| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
|---|---|
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
• To give the student advanced first-hand experience of active geomorphological processes within an unfamiliar dynamic environment.
• To build on the experience of GEO1012 (Introduction to Earth Sciences), GEO2106 (Earth Surface Processes) and GEO2107 (Climate Change Present, Future and Past) by developing advanced skills in research design, observation, recording and interpretation of geomorphological processes, and to further extend and enhance understanding of land-forming processes and landform evolution.
• To provide a broader context for process-based, palaeoenvironmental and applied physical geography techniques and concepts introduced in modules available in the wider FH82 curriculum.
• To allow the student to develop, more fully, the links between literature-based knowledge and field-based research. This will help to develop a realistic and critical perspective on the practicalities and limitations of field research within a challenging environment.
The module will consist of a 7-day field visit to Arizona/Utah/Nevada and California. Four preparatory lectures will introduce the geological and tectonic setting of the American South-West including the formation of the Colorado plateau and the active tectonics and geomorphology of the Basin and Range (where student-led projects will be undertaken), and outline the structure of the field visit.
Specifically the itinerary will involve one transfer day from Las Vegas to Flagstaff, which will include a visit to the Hoover Dam and discussion of the challenges faced by water resource managers in California. Three field days will be staff-led introducing aspects of the geomorphology of the Grand Canyon (Day 2), the Late Pleistocene history of Lake Bonneville (Day 3) and the an introduction to the Quaternary sequence in Death Valley (Day 4). Two and half days (Days 4-7) will be devoted to group project activity, designed and delivered by small student groups. The data collected on the fieldtrip will form the basis of individual project write-ups. The second half of Day 7 will be devoted to group presentations at key project localities. A final debriefing session back in Newcastle will outline the project write-up procedures.
•Staff-led field days introduce, develop and illustrate the geological and environmental history of the American Southwest and the key concepts relevant to the field course.
•Fieldwork provides opportunities for student-led design and delivery of research projects in teams of 4-5 students.
•Training in fieldwork techniques and assistance in project design will be available from staff
•Coursework provides an opportunity to (i) synthesise, interpret and critically evaluate a wide range of literature and primary and secondary data concerning geomorphological processes and environmental change in the study area and (ii) demonstrate the capacity to communicate concisely and effectively in writing and through graphical presentations, and to report scientific research in an appropriate manner.
•Field presentations provide an opportunity, within the context of group exercises, to present the initial results of fieldwork, the geomorphological context of the projects and to reflect on the development and execution of small-scale research projects conducted in unfamiliar surroundings.
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Academic Staff Contact Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | 4:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 7 | 8:00 | 56:00 | 56:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 140:00 | 140:00 | 0:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 | 60:00 |
•Lectures and staff-led field days introduce, develop and illustrate the environmental history of the study area and the key geomorphological concepts relevant to the field course
•Fieldwork provides opportunities for student-led design and planning of geomorphological research as teams of 4-5 students, and to collect data. Training in fieldwork techniques and assistance in project design will be available from staff
•Students will be introduced to self-assessment of Health and Safety and risk assessment procedures.
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC Examination | 40 | 2 | M | 20 | Short CAA examination to be set prior to field visit |
| Oral Presentation | 20 | 2 | M | 20 | Group presentation - assessed by both peer (40%) and staff (60%) |
| Description | Length | When Set | Percentage | Resit Available Off Campus | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 180 | A | 100 | N/A |
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 60 | Individual field practical write up (2,400 words) - including field notebooks and mapping |
•Coursework provides an opportunity to (i) synthesise, interpret and critically evaluate a wide range of literature and primary and secondary data concerning geomorphological processes and environmental change in the study area and (ii) demonstrate the capacity to communicate concisely and effectively in writing and through graphical presentations, and to report scientific research in an appropriate manner
•Field presentations provide an opportunity, within the context of group exercises, to present the initial results of fieldwork, the geomorphological context of the projects and to reflect on the development and execution of small-scale research projects conducted in unfamiliar surroundings
Disclaimer: The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver modules in accordance with the descriptions set out in this catalogue. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, however, the University reserves the right to introduce changes to the information given including the addition, withdrawal or restructuring of modules if it considers such action to be necessary.