{"id":12097,"date":"2023-01-13T10:10:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T10:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/?p=12097"},"modified":"2023-01-12T10:42:06","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T10:42:06","slug":"how-to-add-environment-to-ecology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/2023\/01\/13\/how-to-add-environment-to-ecology\/","title":{"rendered":"How to add Environment to Ecology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hi, I\u2019m Nic, a Biology undergraduate in my final year at the University of York. I began my course studying a little bit of everything. Eventually, I realised in my second year that my favourite modules were about ecology and the environment, so I took the opportunity to do an internship in the Department of Environment and Geography. If you also like ecology, hopefully this blog will let you know about even more options you can follow!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difference between auditing and electives<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some definitions to help understand my blog (and what you can do by checking the links)!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auditing: <\/b>Taking a module which is uncredited towards your degree. This means you don\u2019t participate in any assessed work, and all audit-module work is voluntary. This will be on top of your credited modules, so will be your least-prioritised module.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electives: <\/b>Swapping out optional module credits on your course for modules on other courses worth equivalent credits. You will be assessed as per usual. Current information on electives can be found on the <\/span>Programmes and Modules page<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ECORISC internship<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ECORISC<\/span><\/a> (Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment Towards Sustainable Chemical Use) is a Doctoral training centre spread across several universities.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, I was selected for an eight-week internship with ECORISC. I got to do field trips doing river sampling in the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Moors and the Lake District, which felt like a holiday! I used a pH meter and tiny buckets to sample river water. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, I went bird catching and ringing for the first time, which is a common type of ecological survey. We helped a PhD student survey Nightjars in the moors during the night. They tried to scare us off by opening their beaks wide, and hissing like very realistic snakes! Since then, I have started volunteering with bird ringing around campus \u2013 you can email module leaders if you\u2019re interested too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this practical work grew my love for ecology and the environment, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. If the Department of Environment and Geography does any more internships over the summer, and you enjoy ecology, I would highly recommend them!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The ECORISC logo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

GIS<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I realised I wanted to be an ecologist (or consultant), I looked at jobs on our careers platform, Handshake. I couldn\u2019t believe how many jobs wanted you to know Geographical Information Systems coding. Luckily, there is a 10-credit module in the Department of Environment and Geography called <\/span>Geographical Information Systems<\/span><\/a> that will teach it to you. I chose to audit this module. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GIS allows you to store data by using locations \u2013 a bit like Google Maps. The module will also teach you how to calculate areas and distances between locations in both 2D and 3D. But best of all, you learn how to make pretty maps like this in just three weeks. Plus, you become so much more competitive with this on your CV.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
GIS map showing different terrain heights and population densities with rainbow colours.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Land use, change and management<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Land Use, Change and Management (LUCM)<\/span><\/a> is my elective environmental module this year. I sometimes find with Biology, we learn what is best for the environment and biodiversity, and can get frustrated when nobody outside academia does \u2018what\u2019s right\u2019 for the environment. LUCM has provided so much insight into why people need to prioritise other things.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Land usage is such a layered topic with tons of different necessities we need to function \u2013 as a society, as well as for biodiversity. We mainly focus on land use surrounding agriculture and forestry. This means we also get a farm and a forest field trip!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The module is really accessible for a biologist. It\u2019s more about balancing multiple perspectives and problems than honing in on the specifics of a problem. There are multiple workshops that delve deeper into biofuels and how international trade works. If you are interested in consultancy or ecological policy, this is a great module to take.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honourable mentions of environmental modules suited for biologists<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a glance at some of the modules available to me this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n