Programme overview
- Designed in consultation with external agencies, ensuring relevant training to maximise graduate employability
- Includes a unique field experience aboard the Cefas research vessel 'Endeavour'
- Offers insights relevant to aquatic resource management, including biodiversity, environmental law, wildlife and ecosystem management,
aquaculture and ecotoxicology - Provides opportunities throughout the programme to connect with external organisations to further enhance your training
- Taught by leading international researchers who regularly publish in peer-reviewed journals with input from expert external guest lecturers
- Offers access to excellent facilities with a £25 million investment in state-of-the-art laboratories including a new £6 million aquarium facility
- Suitable for students with a background in biological or relevant sciences
This programme covers contemporary aspects of both marine and freshwater systems and was designed with strong input from multiple external bodies including Cefas (Defra), the Environment Agency, and Natural England. These organisations are crucial to ensure training that links directly to relevant employment opportunities within the UK and abroad. The programme, taught by leading international researchers, provides insights relevant to aquatic resource management, including biodiversity, environmental law, wildlife and ecosystem management, aquaculture and ecotoxicology, as well as unique field experiences. This programme has a significant research component as well as professional skills training, and is designed to provide training in areas most relevant to your academic and professional development.
The direct input from external agencies into the taught modules and research projects has really enhanced the student experience. In our first year of running (2007-08) organisations included: Cefas, The Environment Agency, Natural England, AstraZeneca Brixham Environmental Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Integrated Marine Management, INTERFISH and Greenpeace Laboratories. We were also delighted to see several students take up research projects with our partners, with some of them involving collaborative trips to labs in France, Norway and even one project onboard the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research vessel in the North Sea. The projects have been varied, from molecular biology of development in fish embryos to monitoring porpoise movements along the North Devon coast using acoustic technology. This shows the breadth of research areas that our School and partners can offer, which I think provides an excellent opportunity for our students.
Dr Rod Wilson, programme director
