learners to put the their knowledge into practice and identify preserved specimens of the key macroinvertebrate families.
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BIOP13
Nature Based Solutions
Three hundred years of industrial development has led to abrupt and often irreversible environmental change resulting in significant climatic and non-climatic challenges in the 21st Century that adversely impacts human development. Rapid population growth, urbanisation, intensive land use and change, uncapped commodity extraction and pollution are degrading ecosystems, while climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity and magnitude of natural disasters leading to human and wildlife fatalities and increasing property and economic losses.
Conventional engineering solutions can address these issues to some extent. However, there is a growing consensus for the need to work with ecosystems to enhance the livability in cities, providing resilient communities and allow adaptation to climate change, while protecting and enhancing ecosystems and biodiversity.
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are inspired and supported by nature and use, or mimic, natural processes and can be applied strategically to and equitably to help societies address a variety of global environmental challenges. NBS can concomitantly lead to multiple economic, societal and and environmental benefits, such as reducing infrastructure costs, job creation, green growth, enhancing health, wellbeing and recreational opportunities.
This course will introduce the learner to the paradigm shift in cultural norms, from working against, to with nature. Each topic will be supplemented by relevant local case studies and applied examples of NBS.
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EG-B03
Microcredential: Introduction to Nature-Based Solutions
Three hundred years of industrial development has led to abrupt and often irreversible environmental change resulting in significant climatic and non-climatic challenges in the 21st Century that adversely impacts human development. Rapid population growth, urbanisation, intensive land use and change, uncapped commodity extraction and pollution are degrading ecosystems, while climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity and magnitude of natural disasters leading to human and wildlife fatalities and increasing property and economic losses.
Conventional engineering solutions can address these issues to some extent. However, there is a growing consensus for the need to work with ecosystems to enhance the livability in cities, providing resilient communities and allow adaptation to climate change,while protecting and enhancing ecosystems and biodiversity.
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are inspired and supported by nature and use, or mimic, natural processes and can be applied strategically to and equitably to help societies address a variety of global environmental challenges. NBS can concomitantly lead to multiple economic, societal and and environmental benefits, such as reducing infrastructure costs, job creation, green growth, enhancing health, wellbeing and recreational opportunities.
This course will introduce the learner to the paradigm shift in cultural norms, from working against, to with nature. Each topic will be supplemented by relevant local case studies and applied examples of NBS.
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GEB301
Interdisciplinary Field Course to the Indian Himalayas (Sikkim)
This residential field course module explores the relationship between environment and society in the Himalayan state of Sikkim in NE India on the borders with China, Nepal, Tibet and West Bengal. The course is inter-disciplinary in approach and policy-oriented. Students work with members of University Staff in mixed groups of biologists, human geographers, physical geographers and zoologists. Through intensive inter-disciplinary group working, students utilise (and pass on) their specialist skills in the group exercises and projects that are undertaken.
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MNXN28
Senior Leaders’ Development Programme
This programme is developed by the All-Wales Intensive Learning Academy for Innovation in Health and Social Care (in FHSS), AGORIP and the Swansea University STEM Skills Academy Wales, together with colleagues from Faculty of Medical, Health and Life Sciences at Swansea University. This is an 18-month bespoke Skills Development Programme. The programme is designed to enable senior management and clinical leaders in University Health Boards to acquire and apply new skills in order to maximise their effectiveness in leading services and providing benefit to their populations. The approach has four main elements, as follows: Evaluative Framework, Thematic Modules, Community of Practice and Coaching and Mentoring.