| Exploring Ecological Framework for Zoological Park Through Bio-centric Design Approach

Problem

| Many existing zoological parks with traditional enclosure design still prioritize visitor entertainment or economic gain over ecological realism and animal welfare by failing to provide ecologically habitats and restrict species appropriate behaviors and movement, which conflicts with the principles of modern zoological park design.

Paper 2: Webber, S., et al. (2022). “Welfare Through Competence: A Framework for Animal-Centric Design.” — Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Paper 3: Brando, S. (2022). Confronting back-of-house traditions: Primates as a case for integrated zoo design. Animals, 3(3), 29.

Paper 4: Beer, H. N., Shrader, T. C., Schmidt, T. B., & Yates, D. T. (2023). The Evolution of Zoos as Conservation Institutions: A Summary of the Transition from Menageries to Zoological Gardens and Parallel Improvement of Mammalian Welfare Management, 4(4), 648-664.

Paper 5: Fernandez, E. J., Brereton, J. E., & Coe, J. (2023). How do we plan for the zoo exhibit of the future? In Applied Animal Behaviour Science (Vol. 268). Elsevier B.V.

We learned how to identify and understand the research context before starting a study. I discovered the difference between a design project, which focuses on creative solutions, and a research project, which seeks knowledge through analysis and evidence. We discussed what makes a research problem and how to turn it into clear research questions, identifying whether an issue is a design or research problem. I also explored different types of research questions used in landscape studies and learned to use Connected Papers and Scopus AI to find and review related studies.

Week 2:

We focused on understanding comparative analysis and how a research lens defines what and how we compare in landscape studies. The lesson on “Comparing Human Decisions: EQ–Adab as Research Method” gave me a deeper insight into using emotional intelligence and ethical awareness in comparisons. It helped me see that comparative analysis is not just about identifying differences, but understanding the values and reasoning behind each decision within a research context.