Ecology (Applied) and Conservation
People are having a serious detrimental effect on global biodiversity by changing climate, over-fishing the seas, destroying rainforests, introducing pollutants, increasing urbanisation and many other activities. To ensure that these effects are minimised, we need to understand how organisms interact with each other and their environment. Lessons learned from ecological studies can be applied to environmental problems, such as how we can use insect predators to control crop pests, and how we can design reserves to conserve endangered species.
• Excellent student satisfaction rates (92%) in the latest National Student Survey 2010. We have a reputation for friendly, helpful and welcoming staff enabling you to settle in well and make the most of your time at Reading.
• On-site outdoor laboratory. The University's Whiteknights campus is incredibly beautiful and bio-diverse and offers an immediate range of habitats in which to conduct some of your fieldwork.
• Wide range of fieldwork opportunities. Most recently these have included a Biodiversity Field Course to Andalucía, Spain and a Tropical Biodiversity Field Course to Java and Borneo.
• Opportunity for all finalists to do a practical-based research project. This is regarded by our students as an invaluable exercise and something which is increasingly disappearing in other institutions.
• Extensive contacts with ecological bodies throughout the sector such as the Wildlife Trust and Environment Agency. You will also be affiliated with the Centre for Wildlife Assessment and Conservation.
Skills and experience
The programme offers the opportunity to acquire the varied skills required of applied ecologists and conservation biologists through a combination of taught courses and practical experience. The latter includes fieldwork and we are very fortunate at Reading in having excellent fieldwork facilities. We have a range of well-equipped laboratories throughout the campus, providing the tools necessary for the studies of the biology and behaviour of most organisms. The Whiteknights campus has a wide range of habitats, including a lake and woodland, as well as the extensive parkland. These habitats are utilised for practical classes associated with the degree, so that we can step straight from the laboratory to the field. In addition, the University owns a number of large working farms, which are often used as field sites for final year projects. Field courses are also an integral part of the degree. Currently, there is a Biodiversity Field Course to Andalucia, southern Spain for chameleons, scorpions, vultures and an enormous range of wild plants. There is also a Tropical Biology Field Course to Java and Borneo where we focus on primates (orangutans, proboscis monkeys), reptiles (including false gharials and salt-water crocodiles) and insects.
Career prospects
The range of skills and experiences of our graduates have led them to be in demand from a wide range of sub-disciplines. Many will work for the government, where increasing numbers of opportunities are available due to changes in European and global political agreements. In addition, positions in government-funded agencies such as the larger museums and botanical gardens are available. Ecologists also work for business, where they play roles in mitigating pollution and investigating environmental impacts of industry. More recently, there has been an up-surge in interest in environmental consultancy, where in addition to field work, consultants must be aware of changes in environmental laws. In the UK, many conservation biologists work for local nongovernmental organisations, such as wildlife trusts, where the work can involve active conservation efforts, or behind the scenes with management or fund raising. Ecologists and conservation biologists also increasingly find careers in the media where their expertise allows them to contribute specialist perspectives. Finally, a large number of ecologists and conservation biologists follow research careers, often working in academia or research institutes. Most specialise in a group of organisms or a specific scientific question where they lead our search for knowledge which can be applied to ecological and conservation problems. Recent graduates from at Reading have gone on to work as a Conservation Trainee (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) and a Trainee Consultant (Redhills), whilst others decide to carry on to higher study both at the University of Reading and elsewhere