The purpose of the Master’s Degree in Conservation Medicine of Aquatic Animals is preparing professionals who possess the right competencies to manage aquatic vertebrate species, through a “One Health” conservation approach. One of the goals is combining international outstanding professionals into a single context, thus allowing attendees to develop a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to data, information and research management, within the marine species conservation field, with particular focus on those included in European directives. Moreover, it provides the cultural means to draft management and conservation plans in protected marine areas, Natura 2000 sites, or sites with particular conflicts with human activities.
The activities of the Master in Conservation Medicine of Aquatic Animals, divided into modules, focus on the following topics:
- Introduction to conservative medicine
- Policies, regulation and management of marine vertebrates conservation
- Conservation ecology and biology
- Anatomy, pathology and interaction of marine vertebrates with human activities
- Analytical diagnostic procedures in veterinary medicine and biology
- Stranding and environmental disaster management
- Veterinary medicine applied to marine vertebrates
- Project and communication management
The Master in Conservation Medicine of Aquatic Animals provides basic competencies and the understanding skills required by an efficient conservation medicine professional, making attendees capable of developing solutions to health and environmental issues.
The program provides knowledge on conservation medicine, focusing on the interaction between animals, humans and marine ecosystems; on the acquisition of specific veterinary and biological competencies, applicable to conservation medicine; on understanding how a conservative approach may be applied to practical situations in a marine environment; on how to interpret and communicate scientific results and information, also toward other scientific fields and different stakeholders.
Trained veterinaries, biologists and other professionals can work in NGOs, public administrations and government institutions, research and academic institutes, international and inter-governmental agreements.
The Master in Conservation Medicine of Aquatic Animals includes a training course divided into macro-sections, with specific modules:
- Introduction to conservative medicine
- Policies, regulation and management of marine vertebrates conservation
- Environmental policies: Habitat and birds directive; MSFD; Marine spatial planning; International rules and regional agreements
- Conservation ecology and biology
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- Ecology and conservation of large marine vertebrates
- Monitoring marine vertebrates: visual and acoustic methods
- New tools: drones, satellites and aerial survey
- Evaluation of the species conservation status
- Ex situ conservation and aquaria management
- Anatomy, pathology and interaction of marine vertebrates with human activities
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- Anatomy, physiology and pathology
- Viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases
- Impact of pollution
- Analytical diagnostic procedures in veterinary medicine and biology
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- Field and laboratory techniques
- Wildlife crime and forensic investigation
- Microbiome, genomic, proteomic, transcriptomic
- Ecotoxicological analyses and investigations.
- Stranding and environmental disaster management
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- Stranding networks
- Marine mammals rescue facilities
- Marine mammals first response and refloatation
- Animal welfare
- Oil spills management
- Disentanglement training of large whales
- Veterinary medicine applied to marine vertebrates
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- Veterinary imaging in diagnostic
- Anaesthesia, teleanaesthesia and euthanasia
- Sea turtle first aid, critical care, medicine, imaging and surgery
- Rehabilitation and release
- Applied epidemiology and risk analysis
- Practical case studies
- Project and communication management
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- Communication and media
- Public awareness and public engagement
- Managing and leading conservation project
The Master’s professors include national and international experts, from public and private organizations:
- UNIPD
- UNIBA
- UNISI
- LA SAPIENZA
- STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DORHN
- ACQUARIO DI GENOVA
- EXPERIMENTAL ZOOPROPHYLACTIC INSTITUTES
- ISPRA
- LEGAMBIENTE
- INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION
- OILED WILDLIFE CARE NETWORK
- BRITISH DIVERS MARINE LIFE RESCUE – UK
- BIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY – SRI LANKAù
- UC DAVIS – USA
- ACCOBAMS
Single course
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FAQ
The course requires a commitment of 2 weekends per month (usually, on Friday afternoon and on Saturday). All lessons will be recorded and made available to attendees, in case of absence.
The Master’s course takes place on alternate weeks, in telematic mode, on a multimedia platform (the link is available on the relevant Moodle page, and the calendar will be provided before the lessons start). During the year, there will be residential weeks for hands-on practice and activities. The course includes practical activities and workshops, such as specific experiences at NGOs, universities and labs. Hands-on workshops, such as petrol leak management, freeing of marine mammals entangled in fishing equipment and marine waste, will provide the credentials to take part in on-field activities. There will there be an intermediate test. All activities will be carried out in English.
The Master entails a final dissertation on a topic particularly interesting for the attendee. The dissertation can be associated with the traineeship’s result, which will be done in a facility affiliated with Unipd or selected by the attendee. The traineeship can also be done in smart-working, with presentation of final dissertation.
All traineeship costs shall be borne by the attendees. However, you can participate or access to external funding and scholarships for the traineeship period independently. Unipd shall provide insurance for all attendees during any Master-related activity.
The hands-on training weeks are usually held in April, June and during the final week in September. Dates and details will be provided during the course.
If you reside in a DAC Country, as stated in the call, you are entitled to a lower registration fee. There are 5 spots reserved for candidates coming from DAC Countries.