Undergraduate Course: Physical Geography Fieldwork: Scottish Highlands (GEGR10087)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Geosciences |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Geography |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
The overall aims are:
To assess Holocene landscape development in Scotland, in order to understand the relative importance of paraglacial response, natural post glacial development of soils and ecology, climate change and human impacts in shaping the modern environment;
A discussion of marginality, sensitivity and the susceptibility of both human and natural systems to cultural change and/or environmental perturbations;
An evaluation of palaeoenvironmental indicators and chronology.
The course includes three fieldtrips, and there will be lectures, tutorials, student-lead seminars and related laboratory analysis. Assessment will be in the form of a field note book and a research report. The impacts of glaciation and the legacy of deglaciation will be addressed during the first field day based around Loch Skeen in the Borders. Themes of post glacial ecological change and cultural development will also be introduced. Student projects will be developed during four day course based at Braemar and working in both the Dee Valley and the Cairngorms. The final field day will return to the Borders, and focus on human impacts and prehistoric settlement. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the field course the student should have:
Developed a detailed, critical understanding of:
o Landscape development
o The spatial dimensions of environmental change in archaeological, ecological and geomorphological contexts
o The quality of the past environmental record
o The potential spatial variation of dating control in archaeological, ecological and geomorphological contexts
o The ways in which short term environmental perturbations might be caused by extreme events and could affect both environment and society
Evaluated chronology and methods of environmental reconstruction
Developed mapping skills, using morphological, archaeological and stratigraphic data
Appreciated the multidisciplinary nature of environmental reconstruction
Experienced both group and independent work through the student lead seminars which develop the students presentation skills so that they are able to make formal presentations on specialised topics to informed audiences
Execute a defined project of research into a complex, professional level problem. |
Assessment Information
| Field notebook and research report (equiv 4,000 words) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords |
Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Andrew Dugmore
Tel: (0131 6)50 8156
Email: Andrew.Dugmore@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mrs Catherine Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: cathy.campbell@ed.ac.uk |
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