Master in Biology of Organisms and Ecology, Teaching focus
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Schedule
regular course
- ECTS Credits 120
Point of attention |
In 2024-2025, you still have the opportunity to start a didactic finality. From September 2025, to enter teacher training from the 4th year of secondary education, you must:
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Solve novel problems in modern environmental biology, participate in increasing understanding of how living organisms function in their environment at different levels of integration using cutting-edge techniques, communicate and pass on knowledge... these are just some of the challenges you'll face as professionals in organismal biology and ecology.
Your objectives
- react to environmental and biodiversity issues;
- understand the functioning, conservation and evolution of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems;
- apprehend the evolution of ecosystems and organisms;
- carry out field observations and experimental research;
- master modern technologies, from molecular tools to satellite image interpretation;
- acquire practical training that is decisive on the job market.
The benefits of training
- problems at the heart of current affairs;
- a personalized path and guidance towards a professional project;
- a wide choice of modules, in French or English, organized on two campuses;
- field observations and laboratory work;
- modern techniques: molecular biology, GIS, digital ecology...;
- a long research project: dissertation spread over 10 months;
- a 4-month professional internship teaching biology in secondary school;
- the possibility of completing your internship or dissertation abroad.
The program
The Master in Organismal Biology and Ecology is co-organized by the University of Namur and UCLouvain. Registration for this master's degree is exclusively at UCLouvain.
The originality of this master's degree is that it addresses modern issues in organismal biology and ecology, reconciling terrestrial and aquatic environments, long studied separately.
The different levels of biological integration (molecular, cellular, biochemical, physiological, behavioral, population, community and ecosystem) are brought into relation with each other using cutting-edge techniques (genomics, epigenetics, modeling, GIS...).
The comparative approach makes it possible to investigate diversified biological systems in the animal and plant kingdoms as well as in microorganisms, while avoiding a focus on a small number of model species.
You choose three modules from the eight on offer
- Conservation and restoration biology
- Ecotoxicology
- Molecular ecology
- Functional genomics and physiology
- Landscape and movement ecology
- Ecology and management of aquatic environments
- Applied ecology and evolution
- Interaction ecology
By selecting the didactic purpose, you are directing your future profession towards teaching in the upper cycle of secondary education.
Other master's degrees in biology
The University of Namur organizes
- the master's degree in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology
- the master in organismal biology and ecology
- the master in molecular microbiology
- the master 60 in biological sciences
- the master in biology education
- 120 credits - section 4 (from 2025)
- 60 credits - section 5 (from 2025)
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 LBIRE2102 Applied geomatics 30h th. + 22.5h ex. 4 4 LGEO1343 Earth observation by satellite 30h th. + 30h ex. 5 5 LGEO2140 Global environmental challenges in the Anthropocene 30h th. + 30h ex. 5 5 LBRAT2101 Town and country planning 45h th. + 15h ex. 5 5 LBRTI2101A Data Science in bioscience engineering - Partim A : spatial and temporal data 22.5h th. + 15h ex. 3 3 SGOGB201 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems DUJARDIN Sébastien Linard Catherine 15h th. + 20h ex. 4 4 SGOGB301 Modelling and analysis of geographic information Linard Catherine BROGNA Delphine 20h th. + 30h ex. 