The programme aims to enable students to acquire knowledge about the interactions between animal, human and marine ecosystem health; acquire specific skills applicable to conservation medicine; understand how a conservation medicine approach can be applied in a range of practical situations in the marine environment; interpret and communicate scientific results and information (in research and other forms of social debate) across other related scientific disciplines and to other stakeholders.

The activities are divided in 3 tematic areas:

• Law, communication and management
• Ecology and Biology
• Veterinary Medicine

List of the teaching activities and their in-depth modules:

Introduction to Conservation Medicine

• Introduction to Conservation Medicine: the One Health approach

Policies, regulations and management of the conservation of marine vertebrates

• Environmental policies: Habitat and Birds Directive; MSFD; Marina Spatial Planning; International rules and regional Agreements

Ecology and conservation biology

• Planning and management marine vertebrate conservation: MPAs, IMMAs, Natura2000 areas and species action plans

• Ecology and Conservation of large marine vertebrates
• Monitoring marine vertebrates: visual and acoustic methods
• New tools: drones, satellites and aerial surveys
• Evaluation od the Species Conservation Status
• Ex Situ Conservation and Aquaria management
• Monitoring marine vertebrates: visual and acoustic methods

Anatomy, pathology and human interaction: known and unknown

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Veterinary Pathology as a tool for marine vertebrate conservation
• Viral disease and emerging pathogens
• Bacterial diseases
• Parasitic diseases
• Impact of pollution: heavy metals and organic pollutant
• Macro-litter and microplastic
• By-catch: problem, extension and mitigation
• Assessing the impact of underwater noise on marine vertebrates: knowns and unknowns

Advanced in veterinary and biological analyses

• Field and laboratory techniques
• Wildlife crime and forensic investigations
• Microbiome, genomic, proteomic, trascriptomic
• Ecotoxicological analyses and investigations
• Applied epidemiology and risk analysis

Strandings and environmental disaster management

• Stranding networks
• Marine mammals first response and refloatation
• Marine mammals Rescue facilities management
• Sea turtles rescue centers
• Animal Welfare
• Oil spills management
• Disentanglement training of large whales

Veterinary Medicine applied to marine vertebrates

• Veterinary Imaging in Sea Turtles Diagnostic
• Marine Mammals Medicine: rehabilitation and release
• Veterinary Imaging in Marine Mammals diagnostic
• Anesthesia, teleanesthesia and Euthanasia in marine mammals
• Sea Turtles First Aid and Critical Care
• Pratical case studies
• Sea Turtles Anesthesia and Analgesia
• Sea Turtles Surgery

Project management and communication

• Public Awarness and public engagement
• Communication and Media
• Managing and leading conservation projects
• Education and museum