University Classes

BIOLOGY 3065: CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Course Description

This course offers an introduction to conservation biology: the science of understanding and conserving biodiversity on Earth. Students learn how biodiversity change is assessed and what tools are used to prevent the extinction of species and the disruption of ecosystems. Tutorials involve oral presentations as well as a written essay, and an in-depth discussion of controversial topics.

This is Boris’ core class, it is a 3rd – 4th year course and is taught annually in the Winter Term.

MARI 4350 MARI 5350 Cutting Edge in Marine Sciences

Course Description

This course focuses on current, often hotly debated topics in marine science. The goal is to explore where the field of marine science is now and where it will be heading in the near-future. We intend for student to become comfortable in exploring research areas that are so novel that little is known and much of what we think we know is hypothetical. We explore these rapidly growing research areas by discussing recently published papers and current research initiatives on urgent issues, including biodiversity, oceanography, conservation, management, climate change, ocean education, and human-ocean interactions. Class format includes lectures, case-studies, as well as active discussion, debates, group work and hands-on assignments.

This class is taught jointly by Boris Worm and Heike Lotze, it is a 3rd – 4th year course and is taught annually in the Winter Term.

MARI 3627: BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF SHARKS, SKATES AND RAYS

Course Description

This class offers a combination of lectures, labs, and field trips that explore the elementals of elasmobranch (sharks, skate, and ray) biology, conservation and management, and shark research methods. Students are introduced to current methods used in shark research, such as tagging, and will learn and the role of sharks in ecosystems, and their global and regional conservation status.

Manuel Dureuil teaches this class as apart of the Seaside Summer Courses offered at Dalhousie University.