| Unit name | Animal Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOLM0043 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Andy Radford |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Biological Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
Natural history films provide some of the most popular content on television and constitute a tremendous tool to share our passion for the natural world and encourage the general public to care and protect the planet. However, natural history film-makers often lack the scientific background to critically evaluate the content they present and make the most of the latest scientific understanding. In this unit, you will learn from leading behavioural ecologists and their research groups about their cutting-edge research in a range of research areas, have opportunities to pursue your own interests in animal behaviour, produce fresh and innovative films that move beyond the status quo, and embark on your journey to become a prizewinning filmmaker of the future. Working in partnership with world-acclaimed filmmakers (including BBC, Netflix, Apple TV), we will equip you with the tools allowing you to critically assess both scientific and journalistic content to build meaningful, intricate natural history stories with the potential of delivering powerful messages that underpin societal change.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This compulsory unit in Teaching Block 2 provides direct access to some of the leading natural history filmmakers in the world. In addition to critically appraising and then making some amazing films, you will explore the impact of filmmaking on crews, and the responsibility of filmmakers in how their films influence audiences. This will link to the exploration of ExoAnxiety in society in the Resilient Communicator unit, and the power of engaging and scientifically-rigorous storytelling in the Science in Society unit. Furthermore, we expect that several of you each year will seek placements and internships with natural history production companies in Bristol and internationally for your Science Communication Projects.
An overview of content
This unit is divided into three blocks, each one grounded in a contemporary topic in behavioural ecology (e.g. social behaviour, sensory ecology, animal communication), which explore the evolution, current challenges in deepening storytelling, and the future of natural history filmmaking working more closely the scientific community:
At the start of each block, in science-focused workshops, you will meet scientists at the cutting edge of animal behaviour research, including those working on group-living, sensory ecology and community-level interspecific interactions. You will hear from world experts and their research teams working in remote field, urban and laboratory conditions to advance your own scientific understanding of animal behaviour, and explore how new knowledge can be applied to wildlife conservation and for understanding human behaviour.
With advice and training from filmmakers, in groups you will develop ideas and storyboards, and then film and edit short films that communicate the animal behaviour stories you have found most exciting, producing content for various identified audiences. You will be encouraged to provide peer-to-peer feedback to build your own editorial and critical skillset that you can apply to your own work. Within each block, you will also attend critical film screenings to track the progression of the filmmaking industry, and examine traditional and contemporary methods of storytelling. Following group discussions, you will each produce your own critical review of a film.
Working alongside filmmakers, you will explore the potential for deriving new science understanding from natural history films, including developing and testing hypotheses about animal behaviour during filming, examining footage from the field to formally quantify and characterise behavioural interactions, and analysing data derived from films to test accepted knowledge and advance scientific understanding.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
After this unit you will have a richer understanding of the concepts, experimental methods and burning questions in the field of behavioural ecology. You will develop a broad knowledge of how natural history films have changed through the decades, including identifying your own ideas on exciting future directions for communicating behaviour and building stronger narratives that instil deeper understanding. You will feel confident to work at the interface of science and filmmaking, cultivating stronger links that push the boundaries of human knowledge and create exciting films.
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, you will learn key skills that support your development as an effective communicator:
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
During the first four weeks of the Animal Behaviour unit, you will be formatively assessed through co-production of a natural history film sequence, where in groups you will research an exciting animal behaviour story, develop creative ideas for the sequences, storyboard the film shoot, capture film and audio, edit the film and audio, and write and record the narration. Your sequence will be part of a full episode, that combines the sequences of all the groups to tell a bigger-picture story. You will receive verbal feedback from guest filmmakers and academics, and you will also be trained to critically assess the work of other groups to develop skills in giving supportive peer-to-peer feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
During the unit you will attend a series of critical screenings of films from different eras, and with contrasting styles of storytelling (e.g. entertainment, education, wonder, comedy, campaigning). In the final four weeks of the Animal Behaviour unit, you will be summatively assessed through the production of a written critical review of a chosen film, where you will assess the science content, fit to audience, rigour, entertainment and impact. You will receive written feedback from academic staff, and generalised verbal feedback given to the whole class.
When assessment does not go to plan
The summative assessment is an individual assignment, so if you are unable to submit due to exceptional circumstances or pass at the first attempt, you may be allowed to work with a new topic and resubmit with an agreed revised deadline.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOLM0043).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
