Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environments, which is central to understanding the diversity and organisation of life at the main recognised levels (genes, species and ecosystems). Conservation biology seeks to understand human impacts on these natural patterns and processes, and to devise practical means to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions such as how nutrients move through nature. The escalating global crisis in biodiversity loss is regarded by many people as the most critical and pressing issue ever to face humanity. Students of Ecology and conservation biology at Monash will engage with the key principles of the discipline, underpinning the exploration of the broad range of fascinating and practically important biological questions that can be addressed by the study of biodiversity. Because lecturing staff are also high quality researchers and teaching occurs in advanced laboratory and field settings, the curriculum is able to address the latest methodologies, technologies and analyses.

---