Course Introduction

Students who studied biogeography and/or conservation biology courses may have familiarized themselves with those classical theories and the golden cases addressed from their textbooks all so well; however, they might not sufficiently be aware of those relevant issues surrounding themselves. This course is to help students to learn more about in-depth and first-hand knowledge in biogeography, and the issues regarding nature conservation through a weekly journal club-style seminar with guest specialists from relevant fields. In this semester, the course will be taught jointly by faculty members from NTU, NMNS and NTNU with a focus on topics related to island biogeography and biodiversity conservation. The course is designed not only to enhance the students’ specialized knowledge in biogeography, but also to help the students accustom themselves reading and analyzing research papers critically. There will be no formal exams for the course; and the students’ performance will be evaluated through their attendance, levels of engagement in the discussion, and the quality of their group project presentation at the end of the semester.