School of Life Sciences
Life Sciences has several departments: Biochemistry and Biomedicine; Chemistry; Neuroscience; Pharmacy; and Evolution, Behaviour and Environment.
The Evolution, Behaviour and Environment (EBE) department is most directly linked to the SDGs, due to the focus on animals, plants, and biodiversity. Many present modules in this departments’ courses link to SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life under Water, and SDG 15 Life on Land, as well as discussion of how biodiversity and conservation interlink with social and economic SDGs.
Some EBE students also have access to modules from other schools, such as Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (Global Studies) and Introduction to Sustainable Development (Business School) in order to give an interdisciplinary dimension to the course.
Topics in the Biochemistry and Biomedicine department link to SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, such as teaching and research on cancer cell biology. Similarly, some modules in Neuroscience look at the biology of mental health, genetic conditions, and cancer.
Current sustainability related undergraduate modules in Life Sciences include:
- Introduction to ecology and conservation
- Introduction to evolution and biodiversity
- Conservation in practice
- Conservation biology I & II
- Tropical rainforests: biogeography and conservation
- African zoology field course
- Tropical rainforest field course
- Coral reef ecology field course
- Coastal biology and ecology field course
The availability of the above modules depends on your chosen course of study. Please follow the module links to see which degree courses offer this module and look at your course prospectus to see whether modules are core or optional.
Case study: Engaging in conservation of life on land and below water
Three international field courses are currently offered to final year students on the Biology, Zoology, and Ecology degrees. Students on these modules develop their field skills and learn about the wildlife and plants of highly biodiverse habitats, such as coral reefs and tropical rainforests.
Students complete practical research projects and engage with the conservation work at the field sites, to learn about and help address the conservation and sustainability challenges that local communities face. They also contribute to long-term field site datasets and research, helping to increase understanding of the site’s species, ecosystems, and conservation challenges.
These modules have allowed the University and our students to create lasting relationships with research sites around the world. For example, students on the African zoology field course study terrestrial species, including megafauna such as elephants and hippos, at research sites in southern Africa.
The 2019 cohort of this module fund raised £2,817 for head torches and UV lights for the rangers at the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Malawi, after the trip. This equipment will increase rangers' safety on night patrols and protect them from elephant herds, poachers, and scorpions, as well as enabling them to continue their work protecting the animals and people on the reserve.