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.
Students on the BSc (Hons) Environmental Geoscience degree will have priority for the 25 places available. Remaining places will be awarded by the CO after the start of autumn semester.
None BSc (Hons) Environmental Geoscience students:
Personal Tutors of any non-EG students wishing to take the course should contact the Course Organiser in advance and not enrolled students on the course without discussion. Students who are interested in the course should contact the Course Organiser directly to register their interest, in the 1st week of autumn semester. The Course Organiser will consider the academic background against the learning outcomes of the course. Students will be notified once they have been selected. We will then ask PTs to enrol students on the course. |
| 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:
Wednesday 18th January 1200 - 1400
Wednesday 18th January 1400 - 1500
Thursday 19th January 1100 - 1200
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 2015 was £776 for all EG students;
All students taking the course as an elective will pay the full price of the course (approx. £1600 based on this year's figures). As flight bookings are required well in advance, payment for the course will be non-refundable, and students must be certain of their decision.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2016/17, 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 based on three literature reviews (10% each) completed prior to the field trip, and 3-4 reports completed during the trip. Literature reviews are assigned during introductory lectures in weeks 1/2 of semester 1.
Text limits and deadlines are set at that time. The numbers, weightings and text limits of individual reports vary each year; details will be provided at the beginning of the field trip.
Details of assessment deadlines for literature reviews and fieldtrip reports will be provided in introductory lectures (reviews) and at the start of the field trip (reports). |
| Feedback |
Students receive feedback (annotations and written comments) on literature reviews completed prior to the trip and on reports completed during the trip. |
| 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 | Miss Sarah Thomas
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: Sarah.Thomas@ed.ac.uk |
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