This is an introductory data science unit for students in the agricultural, life and environmental sciences. It provides the foundation for statistics and data science skills that are needed for a career in science and for further study in applied statistics and data science. The unit focuses on developing critical and statistical thinking skills for all students. It has 4 modules: exploring data, modelling data, sampling data and making decisions with data. Students will use problems and data from the physical, health, life and social sciences to develop adaptive problem-solving skills in a team setting. Taught interactively with embedded technology, ENVX1002 develops critical thinking and skills to problem-solve with data.

We live in a world surrounded by and dependent on animals. Australia has one of the highest rates of animal ownership in the world: dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and reptiles being common. In this unit, you explore animals in society (including companion, pocket and pet, wildlife and zoo animals). You will investigate relationships between humans and animals and normal function of animals including development, disease, aging and death. This unit will describe how human and animal health are related, outline legislation and policies on the care and use of animals, cover topical issues in animal welfare and ethics, provide opportunities for students to observe animal behaviours and discuss how cultural backgrounds influence our relationships with animals. You will visit captive and clinical animal facilities where animals are displayed for conservation, curiosity, aesthetics and research. Practicals and workshops will provide students with skills in critical thinking, communication, information/digital literacy and an evidence informed basis on which to make decisions. This unit is for students who are interested in a professional career working with animals, such as those in the AVBS stream and BVB/DVM program or who generally seek an understanding of how animals enrich our lives.

Biology is an immensely diverse science. Biologists study life at all levels, from the fundamental building blocks (genes, proteins) to whole ecosystems in which myriads of species interact. Evolution is the unifying concept that runs through the life sciences, from the origin and diversification of life to understanding behaviour, to dealing with disease. Evolution through natural selection is the framework in biology in which specific details make sense. This unit explores how new species continue to arise while others go extinct and discusses the role of mutations as the raw material on which selection acts. It explains how information is transferred between generations through DNA, RNA and proteins, transformations which affect all aspects of biological form and function. Science builds and organises knowledge of life and evolution in the form of testable hypotheses. You will participate in inquiry-led practical classes investigating single-celled organisms and the diversity of form and function in plants and animals. By doing this unit of study, you will develop the ability to examine novel biological systems and understand the complex processes that have shaped those systems.

Biology is an immensely diverse science. Biologists study life at all levels, from the fundamental building blocks (genes, proteins) to whole ecosystems in which myriads of species interact. Evolution is the unifying concept that runs through the life sciences, from the origin and diversification of life to understanding behaviour, to dealing with disease. Evolution through natural selection is the framework in biology in which specific details make sense. This unit explores how new species continue to arise while others go extinct and discusses the role of mutations as the raw material on which selection acts. It explains how information is transferred between generations through DNA, RNA and proteins, transformations which affect all aspects of biological form and function. Science builds and organises knowledge of life and evolution in the form of testable hypotheses. You will participate in inquiry-led practical classes investigating single-celled organisms and the diversity of form and function in plants and animals.
Life and Evolution (Advanced) has the same overall structure as BIOL1006 but material is discussed in greater detail and at a more advanced level. Students enrolled in BIOL1906 participate in an authentic urban biodiversity management research project with a focus on developing skills in critical evaluation, experimental design, data analysis and communication.

Biology is an immensely diverse science. Biologists study life at all levels, from the fundamental building blocks (genes, and proteins) to whole ecosystems in which myriad species interact. Evolution is the unifying concept that runs through the life sciences, from the origin and diversification of life to understanding behaviour, to dealing with disease. Evolution through natural selection is the framework in biology in which specific details make sense. Science builds and organises knowledge of life and evolution in the form of testable hypotheses. The practical work syllabus for BIOL1996 is different from that of BIOL1906 (Advanced) and consists of a special project-based laboratory.

Paradigm shifts in biology have changed the emphasis from single biomolecule studies to complex systems of biomolecules, cells and their interrelationships in ecosystems of life. Such an integrated understanding of cells, biomolecules and ecosystems is key to innovations in biology. Life relies on organisation, communication, responsiveness and regulation at every level. Understanding biological mechanisms, improving human health and addressing the impact of human activity are the great challenges of the 21st century. This unit will investigate life at levels ranging from cells, and biomolecule ecosystems, through to complex natural and human ecosystems. You will explore the importance of homeostasis in health and the triggers that lead to disease and death. You will learn the methods of cellular, biomolecular, microbial and ecological investigation that allow us to understand life and discover how expanding tools have improved our capacity to manage and intervene in ecosystems for our own health and organisms in the environment that surround and support us. You will participate in inquiry-led practicals that reinforce the concepts in the unit. By doing this unit you will develop knowledge and skills that will enable you to play a role in finding global solutions that will impact our lives.

