Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

If you are a stage 3 student, you must take the pre-requisite stage 2 module.

Co Requisite Comment

If you are a stage 2 student, you must take the co-requisite stage 2 module.

Aims

1. To give the student advanced, first-hand experience of active geomorphological and palaeonvironmental processes within an unfamiliar dynamic environment.

2. To build on experience of GEO1020 (Introduction to Physical Geography) and GEO2137 (Key Methods in Physical Geography) by developing advanced skills in research design, observation, recording and interpretation of geomorphological processes and environmental change, and to further extend and enhance understanding of land-formation processes and landform evaluation.

3. To provide a broader context for process-based, palaeoenvironmental and applied physical geography modules available in the wider physical geography curriculum.

4. 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.

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Staff-led field days introduce, develop and illustrate the environmental history of South Iceland and the key geomorphological concepts relevant to the field course.

2. Fieldwork provides opportunities for student-led design and planning of physical geography research as teams of 4-5 students, and to collect data.

3. Training in fieldwork techniques and assistance in project design will be available from staff.

4. 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.

5. Field presentations provide an opportunity, within the context of group exercises, to present the initial results of fieldwork, the physical geography context of the projects and to reflect on the development and execution of small scale research projects conducted in unfamiliar surroundings.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1. Understanding of the mechanisms and hypotheses of landform genesis identified from published sources.

2. Ability to utilize and critically evaluate physical geography techniques used in environmental description and interpretation.

3. Capacity to synthesise material from both field- and literature-based sources and come to conclusions and develop constuctive criticism.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1. Ability to abstract and synthesise geomorphological and palaeoenvironmental material from both field- and literature based sources.

2. Ability to collect, interpret and critically evaluate geomorphological data within the context of study area landform processes and evolution.

3. Ability to plan and execute physical geography fieldwork as part of a team, and in unfamiliar surroundings.

4. Ability to report and present physical geography research orally and as written reports.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Lectures and staff-led field days introduce, develop and illustrate the environmental history of the study area and the key physical geography concepts relevant to the field course.

2. Fieldwork provides opportunities for student-led design and planning of physical geography 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.

Timetabling is wholly appropriate for this type of learning experience.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

1. 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.

2. Field presentations provide an opportunity, within the context of the group exercises, to present the initial results of fieldwork, the geomorphological context of the projects and to reflect on the development and executuion of small scale research projects conducted in unfamiliar surroundings.

General Notes

N/A