We are facing an ecological crisis that threatens biological diversity and undermines the life-support system—the many essential ecological goods and services—provided to us by nature. This module will give an advanced-level treatment of the fundamental concepts and principles of the science of ecology that underpin our understanding of the natural world, the structure of biodiversity, and its responses to environmental change. A case-study / problem-based approach will be used to exemplify how an understanding of ecology is critical to predicting and mitigating the impacts of global environmental change, and in resolving the current ecological crisis. Content will be delivered via lectures, structured discussions and debates, and workshops and assessed by extended writing. Assessment will be through two components. The first is a group project based on critically evaluating the role of ecology in understanding and addressing an environmental problem. The second is via an in-person exam assessing knowledge about two topics at the forefront of modern ecological research, and one taking a broader perspective, synthesising across topics to address issues relating to ecology and sustainable futures.