4 4 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 LAGRE2221 Learning and teaching with new technologies and exercises 15h th. + 15h ex. 2 LAGRE2310 Micro-teaching exercises 15h th. 2 LGEO2330 Geography didactics seminar 30h ex. 5 LSCI2330 Science didactics research seminar 15h th. + 30h ex. 5 LMAT2330 Seminar on the didactics of mathematics 15h th. + 30h ex. 4 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 WSBIM2290 Introduction to the science of laboratory animals 37h th. 3 3 SFCMM101 Training in animal experimentation at technician level: techniques, alternative methods, legislation and ethics 40h th. 4 4 SFCMM201 Training of master animal handlers 40h th. 4 4 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 Soft skillsMGESM203_P33787 <unknown> Latiers Mélanie 12h th. 2 2 LDROP2063 Sectoral Environmental Law - Droit sectoriel de l'environnement 30h th. 5 5 LDROP2102 Intellectual rights and new technologies 30h th. 5 5 SBIOM119 Human resources management Vincent Béatrice 15h th. 2 LDROP2061 General environmental and living environment law 30h th. 5 5 LDROP2101 Management of Intellectual Property Rights 30h th. 5 5
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 FAGRM402 Psychopedagogy I Vanmeerhaeghe Sophie Biemar Sandrine 30h th. + 20h ex. 4 Soft skillsSAGRM211 Secondary school biology teaching internships 35h ex. 6 FAGRM401 School education and society Biemar Sandrine 30h th. + 10h ex. 4 Soft skillsSAGRM203 Didactics and Epistemology of Biology I Vervoort Arnaud 30h th. + 10h ex. 3 FAGRM409 Foundations of neutrality TILMAN Valérie 20h th. 2 FAGRM406 Educational psychology II Vanmeerhaeghe Sophie Biemar Sandrine 30h th. + 10h ex. 3 Soft skillsSAGRM206 Didactics and Epistemology of Biology II Vervoort Arnaud 30h th. 3 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 SAGRM204_P34490 Didactics and Epistemology of Chemistry I DEHON Jérémy 30h th. 3 Soft skillsSAGRM202_P34492 Didactics and Epistemology of Physics I Dias De Carvalho Junior Gabriel 30h th. 3 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 FAGRM403 Education in new teaching and learning technologies Dumortier Laurence 15h th. 2 FAGRM405 Introduction to tutoring practices 4h th. + 11h ex. 2 SAGRM213 Didactical Comparison between Experimental Sciences and Mathematics Henry Valérie Vervoort Arnaud Dias De Carvalho Junior Gabriel 15h th. 2 FAGRM404 Analysis of practices Biemar Sandrine 8h th. + 7h ex. 2 SAGRM214 Management and implementation of a chemistry laboratory in secondary education 15h ex. 2 SSPSB202_P34495 History of science Sartenaer Olivier 15h th. 2 FAGRM407 Examining the relational and emotional aspects of the teaching profession Fischer Line Biemar Sandrine 10h th. + 5h ex. 2
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 SBOEM297 Master thesis 22 LBOE2191 Ecology and society 24h th. 3 SBOEM111 Evolution Dennis Alice 24h th. 2 SBOEM112 Data analysis and modeling of biological systems 24h th. + 36h ex. 5 LBOE2113 Scientific and Professional Communication in English 15h ex. 3 LBOE2196 Experimental design Bihin Benoît 12h th. + 18h ex. 2 SBOEM197 Introduction to scientific research 8 SBOEM108 Field courses - aquatic ecology 45h ex. 2 LBOE2109 Field placement - terrestrial ecology 45h ex. 2 LGEO1342A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) partim 24h th. + 24h ex. 4 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 SSPSM101 Science, ethics and development Leyens Stéphane TILMAN Valérie 18h th. + 6h ex. 3 LFILO2003E Ethical issues in science and technology (seminar section) 15h th. + 15h ex. 2 LSC2001 Introduction to contemporary philosophy 30h th. 2 LSC2220 Philosophy of science 30h th. 2 MSBMM113 Bioethics Ravez Laurent 20h th. 2 SSPSM203 Philosophy of Life Sciences Leyens Stéphane 12h th. 3 LTHEO2840 Science and the Christian faith 15h th. 2
