Undergraduate Course: Earth Sciences Research Project (EASC10136)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | The Earth Science Dissertation is an independent research project. The student will: (1) identify and define a complex Earth Science problem associated with a specific topic or region, (2) execute an appropriate research programme to tackle this problem, (3) analyse and critically evaluate the results of their research, and (4) communicate their results through a comprehensive, professionally-produced report. |
| Course description |
The Dissertation is the culmination of the undergraduate Earth Science degree. It provides the opportunity for the student to utilize and integrate the expertise they have developed during their degree. Through the process of implementing and communicating an independent research programme, they will fine-tune a set of skills appropriate for a future career as a professional geoscientist. The remit of the dissertation is flexible in order to accommodate students' interests and preferences.
The research question may be as broad as 'What is the geological history of this interesting area?', though may be much more specific. Preparation for the dissertation will begin in the Junior Honours year, with submission of a dissertation proposal. Proposals need to be approved by the Project Supervisor, CO, Health & Safety Officer, and if appropriate, the Facility Manager, before any activities (field based, or otherwise) can be undertaken. Extended field work will take place in the summer between Junior and Senior Honours years. In Semester 1 of Senior Honours year, students will process, analyse, and interpret the data they have collected, and if appropriate, undertake further data collection, generation, or modelling activities in Edinburgh. Training will be provide in advanced data analysis, presentation, and writing techniques, including GIS and Python, though students are expected to undertake much of this work independently. Project supervisors will provide guidance and feedback as the research progresses. In early Semester 2, students will present their findings to the cohort and staff, and begin writing up their results. Work in Semester 2 will involve undertaking any final data analysis, and report writing.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Costs for any field work chosen to be undertaken to be met by students. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 50 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 5,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
367 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Dissertation presentation (10%) - A scientific poster will be presented at the beginning of Semester 2. This poster session will be attended by all project supervisors and all Earth Science students in their 3rd and 4th years. Feedback will be provided from supervisors and any other staff in attendance.
Primary Documentation (40%) - You will submit any and all documentation relating to the intellectual development of your project. At the very least, this must include a reflective diary of the progress of the project. In addition, this may include:
a. Field Notebooks,
b. Laboratory Notebooks,
c. Field slips,
d. Fair copy maps,
e. Sedimentary logs,
f. Stereoplots,
g. Contour diagrams,
h. Code (e.g., Python/Matlab scripts),
i. Any other data sets generated during the project,
j. Any other unpublished documents consulted in the course of the project.
The reflective diary will be written over the course of the project and must include:
i. Evidence of your intellectual contribution to the project,
ii. Notes on published papers/reports that you have read, including critical comments on their usefulness.
iii. Hypotheses that you have tested,
iv. Regular reflections on successes, failures, and next steps,
v. Summaries of meetings with supervisors outlining topics covered, items resolved, next steps, and the suggestions made by you or by your supervisor(s).
Primary documentation will be submitted at the same time as the Dissertation in mid-Semester 2.
Dissertation (50%) ¿ A thesis of no more than 6,000 words. Appendices are included in the word total but not the abstract, contents list, tables, captions, references or the brief account of the project¿s management. The dissertation will be submitted in mid-Semester 2.
AI-usage:
AI tools may be used for identifying ideas, planning, and improving the clarity of your writing, but not for content generation. AI use must be acknowledged in your submission.
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| Feedback |
Written feedback will be provided on the research proposal, submitted in Semester 2 of Junior Honours year. At the start of Semester 1, verbal feedback will be provided by the project supervisor on any research activities undertaken over the summer. Informal feedback will be provided by the project supervisor throughout the project. Peer and written feedback will be provided on the presentation, and formal written feedback will be provided on the final report. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Synthesise our understanding of a geological issue, topic, or region, and use this to identify an interesting research question.
- Exercise autonomy and initiative to undertake an independent research programme.
- Creatively employ a range of skills and techniques to address challenging geological problems.
- Critically analyse and evaluate your research findings in the context of existing knowledge.
- Demonstrate professional-level report writing and presentation skills.
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Reading List
| Relevant literature on the chosen research topic and discipline. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The dissertation develops a suite of attributes and skills of great relevance to a wide range of graduate careers. Students will develop and undertake independent geological research, utilizing the skillset they have developed in their degree. |
| Keywords | Earth Science dissertation,Independent research,Fieldwork |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Auriol Rae
Tel:
Email: auriol.rae@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Rebecca Steele
Tel:
Email: Rebecca.Steele@ed.ac.uk |
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