Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Biology

Basic skills

• Demonstrating an understanding of the processes behind the persistence and diversification of biological systems in relation to a natural or humanised environment, and the effects these biological systems have on this environment through the identification of organisation levels of organisms, populations, species and community; as well as the physiological processes that determine how organisms respond to their environment, and the processes that integrate the functions of living beings and an abiotic environment as a whole (ecosystem).
• Applying these skills and knowledge to a professional context dealing with living beings and their relationship with the environment through the creation and defence of arguments and the resolution of problems having to do with the conservation and management of biodiversity.
• Compiling and interpreting relevant data on biodiversity and the functioning of biological systems with the aim of identifying and finding solutions to problems related to their assessment, conservation and management, and communicating how these solutions can be applied by social agents.
• Transmitting information, ideas and procedures; clearly communicating problems and solutions orally or in writing to both general audiences and specialised publics from the field of biosciences and particularly of environmental biology.
• Developing the learning skills needed to continue with quality specialised training in scientific or technological disciplines.

Specific skills

• Demonstrating basic knowledge of mathematics, physics and chemistry.
• Identifying organisms and recognising the different levels of biological organisation.
• Identifying and interpreting the diversity in species in a specific environment.
• Cataloguing, assessing and managing natural biological resources.
• Recognising and analysing phylogenetic relations.
• Obtaining, observing, managing, cultivating and conserving specimens.
• Sampling, characterising and manipulating populations and ecosystems.
• Integrating knowledge of different organisational levels of organisms and how they operate.
• Understanding the bases of regulation of vital functions of organisms through internal and external factors, and identifying environmental adaptation mechanisms.

Transversal skills

• Developing analysis and synthesis skills.
• Obtaining information, designing experiments and interpreting results.
• Developing planning and organisation skills.
• Communicating orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of a foreign language (English).
• Applying computer resources used in a specific research field.
• Managing information.
• Solving problems.
• Making decisions.

Knowledge

• Define the concepts and methods in the field of environmental biology, such as ecology, animal and plant biology and their physiology related to environmental changes.
• Describe the different levels of organization of living beings, identifying them from the molecular scale to ecosystems.
• Describe the functioning and relationships of living beings according to the ecosystem in which they are found.
• Describe the development, growth and biological cycles of living beings.
• Identify animal and plant diversity using different methodologies and tools (macroscopic, microscopic and molecular).
• Describe the basic relationship processes of living beings with the environment, and their response to climate and environmental changes.
• Identify mathematical, statistical and bioinformatics tools applied to problem solving in the field of environmental biology.
• Identify valid and reliable sources of scientific information to support the state of the art of the main current biological-environmental challenges and to be able to address their resolution.

Skills

• Apply the most current methodologies and knowledge from the different branches of environmental biology (ecology, conservation biology, environmental physiology, etc.) to the resolution of specific environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change or pollution.
• Apply biostatistics and bioinformatics resources in the analysis and interpretation of ecological data.
• Apply the appropriate methodologies to observe, conserve, identify and characterise plant and animal organisms.
• Plan specific sampling and experiments of the different branches of environmental biology for later realization. 
• Apply the appropriate methodologies to analyse the dynamics of populations and communities in natural ecosystems, establishing relationships between them, with other organisms and with the environment. 
• To analyse the origin, evolution and diversity of living beings.  Conduct studies of characterization, management, conservation, and restoration of populations, communities, and biological ecosystems. 
• Communicate and disseminate biological-environmental information in a clear and synthetic way at different levels, using the appropriate language and tools for an expert and non-expert audience. 
• Critically examine scientific information and databases related to the environment and the main contemporary biological-environmental challenges.

Competences

• To propose changes in the methods and processes in the field of environmental biology in order to provide innovative responses to the environmental needs and demands of the planet and to ensure the sustainability of the activities of today's society.
• To act in the professional field of environmental biology by critically assessing the social, economic and environmental impact.
• Act in the field of environmental biology with ethical responsibility and with respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
• To act in the field of environmental biology by assessing inequalities based on sex/gender. 
• Communicate biological and environmental knowledge objectively and clearly, orally and in writing, to both a specialised and non-specialised audience. 
• Demonstrate initiative, proactivity and ability to adapt to new challenges within the field of environmental biology.
• Design conservation, management and restoration projects, as well as advisory services, in the different fields of environmental biology. 
• Integrate the knowledge of the Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Biology in a professional environment, within multidisciplinary teams, developing personal values and teamwork.