Welcome to the Newquay University Centre! My name is Arlin Slater, and I am the programme manager for the FdSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare course. I am incredibly passionate about wildlife, ecology, and animal welfare, with a particular focus on birds.

Teaching here in Cornwall is a dream come true, as we are surrounded by a stunning variety of wildlife and breathtaking natural landscapes. I feel privileged to be involved in courses that truly captivate my interest. Currently, I am actively engaged in research that explores the impact of husbandry practices on saddlebilled storks in AZA and EAZA-accredited zoos.

At our centre, I have the pleasure of lecturing about a diverse range of subjects. These include animal welfare, ecology, wildlife conservation, and various zoology-related topics.

As you embark on your academic journey with us, I encourage you to make the most of your time here at the university. Take full advantage of the unique resources available to you, such as Newquay Zoo and the Blue Reef Aquarium. These institutions provide incredible opportunities for hands-on learning and observation of various animal species.

Additionally, I encourage you to engage in volunteering activities, as they offer valuable practical experience and a chance to contribute to wildlife conservation efforts. There are also local groups and organisations dedicated to preserving Cornwall's natural heritage. Getting involved with these initiatives can enhance your understanding of the field and connect you with like-minded individuals.

Of course, it's essential to strike a balance between academic life and social activities. Cornwall offers a vibrant community with plenty of social events and recreational opportunities. Take the time to explore and enjoy the local attractions, cultural events, and outdoor adventures that Cornwall has to offer.

Once again, welcome to Newquay University Centre.

Arlin Slater | Programme Manager FdSc Animal Behaviour and Welfare 

UCAS Institution Code: C78

Course Code: OV47

The BSc (Hons) Applied Zoology and Conservation is a full-time three-year course designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to work within the field of conservation. Modules cover a range of subjects from anatomy and physiology to behaviour and population/habitat management, with details listed below.

There is an emphasis on practical application using both national and international examples, and utilising field specialists within the institute and externally as guest speakers to discuss current issues and research in zoological conservation.

Year 1 | Modules

Year 1 will usually consist of the following 10 credit and 20 credit HE level 4 modules:

Fundamentals of Biology (20 Credits)

This module provides students with an understanding of the key scientific concepts and practical skills which underpin the study of zoological conservation. Delivered in an exciting range of lectures and practical sessions; topics covered range from basic molecular biology & chemistry to whole animal systems. Students develop skills in microscopy, colourimetry, and chemical analysis, amongst others and learn how to carry out a rigorous scientific investigation.

Health and Welfare of Animals (20 Credits)

Students learn how to provide appropriate care to maintain animals in good health and to detect signs of ill health when it occurs. A mixture of practical and theoretical sessions provides skills in handling and caring for a variety of animals, from animal first aid and restraint techniques to basic parasitology and the evaluation of housing. The module is delivered as a mixture of lectures, workshops and specialist practical sessions.

Animals and Their Environment (20 credits)

This module is designed to give the student a basic understanding of how animals interact with their environment, utilising basic behaviour techniques to observe animals in their environment. The module will be delivered through a programme of lectures and visits that introduce students to ecological principles, including population dynamics and interrelationships. Students will use the information gained through animal and field observation to further understand habitat utilisation and quality.

Field Survey Techniques (20 Credits)

In one of our most popular modules, students learn techniques for studying and monitoring wildlife and habitats in the field, along with the vital supplementary skills in data handling, analysis and presentation. Practical work ranges from habitat mapping to mammal tracking and small mammal surveys.

Diversity, Classification and Evolution (20 Credits)

This module explores the incredible variety of life on Earth and investigates the process of evolution. The information enables students to become familiar with the characteristics and classification of animals and provides a foundation for a more detailed study of the biology of specific groups.

Key Professional Skills (20 Credits)

The aim of this module is to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop themselves in terms of their personal and employability skills. The module will be taught in a series of blocks covering ICT, website design and social media, as well as more subject-specific blocks relating to current techniques and equipment being used in practice.

Year 2 | Modules 

Year 2 will usually consist of the following 20 credit HE level 5 modules:

Core modules:

Vertebrate Zoology and Conservation (20 credits)

Specifically looking at terrestrial vertebrates, this module will further look at the anatomy and physiology of various animal examples and interrelate all body systems. The module will go on to relate the anatomy and physiology to the life history and reproductive strategies of these animals, and adaptations to particular environments.

Global Conservation Issues (20 credits)

This module explores the relationship between human societies and the natural environment, focusing on the consequences of anthropogenic activity on biodiversity. Students will explore the mechanisms being developed to mitigate the negative consequences of human activity on the natural world and understand the policies and legislation put in place to support this.

Population Genetics and Community Ecology (20 credits)

Continuing from the introduction to ecology and zoology modules in the first year, this module will analyse the interactions between population dynamics and ecosystem functioning, employing current software to predict population changes. Factors affecting population size and viability will also be investigated and related to genetic diversity and its importance to practical conservation strategies.

Zoological Conservation in Practice (20 credits)

Students will be encouraged to conduct a number of work experience hours in a relevant work placement or as a part of a particular local/national census or survey, which allows direct contact with conservation in action and will build on practical skills developed in the course. This module will also look at the role of various organisations in conservation, the importance of legislation, and utilise current research for examples of good practice.

Research Methods and GIS for Zoology (20 credits)

This module equips students with the skills required to complete independent research for an honours project through a program of lectures and seminars on research design, methodologies, literature reviews, referencing, “writing-up”, data analysis and critical thought processes. The module will also look at specific techniques and tools used for research in zoology and conservation, in particular Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and their application.