Paradigm shifts in biology have changed the emphasis from single biomolecule studies to complex systems of biomolecules, cells and their interrelationships in ecosystems of life. Such an integrated understanding of cells, biomolecules and ecosystems is key to innovations in biology. Life relies on organisation, communication, responsiveness and regulation at every level. Understanding biological mechanisms, improving human health and addressing the impact of human activity are the great challenges of the 21st century. This unit will investigate life at levels ranging from cells, and biomolecule ecosystems, through to complex natural and human ecosystems. You will explore the importance of homeostasis in health and the triggers that lead to disease and death. You will learn the methods of cellular, biomolecular, microbial and ecological investigation that allow us to understand life and discover how expanding tools have improved our capacity to manage and intervene in ecosystems for our own health and organisms in the environment that surround and support us. This unit of study has the same overall structure as BIOL1007 but the material is discussed in greater detail and at a more advanced level. The content and nature of these components may vary from year to year.

Paradigm shifts in biology have changed the emphasis from single biomolecule studies to complex systems of biomolecules, cells and their interrelationships in ecosystems of life. Such an integrated understanding of cells, biomolecules and ecosystems is key to innovations in biology. Life relies on organisation, communication, responsiveness and regulation at every level. Understanding biological mechanisms, improving human health and addressing the impact of human activity are the great challenges of the 21st century. This unit will investigate life at levels ranging from cells, and biomolecule ecosystems, through to complex natural and human ecosystems. You will explore the importance of homeostasis in health and the triggers that lead to disease and death. You will learn the methods of cellular, biomolecular, microbial and ecological investigation that allow us to understand life and intervene in ecosystems to improve health. The same theory will be covered as in the advanced stream but in this Special Studies Unit, the practical component is a research project. The research will be a synthetic biology project investigating genetically engineered organisms. Students will have the opportunity to develop higher level generic skills in computing, communication, critical analysis, problem solving, data analysis and experimental design.

This unit builds on introductory 1st year statistics units and is targeted towards students in the agricultural, life and environmental sciences. It consists of two parts and presents, in an applied manner, the statistical methods that students need to know for further study and their future careers. In the first part the focus is on designed studies including both surveys and formal experimental designs. Students will learn how to analyse and interpret datasets collected from designs from more than 2 treatment levels, multiple factors and different blocking designs. In the second part the focus is on finding patterns in data. In this part the students will learn to model relationships between response and predictor variables using regression, and find patterns in datasets with many variables using principal components analysis and clustering. This part provides the foundation for the analysis of big data. In the practicals the emphasis is on applying theory to analysing real datasets using the statistical software package R. A key feature of the unit is using R to develop coding skills that have become essential in science for processing and analysing datasets of ever-increasing size.

Australia is home to a broad diversity of vertebrate wildlife species, many of which are unique to the Australian environment, having evolved in isolation from other large land-masses for millions of years. This unit examines the diversity of Australian reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals (including all three mammalian lineages: monotremes, marsupials and eutherian mammals). We focus on the unique anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptations that have enabled our wildlife to survive and thrive within varied Australian ecosystems. We also examine how the uniqueness of our wildlife is also one of its greatest challenges, being naive to the new threats that are present in our rapidly changing environments. At the end of this unit you should have an appreciation of the diversity and uniqueness of Australian wildlife; be able to determine the links between form and function in wildlife and understand the significance of these functional adaptations in relation to ecological challenges. You will also have an understanding of the interactions between humans and wildlife, and how the unique characteristics of our wildlife also make them vulnerable to threats within the rapidly changing Australian environment. Students will also develop enhanced scientific literacy and communication skills through tutorial activities and assessment tasks.

This unit provides foundational skills essential for doing research in biology and for critically judging the research of others. We consider how biology is practiced as a quantitative, experimental and theoretical science. We focus on the underlying principles and practical skills you need to explore questions and test hypotheses, particularly where background variation (error) is inherently high. In so doing, the unit provides you with an understanding of how biological research is designed, analysed and interpreted using statistics. Lectures focus on sound experimental and statistical principles, using examples in ecology and other fields of biology to demonstrate concepts. In the practical sessions, you will design and perform, analyse (using appropriate statistical tools) and interpret your own experiments to answer research questions in topics relevant to your particular interest. This unit of study provides a suitable foundation for senior biology units of study.