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 LBOE2120 Biodiversity conservation 36h th. + 12h ex. 4 4 LBOE2125 Biodiversity and people 24h th. 2 2 LBOE2141 Restoration ecology 12h th. + 12h ex. 2 2 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 LBOE2160 Ecology of interactions 24h th. 2 2 LBOE2161 Behavioural ecology 24h th. + 12h ex. 3 3 LBOE2168 Plant-environment interactions 24h th. + 12h ex. 3 3 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 LBOE2150 Movement ecology 24h th. + 12h ex. 4 4 LBOE2140 Landscape Ecology 24h th. + 24h ex. 4 4 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 SBOEM124 Molecular Ecology Dennis Alice 36h th. + 56h ex. 8 8 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 LBOE2185 Evolutionary Applications 20h th. 2 2 LBOE2166 Biological fight 12h th. + 24h ex. 3 3 SBOEM237 Bioindicators of pollution De Laender Frederik 24h th. + 12h ex. 3 3 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 SBOEM170 Advances in applied and basic ecotoxicology 48h th. + 32h ex. 6 SBOEM162 Ecotoxicology of Populations, Communities and Ecosystems De Laender Frederik 12h th. + 12h ex. 2 2 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 SBOEM165 Evolutionary Genomics and Transcriptomics Dennis Alice 30h th. + 18h ex. 4 4 SBOEM169 Ecological Proteomics and Epigenetics Silvestre Frédéric 30h th. + 18h ex. 4 4 -
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Code Name Staff Th.+Ex. Credits/Block 1 2 3 SBOEM142 Ecology of natural and disturbed aquatic environments De Laender Frederik 12h th. + 20h ex. 2 2 SBOEM123 Aquatic Biodiversity KESTEMONT Patrick De Laender Frederik 12h th. + 24h ex. 3 3 SBOEM144 Management of fisheries and aquaculture resources KESTEMONT Patrick 18h th. + 12h ex. 3 3
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBIRE2102 Applied geomatics 4 30h th. + 22.5h ex. LGEO1343 Earth observation by satellite 5 30h th. + 30h ex. LGEO2140 Global environmental challenges in the Anthropocene 5 30h th. + 30h ex. LBRAT2101 Town and country planning 5 45h th. + 15h ex. LBRTI2101A Data Science in bioscience engineering - Partim A : spatial and temporal data 3 22.5h th. + 15h ex. SGOGB201 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems DUJARDIN Sébastien Linard Catherine 4 15h th. + 20h ex. SGOGB301 Modelling and analysis of geographic information Linard Catherine BROGNA Delphine 4 20h th. + 30h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 WSBIM2290 Introduction to the science of laboratory animals 3 37h th. SFCMM101 Training in animal experimentation at technician level: techniques, alternative methods, legislation and ethics 4 40h th. SFCMM201 Training of master animal handlers 4 40h th. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 Soft skillsMGESM203_P33787 <unknown> Latiers Mélanie 2 12h th. LDROP2063 Sectoral Environmental Law - Droit sectoriel de l'environnement 5 30h th. LDROP2102 Intellectual rights and new technologies 5 30h th. SBIOM119 Human resources management Vincent Béatrice 2 15h th. LDROP2061 General environmental and living environment law 5 30h th. LDROP2101 Management of Intellectual Property Rights 5 30h th.
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2191 Ecology and society 3 24h th. SBOEM111 Evolution Dennis Alice 2 24h th. SBOEM112 Data analysis and modeling of biological systems 5 24h th. + 36h ex. LBOE2113 Scientific and Professional Communication in English 3 15h ex. LBOE2196 Experimental design Bihin Benoît 2 12h th. + 18h ex. SBOEM197 Introduction to scientific research 8 SBOEM108 Field courses - aquatic ecology 2 45h ex. LBOE2109 Field placement - terrestrial ecology 2 45h ex. LGEO1342A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) partim 4 24h th. + 24h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SSPSM101 Science, ethics and development Leyens Stéphane TILMAN Valérie 3 18h th. + 6h ex. LFILO2003E Ethical issues in science and technology (seminar section) 2 15h th. + 15h ex. LSC2001 Introduction to contemporary philosophy 2 30h th. LSC2220 Philosophy of science 2 30h th. MSBMM113 Bioethics Ravez Laurent 2 20h th. SSPSM203 Philosophy of Life Sciences Leyens Stéphane 3 12h th. LTHEO2840 Science and the Christian faith 2 15h th.
