Undergraduate Course: Field Course in Tropical Marine and Terrestrial Geoscience (EASC09036)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is based on a two-week trip based at Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory on the north shore of Jamaica at the end of semester 2, following introductory lectures and students¿ completion of background reading and literature reviews. Field studies include coral reef ecology and geomorphology, coastal oceanographic processes and water quality analysis, and stream and groundwater sampling and analyses, as well as trips to investigate Jamaica's bauxite mining industry, the geology of the igneous Central inlier region, and karst processes in the Cockpit Country.
This is a core course for the Environmental Geoscience degree programme and has a limit of 24 places. Remaining places will be assigned by the course organiser; students from other degree programmes must contact the course organiser before signing up for the course.
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| Course description |
Background information and instructions for literature reviews are presented, along with extensive reading lists, during three introductory lectures at the start of semester 2 (dates TBC).
Students then conduct independent reading and prepare literature reviews on three separate topics, to be submitted prior to the field trip.
The field trip takes place during a two-week period, near the end of and/or shortly after semester 2.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | The contribution to the fieldwork costs per student in 2014 was £775 |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 3,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Fieldwork Hours 24,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
157 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
20 %,
Coursework
80 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
Assessment is in the form of three written literature reviews (1,500 words, 10% each) completed prior to the fieldtrip followed by three written reports and a synopsis completed during the trip (70%) combined.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Comprehensive exposure to environmental studies in both marine and terrestrial systems (linked through assessment of natural waters - from rivers to groundwater to a coastal embayment) will give students an integrated knowledge and understanding of the scope of tropical marine and terrestrial environments.
- A critical understanding of the nature and impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors.
- Practise making informal presentations.
- An introduction to a selection of techniques and development of the following skills.
1) Hands-on experience with field sampling and analytical methods.
2) Introduction to biological survey methods and data analysis.
3) Experience of sample collection through to analysis and interpretation of a diverse environmental data set.
4) Experience of coastal oceanographic methods and processes providing a tropical counterpart to subsequent studies in a Scottish sealoch (Oban fieldtrip).
5) Assessment methods for water quality.
6) Development of statistical and data quality assessment methods.
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Reading List
(text) Libes, S., Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry.
Extensive seed reading lists will be provided at introductory lectures.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
35 hour(s) per week for 2 week(s). Two-week field trip, with preparatory lectures and reading beforehand. |
| Keywords | Jamaica |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Greg Cowie
Tel: (0131 6)50 8502
Email: Dr.Greg.Cowie@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: koneill3@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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