1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Science
  3. Majors, Minors and Specialisations
  4. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Bachelor of ScienceMajorYear: 2024

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Overview

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major will provide the springboard for students entering careers or research in the following areas: Ecology, Conservation Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Systematics and Biodiversity, and Environmental Consulting. Graduates will be prepared for these pathways by developing skills in survey, experimentation and quantitative modelling of ecological and evolutionary processes. This prepares students to make contributions in research, education, or in consulting roles in natural resources management and environmental consulting industries.

This major will integrate knowledge from a range of disciplines from genetics through organismal biology and ecosystem science. Students will draw on this background and use skills in sampling and data analysis to solve current problems in evolution, ecology and biodiversity. Students will gain experience preparing them for the workplace by participating in group research projects and working groups.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

  • Integrate in-depth knowledge of ecology and evolutionary biology and apply it across a range of contexts spanning molecular to global scales;
  • Articulate methods central to ecology and evolution and explain why current knowledge is contestable and testable by further inquiry;
  • Apply empirical and theoretical research methods to solve problems in ecology and evolution, including the planning and execution of a research project;
  • Independently search for, evaluate, and apply the scientific literature to support research, peer review, or scholarly debate;
  • Explain how the disciplines of ecology and evolution have and continue to be influenced by broader fields of knowledge including Indigenous Knowledges and the ways that interdisciplinary practices shape current and future scientific discovery and application;
  • Articulate how ecological and evolutionary approaches can be applied to address current issues such as climate change, health and disease, and food security;
  • Work effectively and respectfully in teams with people whose disciplinary and cultural backgrounds differ from their own; and
  • Communicate, to a professional standard, ideas and research findings in ecology and evolution to expert and non-expert audiences.

Last updated: 12 September 2024