FIELD SKILLS

Our Field Sciences Course has been running annually since 2018 in Southern Africa, designed exclusively for biology, geography, environmental and related science students. Our Curricula is practical-based, gaining you a real foundation for careers across field-based wildlife research, conservation or media work.

Explore your
curiosity

Our field curricular focuses on habitat surveying, species ID, camera trapping, field genetics, animal tracking, and how to plan & carry out a remote field expedition. Our Field Courses partner with local conservation research organisations, giving you real insights into the daily challenges of a conservation & research project in the field!

Survey Methods

Undertaking a mapping & biodiversity survey “bioblitz” project, learning the use of qGIS, habitat sampling methods, and wildlife survey techniques for vertebrates & invertebrates (both active and passive searches).

RF & Satellite Tracking

Actively learn how to track animals using radio & satellite telemetry on collared or tagged animals. For use in wildlife conservation monitoring projects & behavioural studies.

Spoor IDs

Identified animal spoor (tracks & faeces) in real-life scenarios down to a species level by expert trackers and how to collect data from them such as DNA and hormone sampling.

Community Conservation

Be authentically emersed into the local communities and culture, learning first-hand the realities faced within human-wildlife conflict areas. You will learn how to design your own community conservation initiative.

Field Logistics

Spent 7 nights in remote field sites & community areas (on 4 separate field trips) actively being a part of the research team with assigned roles and real responsibilities.

Camera Trapping

Learn how to set & collect camera traps in the field on a large-scale live research project. Back at base you will learn how to scientifically analyse the data.

Safety in the Field

Workshops and in-situ scenarios to learn safety procedures & methods in the field and working around potentially dangerous wildlife.

Wildlife Veterinary

Learn about the use of administering anasthesia and other drugs in the field for conservation purposes, such as attaching a satellite collar or removing a snare from an injured animal.

DNA Sampling

Applied traditional methods for species identification across vertebrate and invertebrate groups. Plus sampling of DNA for analysis.

OUR CONSERVATION
PARTNER

Painted Dog Research Trust (PDRT) was founded in the strong belief that good conservation must be underpinned by sound science. Based just outside of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, PDRT is situated in a landscape mosaic of national parks, forestry, private safari area and communal lands. The field-based conservation ecology centre for data driven trans-boundary research serves as the headquarters for PDRT.

How to Apply?

If you are a current university student wishing to enrol in the Programme, please fill in the details by enquiring for further information on the course and the application process.