As human populations continue to grow at an alarming rates and their impact increases, the urgency of understanding how the environments we occupy work has never been greater. The course emphasises the applications of theoretical ecology to conservation biology, resource management and global environmental change. Although most aspects of biology contr ibute to our understanding of the living world around us, enviromental biology largely remains a study of whole organisms, which is why it is so popular and continues to attract major research funding. The Biology of Disease Pathogens and parasites and the diseases they cause are now recognised as playing significant roles in the behaviour, ecology and evolution of their hosts. There are practical classes associated with the lecture courses in all three years.
Plant biologists have a field course in southern Portugal.
Oxford Biologists have a strong tradition of travel. These ar e planned through the University Exploration Club, helped by members of the two Departments who themselves frequently carry out research overseas. All undergraduates undertake a research project during their second and third years, supervised by a member of staff. The topic may be your own idea or one chosen from a list of suggestions by the Departments' research staff. You write a report, which contributes to your degree assessment.