Module Information
Module Identifier
BR15720
Module Title
Wildlife Forensics
Academic Year
2022/2023
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Other Staff
- Dr Ian Scott
- Professor Karl Hoffmann
- Dr Peter Dennis
- Mr David Powell
- Dr Sebastian Mcbride
- Dr Matthew Hegarty
- Dr Danny Thorogood
- Dr Sarah Dalesman
- Dr David Wilcockson
- Professor Michael Wilkinson
- Dr Adriana Ravagnani
- Dr Gemma Beatty
- Dr Helen Marshall
- Professor Paul Shaw
- Professor Gareth Griffith
- Professor Peter Brophy
- Dr Roger Santer
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Laboratory write-up (2000 words) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Notebook-supported test task 1 (1 hour) | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Notebook-supported test task 2 (1 hour) | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate competence in scientific data collection and recording.
2. Handle data in a variety of ways to critically address scientific questions.
3. Competently take notes and record data in a way that will aid subsequent study and allow development of ideas.
4. Apply the scientific method to address practical, real-world problems.
Brief description
This module aims to develop your practical skills, and confidence, in scientific data collection and analysis. You will develop these skills through practical investigation of several forensic scientific problems, and detailed analysis of your data.
Content
Semester 1 will begin with an intensive first week of laboratory exercises during which students will keep a detailed laboratory notebook of their findings. Laboratory exercises will be drawn from areas such as forensic entomology and ecotoxicology. In the remainder of semester 1, students will undertake 10, weekly-scheduled computer room sessions during which they will learn to plot, analyse, and critically appraise data from the laboratory week with staff on-hand to help and provide formative feedback. Data collection, analysis, and notes, will be collated in a laboratory notebook that is designed both as an element of assessment, and to provide a ‘how to’ guide for later stages of study.
Semester 2 will also begin with an intensive first week of laboratory sessions during which students will extract and sequence DNA for the purposes of DNA barcoding. Material will be chosen such that students can investigate problems of wildlife crime or forensic entomology. In the remainder of semester 2, students will meet with their designated tutor bi-weekly to conduct exercises helping them to understand the forensic context and the data collection process.
Semester 2 will also begin with an intensive first week of laboratory sessions during which students will extract and sequence DNA for the purposes of DNA barcoding. Material will be chosen such that students can investigate problems of wildlife crime or forensic entomology. In the remainder of semester 2, students will meet with their designated tutor bi-weekly to conduct exercises helping them to understand the forensic context and the data collection process.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Data handling is a key theme of this module. |
| Communication | Clear written communication of scientific data, ideas, and techniques will be an element of coursework. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The notebook assignment will allow opportunity for reflection, development of ideas, and technical notes that will be useful in future learning. |
| Information Technology | Students will build competence and confidence with standard data handling and graphing tools. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Not assessed as part of this module, though students will gain an understanding of how scientific skills can be more widely applied to practical problems. |
| Problem solving | Students will collect and analyse scientific data in order to address forensic scientific problems. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to conduct literature research to understand the context of their practical work. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students will gain familiarity with a variety of practical laboratory techniques. |
| Team work | Not assessed as part of this module, though students will cooperate in teams during practical tasks. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4