Environmental Biology

Explore contemporary environmental issues in this unique program.

Environmental and ecological issues, biological modelling, wildlife and fish biology, plant and animal physiology, limnology and biogeochemistry are just some of the areas you can explore in our environmental biology program.

Learn how to monitor, assess and manage the use of natural resources, apply mapping and remote sensing techniques, and conduct research.

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology is a joint program with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Lethbridge College, and Lakeland College. Students must first complete one of the following two year diplomas:

• Diploma of Integrated Resource Management at Saskatchewan Polytechnic
• Diploma in Renewable Resource Management at Lethbridge Polytechnic
• Diploma in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation or Conservation and Restoration Ecology at Lakeland College

Then, you can apply to the U of R to complete another two years to earn your Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology.

The U of R’s Biology department has one Tier-1 Canada Research Chair, several NSERC panel members, and editors and associate editors of key Canadian and international scientific journals. Several of our biology professors are recognized leaders in undergraduate education.

Graduates go on to a variety of careers in both the private and public sectors, applying the knowledge and hands-on learning experiences they gained from their program.

What is Environmental Biology?

Environmental biology is the scientific study of how living organisms interact with their environment, and the impacts of human activities on ecosystems and the species that live in them. It is similar to ecology.

Environmental biologists monitor environmental conditions and conduct environmental impact assessments for development projects. They also plan and maintain monitoring and data collection programs. This involves substantial field work, such as collecting water and soil samples. Environmental biologists analyze the chemical and biological data from the samples they've collected using mathematical and statistical techniques.

Some specialty courses in environmental biology at the U of R include:

Conservation Biology

Conservation Biology examines processes that affect biodiversity. The goal of the course is to apply principles of ecology and evolution to understand the importance of biodiversity and the significance of recent human-induced changes.

Limnology

Limnology is the study of physical and chemical characteristics of lakes and streams, including the ecology of aquatic organisms, food-web interactions in lakes, and the human impact on freshwater ecosystems. Includes field work.

Animal Behaviour

Animal Behaviour is an evolutionary approach to the study of the behaviour and ecology of individual animals. There is compulsory field work for one week before lectures begin; most of the lab work is done during the pre-semester field trip to the Cypress Hills Field Station.

Modelling Biological Data

Modelling Biological Data is a guide to contemporary methods for fitting quantitative models to biological data. This course emphasizes practical skills in using software for implementing models, testing hypotheses, and making predictions about biological and ecological systems.

Global Biogeochemistry

Global Biogeochemistry is an in-depth examination of elemental cycles within the context of global change. Topics include the biogeochemical properties of water, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, some contaminants, and the ways that anthropogenic activities have altered the behaviour and movement of these elements.