This MSc elective introduces the history, theoretical underpinnings, and contemporary views in seascape ecology and conservation. The seascape ecology curriculum explores the recent theoretical and technological advances that have been made in quantifying and mapping dynamic, biophysical aspects of marine ecosystems. In addition, the elective considers how seascape ecology can incorporate diverse human cultural patterns and processes as critical components within the social-ecological system, with an emphasis on valuing multiple perspectives within marine ecology and conservation.

This MSc lecture explores the challenges the ocean biosphere faces in the Anthropocene, with a focus on coral reef ecosystems. The lecture concludes by focusing on ocean bright spots and a range of solutions that are being explored to protect and restore coral reefs. However, several of the topics are fraught with disagreement between and within groups of coral reef scientists, managers, and stakeholder groups. The group session is then centered around an informal debate on three widely disputed topics: Restoration, Science-Based Solutions, and Local vs. Global Actions.

This option develops an understanding of the theoretical and applied aspects of the quickly evolving field of geographic data science, which utilizes Big Data, computing, spatial analysis and a range of modelling techniques to answer targeted geographic research questions. Theoretical lectures and applied lab sessions focused on building competence in open-source programming (R), spatial analysis software (GIS) applied to the analysis of human and environmental problems.

Annual physical geography field work courses for first year students have been taught across coastal dune and forest ecosystems (Dorset and Wytham Woods). The field course content has focused on ecological field sampling and subsequent analytical techniques for analyzing ecological data sets. Marine ecology lectures provide the foundational theory and consider management implications in both the undergraduate Earth System Processes and Environmental Geography courses.