Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Conservation

This course examines the links between biodiversity, ecosystem services, and conservation in the context of global environmental change. Students gain a solid grounding in ecological concepts, explore current research on biodiversity loss, and learn practical tools such as ecosystem service modelling, scenario development, and spatial analysis. A key focus is the interaction between science and society, considering ecological, social, and political dimensions of conservation. The course is hands-on and project-based: in small teams, students address real-world conservation challenges, develop research questions, and present data-driven solutions. This course is ideal for students interested in ecology, sustainability, or environmental policy, and offers critical insight into the urgent task of protecting biodiversity and the ecosystems that support life.