Undergraduate Course: MEarthSci field training (GESC11004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Students taking the MEarthSci Field Training course will attend a 10-day field excursion to the Island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, between 17 to 27th February 2023. Students will examine and document the volcanic geology and geomorphology of the Island of Tenerife. The field trip will include a visit to the summit of Mt Teide, and its associate caldera. The course will be assessed on field note books, and a written project report based on a 2-day mini project undertaken in pairs at the end of the trip. |
| Course description |
The MearthSci Field Training course is a 10-day residential trip to investigate the geology and geomorphology of the volcanic island of Tenerife. Tenerife hosts a wide range of exceptionally exposed volcanic and geomorphological features; from the products of large explosive caldera-forming eruptions, to scoria cones, lava flows, sector collapses and the development of diverse topographies and geomorphologies around the island. As well as developing a greater understanding of the processes involved in the growth and shaping of a volcanic ocean island, students will develop skills in describing, recording and interpreting a range of volcanic deposits and geomorphological features. There will also be small-group independent projects, where students will develop their independent research skills, whilst practicing aspects of fieldwork learnt throughout the trip. The students will present the outcome of their project at an open seminar event hosted by a local University and collaborators in Tenerife.
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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 | TBD |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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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 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment Details
Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
The Course Work comprises: 1) Field Note Book - 50% of module; and 2) Research Project Report ¿ 50% of module.
Further details are given below.
Field Note Book (50%): due one week after field trip
Research Project Report (50%): due one week after field trip
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. All sketches must be clear, with labels, title, scale and direction. 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. 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 Project 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.
Assessment Deadlines
Research Project Report (50%) - 12:00 Monday 6th March SEM 2
Field trip notebook (50%) - 12:00 Monday 6th March SEM 2
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| Feedback |
We will be in a field environment working in a small group. There will be continuous discussion of the field sites throughout the week. Feedback both with regard to the notebook keeping and with regard to the individual projects will be available most of the time through personal discussion with the group leaders. Time will be set aside for the personal independent research projects, during this time staff members will not always be at hand as they will be rotating amongst different student groups. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand many features of tectonics, magmatism, sedimentology and geomorphology of Tenerife.
- Conduct field work on stratigraphic successions and surface morphologies.
- Formulate working hypotheses based on their current knowledge and understanding, and the means by which these hypotheses can be tested in the field.
- Plan and execute an individual research project which will involve the application of a range of standard and specialised skills and literature-based research.
- Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative at a professional level when setting up a field-based research project.
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Reading List
| There is a recommended reading list of research papers posted on LEARN. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Additional Class Information
Field course locations may change for a variety of reasons, including security risks, increased costs or inability to access field locations. Any changes to the main destination of the field course will be announced as soon as possible.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Eliza Calder
Tel: (0131 6)50 4910
Email: Eliza.Calder@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Johan De Klerk
Tel: (0131 6)50 7010
Email: johan.deklerk@ed.ac.uk |
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