Partnerships in the field

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• A solution-conscious approach to the challenges faced by the modern conservationist, including treading lightly in the natural world and embedding sustainability into conservation working practice.
• Real-world conservation partnerships and stakeholder engagement and their importance in delivering positive impact for communities, animals and ecosystems.
• Cutting edge technical skills for wildlife monitoring and conservation field work.
• The limitations and challenges associated with surveying in order to gather field-based systematic data, and sharing with collaborators and stakeholders.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically analyse, synthesise, interpret and summarise complex project information to develop understanding and communicate key elements to collaborators.
• Develop, apply and reflect on professional skills essential for positive and fruitful collaboration such as: oral and written communication; effective listening; supporting colleagues and classmates to achieve shared goals; adapting to different working practices and priorities among a diverse group; foster and maintain a solution-conscious approach.
• Application of appropriate and efficient methodology to collect, record and analyse data.
• Undertake field investigations in a responsible and safe manner, paying due attention to risk assessment, ethical approval, rights of access, relevant health and safety regulations, and sensitivity to the impact of investigations on the environment and stakeholders.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically reflect on your own development as a conservation scientist, guided through appraisal meetings throughout the programme
• Critical use of a range of resources as a source of information, means of communication and data dissemination.

Students will learn about collaborative and commnuity-led wildlife conservation as practised by Marwell Wildlife. The module reflects the specific specialisms within the team of conservation biologists ranging from: stakeholder engagement and the role of human communities in modern conservation; working across and within collaborative networks; wildlife monitoring and spatial analyses; remote sensing and the opportunities provided by emerging technology; habitat restoration and ecology of threatened species. The focus throughout is on understanding the interface between people, animals and ecosystems with an emphasis on the principles of One Health and their translation into real-world conservation projects. Value is placed upon the use of reflection to inform professional development, and to enhance ability to work across and within collaborative conservation networks.

In terms of practical field skills students will be introduced to a host of tools specific to monitoring and surveying wildlife, and encouraged to make use of the facilities at Marwell, to spend independent study time familiarising themselves with the items and becoming competent and confident in their use. The module will create unique opportunities for collaborative working with stakeholders in Kenya, including group-working within that network, before, during and after the field course itself.

Students will visit Marwell’s conservation site in Kenya and seek to understand the context and complexities of conserving species and habitats, alongside the need for healthy human communities. Small groups of students will undertake a small survey devised with Marwell Conservation Biologists and Kenya-based stakeholders, to allow them to understand and apply field survey techniques, in a real-world conservation context.

Tutorials will consider collaborative working and stakeholder networks, to launch group-based work. Students will complete individual presentations about the delivery of a mini field survey, carried out during their field trip to Kenya.

Lectures, seminars and tutorials will provide opportunity to expand your knowledge base and develop your professional, collaborative approach. Students will contribute to discussions using knowledge, reflection and professional development, whilst refining skills in scientific communication and enhance your critical evaluation.

The field course to Kenya will provide a mixture of vital and unique learning experiences, including informal demonstrations, discussions, meetings and communication with stakeholders and community members, and supervised practical sessions when students will undertake the field component of their group small survey. Student groups will be accompanied throughout the field course by Marwell Wildlife’s Conservation Biologists.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Group presentation

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: Yes

Individual critical reflection

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.