This unit of study examines the ecological principles driving the major ecosystems of the world and ecological processes behind the world's major conservation issues. It aims to develop in students the core foundations for an understanding of Ecology and its application in conservation. Lectures will focus on the ecology of the major terrestrial and marine biomes of the world. Application of ecological theory and methods to practical conservation problems will be integrated throughout the unit of study. Practical sessions will provide hands-on experience in ecological sampling and data handling to understand the ecology of marine and terrestrial environments, as well as ecological simulations to understand processes. This unit of study provides a suitable foundation for senior biology units of study.

The content of BIOL2924 will be based on BIOL2024 but qualified students will participate in alternative components at a more advanced level. The content and nature of these components may vary from year to year.

With multiple pressures on earth's biodiversity, the field of Wildlife Conservation is increasing in importance, empowering decision makers to understand and protect wildlife and the ecosystems which support them. This unit of study explores the techniques and methods for undertaking conservation research, including population genetics and forensic analysis of eDNA, the complexity introduced when considering multiple stakeholders, and the use of the scientific method to inform wildlife conservation issues. You will investigate biodiversity surveys, species identification, forensics, phylogeography, population genetics and genetic management applied to wildlife conservation, and the socio-political and cultural issues which influence stakeholders. You will analyse current issues within wildlife conservation and articulate and acknowledge a variety of stakeholder views including Indigenous Australian perspectives, both orally and in written form. You will understand the processes involved in formulating an evidence-based management approach to contentious wildlife conservation issues, and how the scientific method can be leveraged to build a compelling conservation management plan.

This unit explores the dynamics of ecological systems, and considers the interactions between individual organisms and populations, organisms and the environment, and ecological processes. Lectures are grouped around four dominant themes: Interactions, Evolutionary Ecology, The Nature of Communities, and Conservation and Management. Emphasis is placed throughout on the importance of quantitative methods in ecology, including sound planning and experimental designs, and on the role of ecological science in the conservation, management, exploitation and control of populations. Relevant case studies and examples of ecological processes are drawn from marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems, with plants, animals, fungi and other life forms considered as required. Students will have some opportunity to undertake short term ecological projects, and to take part in discussions of important and emerging ideas in the ecological literature.

This unit has the same objectives as BIOL3007 Ecology, and is suitable for students who wish to pursue certain aspects in greater depth. Entry is restricted, and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their previous performance. Students taking this unit of study participate in alternatives to some elements of the standard course and will be encouraged to pursue the objectives by more independent means in a series of research tutorials. Specific details of this unit of study and assessment will be announced in meetings with students in week 1 of semester 2. This unit of study may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced) program.

Evidence-based decision making is at the heart of wildlife conservation. The application of evidence helps to support and inform management and helps answer questions such as 'what are our conservation goals', 'what action will be effective', 'can we create greater impacts for conservation' and 'where should our valuable resources be allocated'. The ability to undertake evidence-based decision making is a crucial skill not only in wildlife conservation but in many careers. This unit presents the opportunity to undertake a project bringing together concepts and skills you have learnt in your discipline and apply them to a real-world problem. For example, you may participate in a wildlife conservation project that will address threats to a species or habitat through the analysis of a range of information (such as peer-reviewed publications, expert assessments, Indigenous knowledge) before assessing the effectiveness of any current management plans. You may address questions such as 'how do species adapt in an urban environment', or 'how have biosecurity systems contributed to maintaining Australia's biodiversity'. In this unit you will continue to understand and explore disciplinary knowledge. You will collaborate with other students from the Taronga Wildlife Conservation degree stream gaining skills in identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data and communicating findings to diverse audiences. This unit will also foster your ability to be an independent learner and work effectively in group contexts. All of these skills are highly valued by employers.

This interdisciplinary unit provides students with the opportunity to address complex problems identified by industry, community, and government organisations, and gain valuable experience in working across disciplinary boundaries. In collaboration with a major industry partner and an academic lead, students integrate their academic skills and knowledge by working in teams with students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. This experience allows students to research, analyse and present solutions to a real-world problem, and to build on their interpersonal and transferable skills by engaging with and learning from industry experts and presenting their ideas and solutions to the industry partner.

