Research in the programme
As a Biodiversity: Conservation and Restoration student, you will be trained in a variety of research methods, both via the practical and theoretical courses and via specific courses on skills relevant for conservation and restoration. During a Conservation Internship with an external organisation, you'll get hands-on conservation experience. Field work skills are also acquired during a two-week field course on ecohydrology in the Scheldt estuary or during the Island Biology course (elective) in Croatia.
Master thesis
The Master project is the final part of the Master programme, where you conduct a scientific study under supervision. Through the Master project you demonstrate your:
- scientific background
- capacity to understand/apply primary literature
- capacity to correctly and adequately communicate the results in a succinct manner via a written document
You will choose from a wide variety of subjects, with the possibility of conducting research within a research group from the Department of Biology or in an external research group.
Research groups at the Department of Biology
As a student in Biodiversity: Conservation and Restoration, you are likely to conduct your Master project in one of the following research groups:
- ECOSPHERE: This research group aims to study both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that are continuously challenged by natural and anthropogenic stressors. Its research focuses on acquiring fundamental and applied knowledge at different levels of structural and functional organization in order to underpin environmental management and restoration decisions.
- PLECO (Plants and Vegetation Ecology): The overarching theme of this research group is the study of the effects of global changes – in the broadest meaning of the term – on plants and vegetations. The researchers realize this overall aim a.o. by studying responses of plants and vegetations to the (sometimes manipulated) abiotic environment over a continuum of different spatial scales (ranging from the individual leaf to the continent).
- EVECO (Evolutionary Ecology): This group focuses on evolutionary and ecological processes in natural populations, particularly in animals. The main research questions are related to dispersal and population structure, host-parasite interactions and infectious diseases, and the evolutionary basis of diversity in life-history strategies and phenotypic variation.
- GEOBIOLOGY: The GEOBIOLOGY research group performs fundamental and applied research at the intersection between Geology and Biology. Their prime objective is to generate profound insights about the interactions between the biosphere on the one hand, and the geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere on the other hand.