Students have immediate access to the stunning habitats and species both on Loch Lomond and the Dubh Loch (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) and the ancient oak woodland that surrounds the field station (a European designated Special Area for Conservation).
Teaching at SCENE
A key learning environment for students
Teaching skills for the future
Our students develop skills relevant to working in important areas such as conservation, policy development, the water industry, aquaculture, teaching and even ecotourism. 25% of the undergraduates attending courses at SCENE go on to further study.
Expanding the education opportunities
The redevelopment will not only benefit undergraduate and postgraduate students, but the new facilities will also provide environmental education courses and information for the public, school students and other visitors.
A key learning environment for students
The geographical location of SCENE is unique because it is located within Loch Lomond and the Trossach National Park. Being able to learn by experiencing the natural world in the field as well as experimentally in the laboratory, means that students gain important experience in identifying plants, animals and techniques for field work and this leads to an understanding of the processes that drive ecosystems in a natural habitat.
Teaching skills for the future
Our new facilities will bring cutting edge techniques to fieldwork, developing our ability to provide top quality, hands-on experience that few other places in Europe can deliver.
Expanding the education opportunities
About 300 University of Glasgow undergraduates use the field station each year along with another 300 students visiting from other UK universities. In the past five years, there have also been visiting groups from Alaska, Iceland, Denmark, Vermont, Malta, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Mexico and France.
The planned redevelopment will enable us to increase the number of students being trained in field biology from the current 600 to 1,600 over the next three years.
The redevelopment will not only benefit undergraduate and postgraduate students, but the new facilities will also be suitable for school children, particularly for senior school biology teaching e.g. for Advanced Highers or A Level. We hope that gaining experience of fieldwork will stimulate an interest in the life sciences and inspire more students to study biology, especially field biology, at University level.