FdSc Conservation and Ecology

Duchy College awarded £1m to spearhead net zero farming project

1st March 2021

Duchy College has been awarded over £1.2 million from the Climate Action Fund to run a project tasked with helping the farming community of East Cornwall reach net zero carbon emissions.

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New video to showcase the young people protecting Cornwall’s coastline

9th February 2021

More than 16,000 young people have been given the opportunity to boost their employability thanks to a collaboration between Cornwall Wildlife Trust and The Cornwall College Group (TCCG). 

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Newquay students reach shark app crowdfund target

2nd February 2021

A team of marine zoology students from Cornwall College have raised more than £2,000 to help develop a new smartphone app alongside the Shark Trust. 

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FdSc Wildlife Education & Media

Level 5 • Full-time • Cornwall College Newquay

Take a look at your smart phone, your tablet, your laptop, your computer. In your hand, under your fingers, is the final result of mathematical theory, engineering know-how, scientific understanding and technological inspiration. It is fused with design and art so it appeals to your sense of aesthetic and to your emotions. It allows you to be creative. So should a degree course. Single subject courses made sense in the twentieth century but in the twenty-first, life, employment, is a lot more complex and inter-disciplinary. Global problems require an ability to understand a range of subjects and combine them to propose global solutions. This is the case for conservation. Understanding the conservation science is one thing but explaining the issues and proposing the solutions to the general public is quite another. Most conservation science jobs require these skills: educators in zoos, aquariums and nature reserves, science journalists, wildlife media creators, wildlife guides, wildlife campaign managers, project coordinators, fundraisers for charities. The FdSc Wildlife Education and Media course does just that. It teaches you the zoological conservation science that makes you a conservation scientist but it also provides skills in educating a range of audiences, both in person and through a range of media. It is a theoretical course but it is also a practical and applied course: Pop-Up Nature Centres, British Science Week activity, interpretation development, storytelling, writing journalistic copy, producing films and podcasts. You don’t just learn but do. Employers like that and this is why this small course has been successful in getting graduates into jobs, especially if you complete the one-year top-up in BSc (Hons) Applied Zoology. You produce a portfolio to evidence your skills. You learn industry standard software. We guide you to become more employable. Other skills and knowledge you’ll gain include: • Learning subjects like ecology, zoology, biodiversity, evolution, animal behaviour and species/habitat conservation • Developing environmental interpretation for use by the public • Learning how to teach through running our dedicated pop-up nature centre • Planning and running an educational event for British Science Week • Learning how to use digital cameras for wildlife photography/film-making and industry-standard specialist software for media creation • Developing independent research skills in a second year project in conservation science, education and/or media. The course can be carried out on a full time basis, which is two years at our Newquay campus adjacent to Newquay Zoo, or on a part time basis over 3 or 4 years, where you will be infilled with full time students. During the course you will have the opportunity to visit various science communication centres and also to gain first-hand experience of teaching in the classroom. Overseas field work: The college also organises trips further afield, at your own cost. These trips are a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills and practise your skills learnt at the college. They could also be considered highly valuable if you are looking to pursue a career in ecotourism, as a wildlife tour guide. Past trips have visited the forests of Borneo, the reefs of Egypt, nature reserves in Portugal and the beautiful island of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. More recently, we have run fantastic trips to the Kruger National Park in South Africa and to the cloud forests and coral reefs of Honduras. Both of these trips offer great opportunities for a wildlife educator or a wildlife media creator to practice what you have learned in the class room. This course is also available with Science Gateway, perfect for you if you would like to study any of the science-based Foundation Degrees (FdSc) we offer, but don’t have the right qualifications or grades to do so.

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BSc (Hons) Applied Zoology (Top up)

Level 6 • Full-time • Cornwall College Newquay

This 1 year top up programme is designed for foundation degree graduates wishing to progress to an honours degree. The programme will further develop skills of scientific analysis, communication and evaluation. You will gain an understanding of applied zoology which will enhance your opportunities for employment or postgraduate study. Optional modules focus on a number of topics including: the conservation and monitoring of wild terrestrial and aquatic animals; mapping techniques using geographic information systems (GIS); developing ways in which to communicate ideas and messages about conservation issues to wider society; and evaluating the impacts of animal disease. You will be given training to help develop your analytical and research skills in preparation for the Honours Project, where you explore an area of interest in greater depth. Through our close connection to a number of conservation and animal welfare organisations, this programme will extend your knowledge of animal biology beyond foundation degree level, with the emphasis of your studies chosen by you. The programme will apply knowledge in these fields, particularly in South West England, but also internationally. There will also be some formative assessment by mini in-class tests, presentations and group work. Opportunities also exist to enhance your skills and experience via attending one of the optional residential international field trips to Borneo, South Africa or Honduras (subject to additional fee and availability)

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FdSc Zoological Conservation*

Level 5 • Full-time • Cornwall College Newquay

Zoological conservation is concerned with maintaining the wonderful diversity of animal life (including invertebrates) that exists on our planet. Involving the protection and management of animal populations and their habitats in order to minimise the harmful effects human activities may have on them. The programme gives you the skills required to help conserve wild animals by developing your knowledge in topics such as ecology, biodiversity, animal nutrition, captive breeding and reintroduction, conservation of aquatic organisms, and primate behaviour and learning. You will also gain first-hand experience in observing, surveying and the occasional handling of animals. As well as traditional lectures, fieldwork and laboratory work, you will take part in workshops delivered by animal and wildlife experts from organisations such as the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and RSPCA. Guest speakers play an important role in your learning and they are used regularly to provide more expert knowledge in some of the specialised modules. Working in industry is the very essence of a foundation degree and as such you will also undertake work experience locally or overseas. This opportunity helps you to develop graduatelevel skills that will help you in any job. Work placements and the contacts you make may well be your link to employment on completing the programme. This course is also available with Science Gateway, perfect for you if you would like to study any of the science-based Foundation Degrees (FdSc) we offer, but don’t have the right qualifications or grades to do so. *subject to approval by the University of Plymouth

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