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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Geosciences

Undergraduate Course: MEarthSci field training (GESC11004)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryField training will be undertaken in Iceland. The theme of the field trip is the geology of a Mid-Ocean Ridge and Hot Spots, encompassing volcano-tectonics, magmatism, volcanism, sedimentology and geomorphology in an active volcanic setting.

Field training will be undertaken in Iceland in late August, prior to the start of Semester 1.
Course description The field trip guide is posted on LEARN and students will receive a printed copy before they travel.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs The cost of this field trip in 2014/15 was £530 for accommodation and flights, with the University contributing 50% towards those costs.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Flexible
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Fieldwork Hours 100, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 96 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100 %, Practical Exam: 0%.

Field Note Book (50%): due on 14th September 2014, midday.
Research Report (50%): due on 13th October 2014, midday.

Field Note Book
This book should contain complete and legible notes that form a record of your scientific activities during the field course. Effective use of field notes is an essential part of the training on this course and field observations must be recorded accurately and clearly, remembering to include times, and place names. The notes should cover your research as well as other activities undertaken during the course. If samples are collected, a record of all sample bag numbers, as well as details of the sample locations should be made. Notes on the equipment used should also be made, and there should be records of the initial analysis of data sets, and the development of ideas during evening work at the field centre. Although most of you will wish to make photographic records, it is expected that where ever possible use will be made of annotated field sketches, diagrams and maps. Photographs do not replace field sketches; they are complementary.

Research Report
The research report should be an individual write-up of the research carried out during the field course and should follow the format of a peer-reviewed geoscience paper. The objectives are:
(i) to give you practice at writing reports, an essential skill for careers both in research and industry; and
(ii) to ensure that you have come to grips with the science and theory that underpin our geological understanding.

The main text of the report should be 5000 words (including abstract but not references). Each figure, graph and table should be given a number and a caption, so that it can be referenced appropriately in the text. Sources of information should be cited in the text in accordance with standard practice in scientific journals.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Formulating working hypothesis for a field area under investigation and setting up the approach/methodology by which the hypothesis can be tested in the field within the time frame available. This will be achieved by systematic study of assigned background reading to be undertaken and completed before the field course; and by on site assessment in the field.
  2. Examining classical volcanic successions in the field.
  3. Conducting field logging of classical volcanic successions featuring a range of extrusive, intrusive volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks/deposits as well as rift tectonics.
  4. Analysing present day geomorphology and the paleo-landscape of extinct and active volcanic terrains as well as the geomorphology induced by the 'Ice Age'; present and past interglacial and glacial periods.
Reading List
There is a recommended reading list of research papers about Iceland posted on LEARN.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information The field trip will run prior to the start of semester 1 (block 1) in which the students enter year 5. Additional informal tutorials/workshops may be held in semester 1.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Eliza Calder
Tel: (0131 6)50 4910
Email: Eliza.Calder@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: koneill3@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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