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BIOL 467 Conservation Biology Projects

11111
Open Closing on February 24, 2025 / 1 spot left
MacEwan University
MacEwan University
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Tracy Whatmore She / Her
Supervisor, Work-Integrated Learning
(5)
7
Timeline
  • February 24, 2025
    Experience start
  • April 5, 2025
    Experience end
Experience
1 projects wanted
Dates set by experience
Preferred companies
Alberta, Canada
Any company type
Agriculture, Environment, Mining, forestry & fishery, Travel & tourism, Clean technology

Experience scope

Categories
Community engagement Scientific research
Skills
No skills listed
Learner goals and capabilities

About the Students:

Students in this Conservation Biology course are in the later stages of their degree, with a strong understanding of general ecology and how to manage biodiversity. They are eager to work on real-world projects where conservation efforts are shaped by a mix of science, ethics, cultural traditions, and legal or political factors. Their focus will be on conservation in Canada.

What Students Already Know:

  • Basic ecological and biological principles.
  • The challenges of biodiversity loss in Canada.
  • How to critically assess conservation decisions.

What Students Are Learning to Do:

  • Evaluate conservation decisions, including human and political factors.
  • Solve problems using both scientific knowledge and practical considerations.
  • Develop a conservation strategy for species at risk.

Learners

Learners
Undergraduate
Advanced levels
25 learners
Project
30 hours per learner
Educators assign learners to projects
Teams of 5
Up to 1 team(s) or 5 learner(s) per project.
Each learner can join up to one team
Expected outcomes and deliverables

What We’re Looking For:

We are seeking project ideas from organizations that involve real-world conservation challenges. These projects are part of the students’ coursework and will not have any financial cost to your organization. Instead, we are asking for your time and expertise in guiding students through these challenges.

Project Overview:

What’s the Challenge?

How can we create conservation strategies that consider not just scientific facts but also the human factors like ethics, politics, and cultural values?

Students will work on:

  • Applying what they’ve learned in class about conservation biology and how humans interact with nature.
  • Building skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Project Outcomes:

By working on your project, students will:

  • Learn how the history of conservation in North America impacts current approaches.
  • Explore the main causes of biodiversity loss in Canada.
  • Evaluate conservation strategies from both a scientific and practical viewpoint.
  • Develop strategies that account for human dimensions like ethics and politics.
  • Create a plan to protect a species at risk, considering the challenges they’ve discussed in class.

Timeline:

This project will take place in Winter 2024 semester, and students will have a dedicated 3-week module for their project. Anticipated timeframe (exact dates TBC):

  • Students Review and Match to Projects: January 30, 2024
  • Onboarding Meeting: Early March
  • Project Check-Ins: 1-2x weekly
  • Final Presentations: End of March/Early April
  • Final Feedback Provided to Students: End of March/Early April
  • Project Wrap-up and submission of any final deliverables: Early April


Project timeline
  • February 24, 2025
    Experience start
  • April 5, 2025
    Experience end

Project Examples

Requirements

Types of Projects We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for projects where students can see how conservation is practiced in real-world situations. Some examples of suitable projects are:

  • Developing a plan to protect a species at risk that balances science and human factors like community values and politics.
  • Reviewing and improving a current conservation program or policy in Canada.
  • Designing a community outreach program that promotes biodiversity while addressing local concerns or traditions.

Projects Could Also Include:

Field Research and Data Collection: Participate in fieldwork or data collection related to conservation efforts. This could involve habitat assessments, biodiversity surveys, monitoring endangered species, or collecting data on ecosystem health.

Community Engagement in Conservation: Design and implement community engagement activities related to conservation. This could include organizing outreach events, developing educational materials, or collaborating with local stakeholders on conservation initiatives.

Policy Analysis and Advocacy: Analyze conservation policies at local, provincial, or national levels. This task would involve researching policy documents, identifying gaps or opportunities for improvement, and advocating for evidence-based conservation practices.


What We Need From You:

Each project should have a supervisor from your organization who can:

  • Present the project to students.
  • Meet with the student(s) to explain the project and help them get started.
  • Provide feedback and direction throughout the project.
  • Attend the final presentation.
  • Give feedback on the student’s work and skill development when the project ends.


Additional company criteria

Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:

Community Partners will provide a dedicated supervisor for the student or team of students on this project.

The supervisor will provide ongoing communication, project direction, and feedback, including feedback at the midway and end point of the project