Endangerment is an ecological fact – new studies delve into biodiversity loss
Nature Under Threat is a set of two new courses in JYUOpen's course selection. The free-of-charge online courses provide insight into the ecological and social phenomena surrounding endangerment.
The courses (1 ECTS each) are available to study online at one's own pace.
- ign up from 6 February
- Nature Under Threat 2: Red-List Assessments in Finland and Globally – sign-up available in April
Course 1 is available for sign-up and study right now. Course 2 will become available for sign-up in May 2023.
The courses are also available in Finnish.
Key expertise in conservation
"Endangerment is an ecological fact that carries many implications for society. These courses delve into the deterioration of nature in light of the latest scientific research and explore conservation methods that have been found to be effective," says Postdoctoral Researcher Kaisa Raatikainen, who created the new studies.
Assessing the level of endangerment of species and ecosystems is a key tool in measuring biodiversity loss, directing conservation and following the impacts of conservation actions.
"We examine the concept of endangerment, how it is assessed as well as what kind of factors pose a threat to different species and ecosystems," Raatikainen elaborates on the content of the courses.
The subject matter is grave, but we take a solution-oriented approach to it.
"The subject matter is grave, but we take a solution-oriented approach to it."
Courses suitable for all
The Nature Under Threat courses are a good fit for anyone interested in nature and its current state. The first course requires no pre-existing knowledge.
"These courses would be of interest to students of environmental sciences, to high school students as a biology elective, or to those working with sustainability issues in companies and municipalities," lists Senior Lecturer Panu Halme, who is the teacher in charge of the Nature Under Threat courses.
The initial spark for the development of the new courses came from a collaboration between the universities of Jyväskylä, Helsinki, Turku, Eastern Finland and Oulu as well as the Finnish Museum of Natural History. The courses are included in the course selection of the .
"The Nature Under Threat courses serve to further complement the sustainability studies that JYU Open University has previously introduced, for example the Planetary Wellbeing studies, by focusing even more squarely on endangerment," says Halme.