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2120 Biodiversity conservation 4 36h th. + 12h ex. LBOE2125 Biodiversity and people 2 24h th. LBOE2141 Restoration ecology 2 12h th. + 12h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2160 Ecology of interactions 2 24h th. LBOE2161 Behavioural ecology 3 24h th. + 12h ex. LBOE2168 Plant-environment interactions 3 24h th. + 12h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2150 Movement ecology 4 24h th. + 12h ex. LBOE2140 Landscape Ecology 4 24h th. + 24h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM124 Molecular Ecology Dennis Alice 8 36h th. + 56h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2185 Evolutionary Applications 2 20h th. LBOE2166 Biological fight 3 12h th. + 24h ex. SBOEM237 Bioindicators of pollution De Laender Frederik 3 24h th. + 12h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM170 Advances in applied and basic ecotoxicology 6 48h th. + 32h ex. SBOEM162 Ecotoxicology of Populations, Communities and Ecosystems De Laender Frederik 2 12h th. + 12h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM165 Evolutionary Genomics and Transcriptomics Dennis Alice 4 30h th. + 18h ex. SBOEM169 Ecological Proteomics and Epigenetics Silvestre Frédéric 4 30h th. + 18h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM142 Ecology of natural and disturbed aquatic environments De Laender Frederik 2 12h th. + 20h ex. SBOEM123 Aquatic Biodiversity KESTEMONT Patrick De Laender Frederik 3 12h th. + 24h ex. SBOEM144 Management of fisheries and aquaculture resources KESTEMONT Patrick 3 18h th. + 12h ex.
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SGOGB201 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems DUJARDIN Sébastien Linard Catherine 4 15h th. + 20h ex. LBRTI2101A Data Science in bioscience engineering - Partim A : spatial and temporal data 3 22.5h th. + 15h ex. LGEO2140 Global environmental challenges in the Anthropocene 5 30h th. + 30h ex. LBRAT2101 Town and country planning 5 45h th. + 15h ex. LGEO1343 Earth observation by satellite 5 30h th. + 30h ex. LBIRE2102 Applied geomatics 4 30h th. + 22.5h ex. SGOGB301 Modelling and analysis of geographic information Linard Catherine BROGNA Delphine 4 20h th. + 30h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LAGRE2221 Learning and teaching with new technologies and exercises 2 15h th. + 15h ex. LAGRE2310 Micro-teaching exercises 2 15h th. LGEO2330 Geography didactics seminar 5 30h ex. LSCI2330 Science didactics research seminar 5 15h th. + 30h ex. LMAT2330 Seminar on the didactics of mathematics 4 15h th. + 30h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SFCMM101 Training in animal experimentation at technician level: techniques, alternative methods, legislation and ethics 4 40h th. WSBIM2290 Introduction to the science of laboratory animals 3 37h th. SFCMM201 Training of master animal handlers 4 40h th. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LDROP2101 Management of Intellectual Property Rights 5 30h th. LDROP2102 Intellectual rights and new technologies 5 30h th. LDROP2061 General environmental and living environment law 5 30h th. Soft skillsMGESM203_P33787 <unknown> Latiers Mélanie 2 12h th. LDROP2063 Sectoral Environmental Law - Droit sectoriel de l'environnement 5 30h th.