Our ever-changing world requires knowledge that extends across multiple disciplines. The ability to identify and explore interdisciplinary links is a crucial skill for emerging conservation professionals and researchers alike. Conservation scientists need to consider and address the social and economic constraints in the environments within which their activities take place, to ensure successful implementation. This unit presents the opportunity to bring together the concepts and skills you have learnt in your discipline and apply them to a real-world problem. For example, you will participate in a wildlife conservation project that will traverse biological, ethical, sociological and Indigenous studies, and apply your understanding of conservation concepts to problems that are big challenges for the 21st Century. In this unit you will continue to understand and explore interdisciplinary knowledge, while also meeting and collaborating with students from the Taronga Wildlife Conservation degree stream and from across the University through project-based learning, identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data and communicating your findings to diverse audiences. This unit will also foster the ability to work with and in disciplinary teams, essential for both professional and research pathways. All of these skills are highly valued by employers.

With multiple pressures on earth's biodiversity, the field of Wildlife Conservation is increasing in importance, empowering decision makers to understand and protect wildlife and the ecosystems which support them. This unit of study explores the techniques and methods for undertaking conservation research, including population genetics and forensic analysis of eDNA, the complexity introduced when considering multiple stakeholders, and the use of the scientific method to inform wildlife conservation issues. You will investigate biodiversity surveys, species identification, forensics, phylogeography, population genetics and genetic management applied to wildlife conservation, and the socio-political and cultural issues which influence stakeholders. You will analyse current issues within wildlife conservation and articulate and acknowledge a variety of stakeholder views including Indigenous Australian perspectives, both orally and in written form. You will understand the processes involved in formulating an evidence-based management approach to contentious wildlife conservation issues, and how the scientific method can be leveraged to build a compelling conservation management plan.

This unit explores the dynamics of ecological systems, and considers the interactions between individual organisms and populations, organisms and the environment, and ecological processes. Lectures are grouped around four dominant themes: Interactions, Evolutionary Ecology, The Nature of Communities, and Conservation and Management. Emphasis is placed throughout on the importance of quantitative methods in ecology, including sound planning and experimental designs, and on the role of ecological science in the conservation, management, exploitation and control of populations. Relevant case studies and examples of ecological processes are drawn from marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems, with plants, animals, fungi and other life forms considered as required. Students will have some opportunity to undertake short term ecological projects, and to take part in discussions of important and emerging ideas in the ecological literature.

This unit has the same objectives as BIOL3007 Ecology, and is suitable for students who wish to pursue certain aspects in greater depth. Entry is restricted, and selection is made from the applicants on the basis of their previous performance. Students taking this unit of study participate in alternatives to some elements of the standard course and will be encouraged to pursue the objectives by more independent means in a series of research tutorials. Specific details of this unit of study and assessment will be announced in meetings with students in week 1 of semester 2. This unit of study may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced) program.

In-situ and ex-situ conservation play vital roles in the conservation efforts of endangered species. But are they two distinct strategies or should the two be considered and managed as a meta-population? Using evidence-based decision making, this unit will investigate both species and populations and evaluate wildlife management from both in- and ex-situ perspectives, assessing intensive (highly managed) and extensive (near natural) management through strategic components such as reproduction, nutritional ecology and physiology, behaviour, population establishment, genetics and genomics, preventative medicine, stakeholder engagement and management, captive health, welfare, legislation and ethics. This unit will run as an intensive over a two-week period in February. One of these weeks will be held at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. You will be given a unique opportunity to learn directly from academics, scientists, keepers and vets from both the University and Taronga whilst gaining and applying practical skills in wildlife conservation in the field. You will also be required to participate in a 1-day Animal Ethics course.

What do we mean when we talk about wildlife health and welfare? This unit covers the inter-relationship between wildlife health and welfare, people, domestic animals and the environment. Often, human modifications to the environment can impact on wildlife health and welfare, exposing wildlife populations to disease and/or compromising wildlife health and welfare, with resultant declines in populations and potential for local or regional extinctions. Wildlife, however, can also serve as a reservoir for disease that can be of significance for people and domestic animals. This dynamic relationship is often termed "One Health". In this Unit you will learn about wildlife health and welfare within the following framework: 1. What is wildlife health? What is animal welfare and what factors influence welfare for individual species versus factors influencing welfare at the population level? 2. How do we measure health and welfare in wildlife from a theoretical perspective? Can we learn from the "Five Domains" approach which is commonly employed in assessing domestic animal welfare? 3. How do we measure health and welfare from a practical perspective, including sample collection, sample analysis and data analysis? 4. What do these measures mean? 5. Under what circumstances should you act to minimise negative wildlife health and welfare? And 6. What are the ethical considerations and how do they vary in different contexts?

