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| Unit name |
Advanced Earth Sciences Fieldwork |
| Unit code |
EASCM0051 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Rust |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
All 'must pass' units in years 1, 2 and 3 of the programme of study.
|
| Co-requisites |
N/A
|
| School/department |
School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Science |
Description including Unit Aims
This field course in Santorini, Greece, will allow students to fully participate in the scientific process – from inception to completion. The overall aim is to combine advanced fieldwork skills with literature review and critical thinking to develop a research proposal to address an outstanding problem in Earth Sciences.
Santorini provides a unique setting for scientific research spanning topics of interest for Environmental Geosciences and Geology, including, but not limited to:
- long term evolution of a volcanic terrain (there is remarkable exposure – the best in the world),
- processes of volcanic eruptions and eruption dynamics,
- hazards associated with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides,
- risks associated with natural hazards on an island with an economy that depends on tourism,
- impact of tourism on a fragile ecosystem,
- issues associated with water resources,
- rock-water interactions and/or the implications of changing ocean chemistry,
- early development of soils,
- biogeochemical cycling on land and in the ocean.
In the field there will be a two-phase program. First, a series of day-long group excursions to examine the local geology and environment. Second, independent field work directed towards testing a research plan and gathering preliminary data for a research proposal on a topic chosen by the student.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the class you will be able to:
- Use the scientific literature to propose a plan of field work directed to an outstanding problem in Earth Sciences
- Read and report on scientific literature relevant to field work
- Plan and undertake a field sampling campaign focused on gathering preliminary data for a research proposal
- Record field data relevant to future analysis of the data.
- Describe the diagnostic features of each main locality with respect to aspects of the underlying geology, recent processes and anthropogenic influences
- Integrate field data from different localities
- Understand the pitfalls encountered in collecting and preparing data and /or samples for subsequent analyses (e.g. chemical, physical, modelling, statistics etc.)
- Seek out, using literature and web resources, data that are required for synthesising a research proposal
- Demonstrate an understanding of use of appropriate methodological tools for answering research questions
Teaching Information
Fieldwork
Assessment Information
Pre-proposal: 2 pages (15%)
Selection and presentation (oral; 5-10 minutes) of relevant scientific paper (10%)
2-hour open-notebook test on the group fieldwork component of the field trip (25%)
Final proposal based on fieldwork and literature review. 8 pages (50%)
Reading and References
Recommended references relating to the volcanic history of Santorini and general volcanology fieldwork are:
- Druitt et al (1999) Santorini Volcano, Geological Society Memoire No. 19
- Cas and Wright (2010) Volcanic Successions: Ancient and Modern, Blackwell Science Ltd
Further reading will depend on the chosen area of study for each student.
