Aims of the course:
- To introduce the importance of ocean species and habitats and the variety of benefits people derive from them.
- To understand the impacts of human activities on the marine environment.
- To explore approaches to marine conservation.
Course content overview:
This course will explore the incredible diversity and importance of the world's oceans and coasts. Participants will be introduced to the range of marine habitats and species around the globe and the many benefits people derive from them. We will examine the various threats facing the ocean today and look in detail at the most pressing issues of overfishing and climate change. Having gained insight into the problems the oceans face we then move on to consider the main marine conservation approaches available to address these issues. Key areas we will explore include sustainable fisheries management, marine protected areas, and the importance of consumer choice.
Schedule (this course is completed entirely online):
Orientation Week : 10-16 July 2023
Teaching Weeks: 17 July-20 August 2023
Feedback Week: 21-27 August 2023
Teaching Week 1: Why oceans matter
By studying this week participants should have:
- considered the many reasons why the oceans matter
- an understanding of the range of ocean habitats and species
- an understanding of the broad type of human impacts the oceans face
Teaching Week 2: Are there really plenty more fish in the sea?
By studying this week participants should have:
- an appreciation for the long history of people eating - and overeating - seafood
- a broad understanding of the current status of global fish stocks
- considered some key reasons why the oceans are emptying of fish
Teaching Week 3: Trading the oceans
By studying this week participants should have:
- an understanding of the long history of ocean trading and some of the unusual products derived from the sea
- an appreciation of the present-day trade in ocean products and the impacts this has on marine life
Teaching Week 4: Climate change and the oceans
By studying this week participants should have:
- an understanding of the physical changes taking place in the oceans due to climate change
- an understanding of the biological responses to those changes
- an understanding of how oceans can be used to help tackle climate change
Teaching Week 5: How to save the oceans
By studying this week participants should have:
- an understanding of what Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are and how they are being used in marine conservation
- considered the differences between 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches to marine conservation
- discussed the role of consumer choice as a marine conservation tool
Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours reading material, etc., although this will vary from person to person.
While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material).
Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (discussion boards,etc).
A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to participants who contribute constructively to weekly discussions and exercises/assignments for the duration of the course.
What our students say:
"The tutor related theory to her practical field experience around the globe, providing evidence for certain assumptions, and links for further reading"
"The tutor's presentation and feedback was informative and helpful. The course was very well organised"
