MRes in Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation
Biodiversity is rapidly declining - to understand why and prevent further loss, we need to meld approaches from both evolutionary and conservation biology. Our one-year MRes research degree in Biodiversity, Evolution & Conservation offers training through bespoke biodiversity courses and two research projects at UCL, The Natural History Museum and The Zoological Society of London. The MRes programme covers research training in macroecology, biogeography, conservation, phylogenetics, genomics, statistics and new biodiversity monitoring technologies.
Compulsory modules
- Science Communication for Biologists (15 credits)
- Computational Methods in Biodiversity Research (15 credits)
- Analytical Tools in Biodiversity, Evolutionary and Conservation Research (30 credits)
- Research Project I (60 credits)
- Research Project II (60 credits)
Optional modules
- There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake two 6000-word, 16-week research projects, which each culminate in a written dissertation, and poster or oral presentation.
Dissertation titles from previous years have included:
- Impact of global warming on the body size of durophagous sharks
- AudioMoth: A new technology for bat surveys in Cuba?
- UK's Wasp Wide Web: using citizen science and microsatellite markers to assess population structure and diversity of the common wasp
Fieldwork
Students undertake a field trip to Blakeney Point, Norfolk. Taking place towards the beginning of term 1, students are introduced to field techniques and experimental design.