ESC-30056 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

none

Barred Combinations

none

Description for 2026/27

Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment provides in-depth knowledge and understanding of the principles and practises that crucially underpin many environmental monitoring, regulation and assessment regimes. Upon successful completion of this module students will have the knowledge and skills to conduct ecotoxicology protocols (both aquatic and terrestrial), construct and interpret dose response curves, source and evaluate ecotoxicology data, write risk assessment reports and write a journal article based on investigations conducted by them.

To provide a detailed understanding of ecotoxicology principles and practises and the science that underpins the discipline. To provide an in-depth understanding of how ecotoxicology data, once generated, is used to carry out environmental risk assessments and to generate environmental quality standards (EQS) that are critically important in environmental monitoring and assessment regimes.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically assess and explain in detail a variety of ecotoxicology protocols and the scientific principles that underpin them: 1,2
construct and interpret dose response curves depicting biological responses to an applied stress: 2
describe and comment on the ethical principles that guide ecotoxicology practises: 2
source, compile and critically evaluate ecotoxicity data: 1
use compiled ecotox data to conduct an environmental risk assessment and communicate the outcomes via a risk assessment report: 1

Study hours

9h lectures
5h computer based practical sessions
9h laboratory based practical sessions
1h discussion workshop
126h directed and private study, including set reading and assessment preparation.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment