Biological and Geographical Sciences

With Climate Change, the global biosphere has entered a new and unchartered phase. To find solutions to this crisis, scientists need to better understand how organisms, ecosystems, and the environment interact together. This course brings these disciplines together over an advanced 4-year program. The core areas of biology and Geography covered by the program provide foundation knowledge across both disciplines and explore in different ways how the dynamic planet Earth supports such a diversity of climates, landforms, ecosystems, and species, and also how human activity is impacting all of these from a local to a global scale.

Training covers advanced technical skills in both disciplines, including geographical information systems; climate analysis; animal and plant science; molecular biology, and field-based methods; as well as advanced statistical analysis and data science. You will also learn key transferable skills for your later career, including independent thinking and analysis, advanced technical writing, presentation skills; group working, and leadership. By choosing this degree, you will benefit from the international strengths of both the Biology and Geography Departments and obtain integrated training in the applied areas of environmental data acquisition and experimental observation and analysis. The degree has been structured such that students have the option of taking at least 10 credits of both Physics and Chemistry in the early years, which satisfies the current Teaching Council requirement to teach Junior Certificate Science.

As part of a defined class group with shared interests, you will join a diverse and active body of students studying in both disciplines. The main strengths of this degree include the advanced technical competency and expertise available from staff at Maynooth, and the variety of module options for students, alongside supporting options in Physics, Chemistry, Data Science, and Statistics that provide options such as the pursuit of a science teaching career.