Advanced Field, Research and Communication Skills
Description
The module comprises two elements: fieldwork and campus based seminars and exercises. Although the fieldwork relates to a specific type of geology (volcanic processes), it is designed to develop more general observational, hypothesis-development and communication skills, relevant across all disciplines in Earth Sciences. These skills are extended and assessed through the campus-based part of the module.
Fieldwork:
Tenerife provides exposure of a diverse range of volcanic sequences that display typical processes involved in volcano growth and development. To enable students to resolve geological questions on the development of Tenerife, and the hazards posed by volcanism on the island, the field course provides a guided introduction to volcanic geology (and Tenerife specifically), covering explosive and effusive processes. Later days in the course involve more independent problem solving, concluding with an independent exercise that aims to collect evidence for the volcanic processes that have affected an area, to demonstrate an understanding of potential hazards from these processes, and communicate findings effectively.
Campus based:
The element of the module develops students’ abilities to understand, digest and summarise developments in science, and to communicate scientific ideas in a range of different formats.
Assessment
- A small-group presentation
- A four-page report
- An 1000-word popular science article/blog/five-minute podcast
(Individual presentation and 2,000 word report as alternative assessment for students unable to undertake fieldwork.)
734B MSci Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvrionments with an International Year ONLY:
Students on this programme can undertake the Year 3 Palaeontology field course within the Field and Museum Skills module, instead of the field component of this module. For assessment, they will submit a report based on independent data collection (equivalent to the Tenerife exercise). They will then undertake the Semester 2 component of this module’s assessment, as outlined above.