With human population expansion and urbanisation leading to deforestation and overexploitation of resources, the natural landscape continues to change. Australia is a continent of extremes, from long-term drought and unprecedented bushfires to storms and floods. How does wildlife on the Australian continent cope with these devastating extremes? Across Australia, individuals and organisations work hard to conserve species and remediate habitats. Now has never been a more important time to be studying wildlife conservation. Taronga advanced coursework projects serve as a capstone experience for students in the Taronga Wildlife Conservation Stream. These projects are the culmination of four years of theoretical and practical learnings. Students in this unit will focus on the scientific approach to wildlife conservation management in real-life settings. You will gain skills in writing grant applications and the permits needed to investigate species and habitats. You will work in groups, together with academic advisors from Taronga Zoo and the University, to select, research and design a research question based on a relevant contemporary wildlife conservation issue. You will draw on your understandings throughout the degree to propose wildlife conservation solutions in the contemporary 21st century, communicating your strategy and findings through written, multi-media and oral presentation assessments. In this unit you will build your personal Wildlife Conservation Portfolio. This portfolio provides documented evidence of your skills in wildlife conservation, illustrating highly desirable competencies to show potential employers. By the end of this unit students will understand the evidence-based decision making that helps support and inform wildlife conservation management.

Across the world, in the age of the Anthropocene, species are under threat from habitat destruction and human population growth, in which some have called the 6th wave of extinction. From Orangutans in Borneo threatened by habitat alternations to the native forests ecosystems of Europe threatened from the introduced and invasive Sika deer. Wildlife conservation depends not only on a rigorous scientific approach but also encompasses social-cultural, economic, and political contexts. Taronga advanced coursework projects serve as a capstone experience for students in the Taronga Wildlife Conservation Stream. These projects are the culmination of four years of theoretical and practical learnings. Students in this unit will focus on the social, economic and political contexts of real-life conservation challenges gaining skills in writing conservation strategies and undertaking community conservation and engagement ensuring the involvement of multiple stakeholders. You will work in groups, together with academic advisors from Taronga Zoo and the University, to select a research question based on a relevant contemporary wildlife conservation issue. You will draw on your understandings throughout the degree to propose wildlife conservation solutions in the contemporary 21st century communicating your strategy and findings through written, multi-media and oral presentation assessments. In this unit you will build your personal Wildlife Conservation Portfolio. This portfolio provides documented evidence of your skills in wildlife conservation, illustrating highly desirable competencies to show potential employers. By the end of this unit you will understand the positions of stakeholders and have improved your communication skills to negotiate and advocate for wildlife conservation.

In this unit you will complete an independent research project in the discipline of conservation biology and wildlife ecology. Together with your supervisors, you will identify a novel research question and then design and carry out your research. The honours program is assessed overall through a written research proposal, literature review, research presentation, and a major research paper. Assessment of your research capabilities will also form part of the total assessment. Successful completion of your Honours at a high level will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers in conservation and wildlife management.

In this unit you will complete an independent research project in the discipline of conservation biology and wildlife ecology. Together with your supervisors, you will identify a novel research question and then design and carry out your research. The honours program is assessed overall through a written research proposal, literature review, research presentation, and a major research paper. Assessment of your research capabilities will also form part of the total assessment. Successful completion of your Honours at a high level will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers in conservation and wildlife management.

In this unit you will complete an independent research project in the discipline of conservation biology and wildlife ecology. Together with your supervisors, you will identify a novel research question and then design and carry out your research. The honours program is assessed overall through a written research proposal, literature review, research presentation, and a major research paper. Assessment of your research capabilities will also form part of the total assessment. Successful completion of your Honours at a high level will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers in conservation and wildlife management.

In this unit you will complete an independent research project in the discipline of conservation biology and wildlife ecology. Together with your supervisors, you will identify a novel research question and then design and carry out your research. The honours program is assessed overall through a written research proposal, literature review, research presentation, and a major research paper. Assessment of your research capabilities will also form part of the total assessment. Successful completion of your Honours at a high level will clearly demonstrate that you have mastered significant research and professional skills for either undertaking a PhD or any variety of future careers in conservation and wildlife management.

All students in Science Honours must enrol in this non-assessable unit of study in their final semester. This unit will contain your final Honours mark as calculated from your coursework and research project units.