The University of Plymouth is offering a module in Aquarium Sciences and Conservation (ASC), as part of its 12 month MRes degree in Applied Fish Biology.
Aquarium Sciences is one of several optional modules available on this course, the others being: Fish Health, Fish Nutrition, Fish Toxicology, and Advanced Laboratory techniques.
The modular teaching sessions span from October to December and include field visits and generic scientific training.
Then follows an extensive in-depth project that may be undertaken at the University or at another suitable host institution. There may be opportunities for students to study ornamental fishes for their project.
Plymouth's Master of Research (MRes) degree, one of the longest running of its kind, is taught by a variety of experts from both academia and industry.
The ASC module is led by Dr David Price, a fish geneticist who has a personal interest in catfishes and the ornamental aquatics industry.
Staff from the National Marine Aquarium plus Practical Fishkeeping's Dr Peter Burgess (sponsored by Aquarian fishfoods) also lecture on the course.
Several past-students have gone on to achieve senior positions in the aquatics industry, including some pursuing successful careers in aquatics lecturing.
Plymouth University, with its coastal location and strong links with the National Marine Aquarium and the Marine Biological Association, is ideally suited for those wishing to pursue a fish biology-based study programme.
For informal discussion on the academic content of the MRes course, contact Dr Richard Handy (Reader in Fish Toxicology), School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth. Tel. 01752 232900.