Undergraduate Course: Research Skills in Physical Geography (GEGR08012)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Beginning with a week-long residential fieldtrip to North Wales, this course provides our 2nd Year BSc students with the opportunity to learn a range of field skills relevant to a physical geographer (geomorphological, fluvial and biogeographical research). Students will then be put into small groups and plan and undertake a small two day research project. Students will formulate research questions and hypotheses, and then test them with field observations and appropriate analysis. These groups will work together to present their project and initial results to their peers at the end of the fieldtrip. Back in Edinburgh, there will be a series of practical/support classes (Weeks 1-4), where students will further develop their analytical and visualisation skills and also create a group ArcGIS StoryMap, which will be assessed. Students will also write a detailed individual research paper about their project. |
| Course description |
The overall aim of this course is to build on the first year Physical Geography and Fundamental Methods in Geography courses and introduce 2nd Year students to a range of skills needed to undertake field-based research. The core of this course is a week-long residential fieldtrip to Eryri National Park, north Wales.
The first two days of the fieldtrip will consist of learning new field techniques, and reacquainting yourself with those covered in the previous year¿s Fundamental Methods weekend fieldtrip. These will cover geomorphological mapping of mainly erosional glacial landforms and ice stream sediments, learning how to gauge a river and establish its water quality, as well as forestry and moorland biogeographical sampling techniques. A number of complementary surveying, GIS, remote sensing and statistical techniques will also be introduced. After a day planning your projects and carrying out class-based work, you will undertake a two day group research project, before presenting your results at the end of trip conference. Formative feedback will be given throughout.
On returning to Edinburgh, students will undertake four weeks of practical/support sessions, which will include further development of your skills in GIS, remote sensing, visualisation of data and statistics, as well as support for your project. At the end of this, each group will produce an ArcGIS online StoryMap of their project (30% of your grade).
Finally, each student will write up their project in a 2,500-word research report (70% of your grade), applying the knowledge they have acquired during the entirety of the course. This course will complement the Global Change and Geomorphology courses and result in a high level of methodological awareness, which will be further developed in the ¿Environmental Geography¿ course at the end of Semester 2 and in your Honours years.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is only available to 2nd year students on the Geography (BSc Hons) Degree Programme. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 38 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Group ArcGIS StoryMap (30%):
- Use of AI Tools is Not Permitted: Academic integrity is a core principle of research and academic practice. All submitted work must be your own. AI tools (e.g., ELM) must not be used for this assessment. Unauthorised use of AI may constitute academic misconduct.
- Coursework Extensions: Extensions are not permitted for this assessment.
- Extra Time Learning Adjustments: Extra Time Learning Adjustments are not permitted for this assessment.
Individual Research Project Report (70%):
- AI-Assisted Generation: AI tools may be used to identify ideas, key themes, and plan your assessment, but not to generate content. If you use AI, you must acknowledge it in your submission.
- Coursework Extensions: Extensions are permitted for this assessment. Please review the guidance on the Registry Services website and apply via MyEd.
- Extra Time Learning Adjustments: Students with Extra Time Learning Adjustments may request additional time for this assessment. Applications should be made using the Extra Time Learning Adjustment (ETA) tool, available via the Disability Support page in MyEd.
Course Pass Requirements:
In order to pass this course, students must meet all of the following requirements:
- Achieve a minimum mark of 40% on the 'Group ArcGIS StoryMap' assessment.
- Achieve a minimum mark of 40% on the 'Individual Research Project Report' assessment.
- Achieve an overall course grade of 40% (or higher).
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| Feedback |
1. During the residential field trip, continuous formative feedback will be provided during the fieldtrip, when learning techniques and planning and carrying out the research projects.
2. Formative feedback will also be provided during the group presentations.
3. Students will receive formative feedback during the post-fieldtrip practical sessions and throughout the progress of their project.
4. Summative feedback will be given for the StoryMap and the Individual Research Project Report.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- To develop skills by problem-solving, field data collection, analysis and interpretation.
- To gain an appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of the field and analytical techniques employed.
- To develop communication and interactive skills through group work.
- To further develop a range of statistical, mapping and visualisation skills.
- To develop skills in documenting fieldwork by the completion of a field notebook and writing a research report.
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Reading List
| Students will be guided to appropriate academic papers according to their choice of research project. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. Gaining an awareness of all steps of project design.
2. Experience in GIS and its application to project planning.
3. Ability to work independently (practical work, undertaking independent background research).
4. Ability to work as part of a team.
5. Presentation skills.
6. Critical thinking. |
| Special Arrangements |
This course is only avaliable to 2nd year students on the Geography (BSc Hons) Degree Programme. |
| Keywords | Fieldwork,Methodologies,Statistics,GIS and Remote Sensing |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Anthony Newton
Tel: (0131 6)50 2546
Email: Anthony.Newton@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Leigh Corstorphine
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: lcorstor@ed.ac.uk |
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