NES1208 : Environmental Science Field Course
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
- Module Leader(s): Dr Jon Telling
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Simon Peacock
- Lecturer: Professor Sam Wilson, Professor David Manning
- Deputy Module Leader: Dr Helen Adamson
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Mixed Location
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The aim of this module is to enable students to build skills in field techniques and observations,
teamwork and presentation skills. The module is based around a series of day trips and related laboratory and data analysis sessions during which the students will conduct a range of exercises spanning environmental science (including both terrestrial and aquatic components) and earth science.
The students will benefit from a variety of field locations in the local NE and Southern Lake District of England.
Outline Of Syllabus
The field course is designed to complement the Stage 1 lectures and practicals by placing the theory and practice taught in these modules into the context of environmental and earth science projects.
Students will be introduced to exercises in aquatic chemistry, habitat biodiversity and geology, then choose one of the topics to study in more detail for their group assessment. Students will develop their observational and recording skills, and learn and apply a variety of field, laboratory and data analysis techniques.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Group Presentation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | In person lecture |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 5 | 4:00 | 20:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | In person workshops |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 2 | 8:00 | 16:00 | Day field trips |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 5 | 3:00 | 15:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 17:00 | 17:00 | N/A |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The teaching elements within this module are necessarily varied in order to support the range of learning outcomes stated.
During the day field trips and practical workshops, students will spend the majority of time working in groups, developing their knowledge and skills to solve a variety of earth science, aquatic science and environmental science exercises.
Once they have obtained raw data they will process and analyse it during further computer workshops. As a group they will then draw all the data together into a group presentation.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 2 | M | 100 | Group presentation, 10 min. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 2 | M | Group informal presentation of results and any problems found during introductory sessions (max 15 mins) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
For largely a fieldwork, laboratory and workshop based module it is appropriate that the assessment is 100% coursework. The coursework will consist of a single summative group presentation to be delivered and marked by the end of the week.
The presentation should detail the fieldwork, laboratory work and data analysis performed and results obtained including diagrams and any computations or statistics. This allows each group to bring together and present their complete portfolio of fieldwork in one assessment to clearly show their results and develop their skills in oral presentation.
The formative assessment will take place at the end of the introductory half day exercises, where each student groups will be asked to informally present a brief summary of their results, and any problems they have had, to other groups. This will help build the students' skills and confidence in oral communication in a supportive atmosphere prior to their final group presentations.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES1208's Timetable