** New for Oct 2008 entry **

MSc Conservation Science

A limited number of bursaries are available for Oct 2008 entrants – please contact us at the links at the bottom for further details

Applications are welcome now for our new MSc in Conservation Science; the latest addition to our ecological and environmental teaching portfolio. Our unique location on the doorstep of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks, The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the north Lancashire coast, makes Lancaster an ideal place to study Conservation Science. The scheme aims to provide students with an understanding of the challenges facing people working in conservation today, including the major international problems of loss of biodiversity, encompassing the effects of rapid climate change, habitat destruction and invasive species. This vocational degree is aimed at students who intend to follow a career in conservation, and offers you the chance to gain a firm foundation in the supporting theory behind wildlife conservation, while also gaining key skills that will enhance your value to employers. There will be the option to learn skills in plant identification, use of GIS and National Vegetation Classification schemes, data analysis and presentation, risk assessment, and others. The course also aims to develop transferable skills appropriate to a career in research, consultancy or conservation. Graduates from similar schemes have gone on to pursue careers in the environmental and conservation sectors, as well as progressing to further study for a PhD.
	The full time course lasts 12 months and begins in October each year. Taught modules are delivered from October to June. A research project is a major component of the course, and is started in November, with most of the field or laboratory work being carried out between April and July, either with one of the research groups in the University or with an external organisation.
Course structure The course is made up of taught modules and a research project, totalling 180 credits. Taught modules are generally delivered in the terms either side of Christmas, then, after Easter there is full time concentration on a long research project. For full time students the course starts in early October and finishes at the end of August. Part-time options are available and, with those, we aim to be as flexible as possible to meet the needs of individual students.

Two core modules (15 credits each) Conservation Biology Wildlife Population Ecology +90 credit research project

Four optional modules from this list (15 credits each) Biological Effects of Air Pollution and Climate Change Conservation Genetics Agriculture and Climate Change Data Analysis and Interpretation Ecological Census Techniques Plant and Invertebrate Identification Using the National Vegetation Classification scheme Habitat Management Contaminated Land and Remediation Work Placement Risk Assessment and Management Principles of Environmental Informatics Environmental Informatics in Practice Geoinformatics

An understorey wildfire burns through a primary forest reserve in the Brazilian Amazon, killing over 40% of trees (Jos Barlow)

Ringing a blue tit - as demonstrated on the Wildlife Population Ecology module	Captive White Rhino – the role of zoos in conservation work is discussed in the Conservation Biology module	Black-tailed Godwit flock – identification skills and monitoring methods are taught on the Ecological Census Techniques module

Applications are welcome NOW – contact us for application details

Further information is available from: Andrew Harrod (Masters Admissions Secretary), Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK. Tel: + 44 1524 593190 Fax: + 44 1524 593985 Email lec.pg@lancaster.ac.uk

For information about other taught postgraduate degrees in ecology, please visit http://www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/postgraduate/