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FSC-40029 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

FSC-40029 - Advanced Environmental and Wildlife Forensics
Coordinator: Adam Jeffery Tel: +44 1782 7 33170
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

FSC-30029

Description for 2025/26

Through this module, you will have the opportunity to apply your forensic expertise to environmental and wildlife crime, exploring advanced topics ranging from industrial contamination of land to the illegal trade of exotic animal products. We will equip you with the advanced skills to investigate environmental crime scenes, interrogate a range of natural and artificial evidence types, and to combine different types of data to protect the environment and wildlife in the U.K. and beyond.

Aims
This module aims to teach students key theoretical and practical procedures of environmental and wildlife forensics which helps to enforce regulation to protect the environment and wildlife in the UK and internationally

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/fsc-40029/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically evaluate and present the realised and potential role of natural and artificial materials, animals, plants and fungi in forensic investigation: 1,2,3
critically evaluate and apply the methods and procedures used in environmental and forensic wildlife crime scene investigation: 1,2,3
critically appraise the scale and nature of national and international environmental and wildlife crime and its links to other types of serious crime: 1,2,3

Study hours

Active learning hours:
Interactive Seminar Sessions - 24 Hours
Practical classes - 15 hours
Independent study hours:
Guided independent study - 111 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 40%
Group project
Group report. Students will, in groups, produce a 2500 word written report using data that they collect during an outdoor practical class.

2: Report weighted 40%
Trace evidence Report
Independent report. Students will produce a 2500 word written report using data derived from a choice of pre-collected datasets.

3: Website weighted 20%
Critical review of research area
Online-generated individual review of selected environmental / wildlife student-selected topic, equivalent to 1,000 words

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025