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 FAGRM402 Psychopedagogy I Vanmeerhaeghe Sophie Biemar Sandrine 4 30h th. + 20h ex. Soft skillsSAGRM211 Secondary school biology teaching internships 6 35h ex. FAGRM401 School education and society Biemar Sandrine 4 30h th. + 10h ex. Soft skillsSAGRM203 Didactics and Epistemology of Biology I Vervoort Arnaud 3 30h th. + 10h ex. FAGRM409 Foundations of neutrality TILMAN Valérie 2 20h th. FAGRM406 Educational psychology II Vanmeerhaeghe Sophie Biemar Sandrine 3 30h th. + 10h ex. Soft skillsSAGRM206 Didactics and Epistemology of Biology II Vervoort Arnaud 3 30h th. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SAGRM204_P34490 Didactics and Epistemology of Chemistry I DEHON Jérémy 3 30h th. Soft skillsSAGRM202_P34492 Didactics and Epistemology of Physics I Dias De Carvalho Junior Gabriel 3 30h th. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 FAGRM403 Education in new teaching and learning technologies Dumortier Laurence 2 15h th. FAGRM405 Introduction to tutoring practices 2 4h th. + 11h ex. SAGRM213 Didactical Comparison between Experimental Sciences and Mathematics Henry Valérie Vervoort Arnaud Dias De Carvalho Junior Gabriel 2 15h th. FAGRM404 Analysis of practices Biemar Sandrine 2 8h th. + 7h ex. SAGRM214 Management and implementation of a chemistry laboratory in secondary education 2 15h ex. SSPSB202_P34495 History of science Sartenaer Olivier 2 15h th. FAGRM407 Examining the relational and emotional aspects of the teaching profession Fischer Line Biemar Sandrine 2 10h th. + 5h ex.
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM297 Master thesis 22 -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2141 Restoration ecology 2 12h th. + 12h ex. LBOE2125 Biodiversity and people 2 24h th. LBOE2120 Biodiversity conservation 4 36h th. + 12h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2160 Ecology of interactions 2 24h th. LBOE2168 Plant-environment interactions 3 24h th. + 12h ex. LBOE2161 Behavioural ecology 3 24h th. + 12h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 LBOE2140 Landscape Ecology 4 24h th. + 24h ex. LBOE2150 Movement ecology 4 24h th. + 12h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM124 Molecular Ecology Dennis Alice 8 36h th. + 56h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM237 Bioindicators of pollution De Laender Frederik 3 24h th. + 12h ex. LBOE2166 Biological fight 3 12h th. + 24h ex. LBOE2185 Evolutionary Applications 2 20h th. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM162 Ecotoxicology of Populations, Communities and Ecosystems De Laender Frederik 2 12h th. + 12h ex. -
<unknown>
Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM169 Ecological Proteomics and Epigenetics Silvestre Frédéric 4 30h th. + 18h ex. SBOEM165 Evolutionary Genomics and Transcriptomics Dennis Alice 4 30h th. + 18h ex. -
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Code Name Staff Credits Hours/Quarter 1 2 SBOEM123 Aquatic Biodiversity KESTEMONT Patrick De Laender Frederik 3 12h th. + 24h ex. SBOEM142 Ecology of natural and disturbed aquatic environments De Laender Frederik 2 12h th. + 20h ex. SBOEM144 Management of fisheries and aquaculture resources KESTEMONT Patrick 3 18h th. + 12h ex.
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Professions of experts in organismal biology and ecology
On completion of this Master's degree, you will be suitable for scientific employment on the national and international markets, particularly in research institutions, nature conservation organizations, governmental or non-governmental agencies, as well as private companies.
Your ability to model and understand phenomena in depth, your taste for research and your scientific rigor will be in demand not only in the scientific professions (research, development, teaching...), but in society as a whole.
Examples of career opportunities:
- researchers at universities or public research centers,
- teachers in secondary schools and colleges,
- eco-educators,
- scientific experts,
- environmental consultants,
- experts in ecotoxicology - REACH,
- ....
I manage a river contract in southern Belgium, within a nature park financed by European funds. Setting up a river contract involves convincing many partners with often divergent interests. I have to promote the project, notably by publishing brochures. I organize awareness-raising activities, such as courses for children. Administrative and financial management, as well as fund-raising, take up a good part of my time.
Nicolas, graduate