Optional modules – Choose one 20-credit module from the following four modules:

Primate Behavioural Ecology and Conservation (20 Credits)

Our nearest cousins, the primates, display fascinating and complex behaviour, giving us insights into the development of our own behaviour and society. Through this module, students explore some of the fundamentals of behaviour as applied to primates, including how they learn and behave in natural and captive situations. Part of the assessment of this module has students exploring the effects of captivity on behaviour and how these can be mitigated with enrichment schemes.  Newquay Zoo has an extensive collection of primates, providing a wonderful opportunity to develop practical skills in observing and analysing their behaviour, and using this knowledge to inform conservation strategies.

Advanced Ecology and Survey Techniques (20 Credits)

This module looks at the physiology and ecology of vertebrates and invertebrates in relation to appropriate survey techniques. The module aims to illustrate threats to species both in the UK and worldwide, and the methods of species and habitat protection.

Marine Vertebrate Biology and Conservation (20 Credits)

This module takes an applied approach to exploring the biology and conservation of this vast range of species. Marine vertebrates inhabit a world which is alien to our own, operating under a different set of physical conditions, and this makes finding out even the most fundamental information about them extremely challenging. As a result, researchers have been using ground-breaking technology to study these elusive animals. Students learn about these techniques as we explore the functional biology and behaviour of a range of marine vertebrate species. Many marine vertebrate species are facing increasing conservation pressure, so it is also important that students develop their knowledge of population biology and conservation action plans. Newquay’s coastal location provides excellent opportunities to study at least one species – the Grey seal Halichoerus grypus in the wild.

Year 3 | Modules 

Year 3 will usually consist of the following HE level 6 modules:

Core modules:

Applications of Zoology (20 Credits)

This module enables students to study and develop ideas related to selected zoological themes relevant to the workplace or research situation.  The student will explore these themes through the literature, seminars and tutorials, developing his/her own research skills.

Conservation Genetics (20 credits)

This module aims to equip the learner with the most up-to-date molecular techniques being used in genetics for conserving and protecting species. This will look at genome sequencing of animals, the importance of maintaining genetic diversity within a captive and wild population, and the implications of this in the management of small populations of possibly threatened species.

Honours Project (40 Credits)

This module allows students to explore in detail a research topic of their choice.  The module encompasses a substantial independent research study element, which includes a literature review, experimental design, data collection, analysis and interpretation and communication of the research findings through presentations and reports.

Conservation Project Management (20 credits)

This module aims to equip students with the necessary skills to finance and manage a conservation project. It will look at overall project management, including time management, creating and working to a budget, potential sources of funding and the process of applying for funds. The module will also cover on the ground organisation of data collection, collation and generating of reports and communications for public engagement and community outreach, as well as for the funding bodies and scientific community.

Optional modules – Choose one 20 credit module from the following three modules:

Monitoring Marine Ecosystems (20 credits)

This module will investigate the use of ecological models to monitor aspects of marine ecosystems and discuss other methods used to monitor marine animals and ecosystems. Within this module, students will also build on the survey methods developed in years 1 and 2, looking at methods of assessing population dynamics and habitat quality using specific named examples and current research.

Zoology and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (20 Credits)

This module focuses on recent advances in the biology, ecology and conservation of animal life within freshwater and marine environments, and addresses how conservation measures can ensure marine life and the marine environment can be utilised in a sustainable way.

Wildlife Conservation (20 Credits)

This module allows students to examine the application of science to the practice of wildlife management and the impact of environmental law and policy on the biological outcomes for threatened species and ecosystems.  The module has a strong emphasis on field-based experience.

BSc Applied Zoology and Conservation 

Essential Items:

• Laptop – having access to your own computer and internet has always been highly essential for your studies, so we are suggesting all students have access to their own laptop/PC and internet.  Please be aware that Chromebooks and tablets, whilst useful for some elements of your work, are not suitable for installing and running some software; therefore, a Windows or macOS laptop is recommended.

• Software - as soon as you enrol, you will have an account with Office 365 and you will be able to use online versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint and also download these apps to your device for free, as well as having online storage space on OneDrive. We ask that you install QGIS (free software for spatial data), which is available for PCS and Macs and can be downloaded using the link below. (We can go through this during induction week if you have any problems)

• USB Pen Drive (at least 16GB) – although you will have cloud storage with OneDrive, you will need this to transport files and keep backup copies of important files.

• Waterproofs - coat and trousers for fieldwork.

• Good Walking Boots - you will be very grateful to yourself if you invest in a good quality, waterproof pair.

• Wellies – some field sites we visit get very wet, and you will be advised to wear wellies. No need for your walking boots to be completely waterproof if you have a good pair of wellies to wear for wet-weather work. 

Desirable:

• Old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty for zoo/field-based work.

• Headset – a suitable headset to enable engagement in online delivery (if applicable). 

Extra Expenses:

You will be involved in a variety of fieldtrips throughout the year, most of which will be free, but occasionally we may ask for a contribution for travel costs or entrance fees.  You should budget for approximately £50 throughout the year for these purposes. 

There may be residential field courses that you may wish to join, which are not compulsory (subject to availability), for example, to Borneo, Honduras or South Africa. The prices of these trips will vary, but recent trips have been in the region of £2,500 for approximately 2 weeks (inclusive of flights). These trips are purely optional, and there is no expectation or requirement to join them. More information on the international trips will be made available during induction week and group tutorials. There are also local trips offered to students that may require a small deposit.

We are looking forward to you joining us in the autumn.  You may have studied this subject already, or this might be completely new to you.  Whatever your starting point, we are ready to support you with your learning.

You will find a range of resources below to help you prepare for your course. Keep notes about what you have found out or learnt to support your learning later on.

Read

Ottaviani, J. and Wicks, M. (2013) Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birute Galdikas. New York: First Second.

Watch

Listen

Get Involved