Unit information: Advanced Earth Sciences Fieldwork in 2021/22

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 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.

The field site(s) will provide a setting for scientific research spanning topics of interest for Environmental Geosciences, Geophysics and Geology.

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 a field campaign focused on gathering preliminary data for a research proposal
• Describe the diagnostic features of islands visible on Google Earth with respect to aspects of the underlying geology, past and 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, resolution, coverage 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
• Write effectively for different intended audiences (e.g. layperson, professional)

Teaching Information

Content will be delivered through a series of synchronous preparatory workshops in Bristol and through synchronous fieldwork and evening workshops. Students who either begin or continue their studies in an online mode may be required to complete field work, or alternative activities, in person, either during the academic year or subsequently, in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units or to satisfy accreditation requirements.

Assessment Information

Formative

• Pre-proposal: 2 pages

Summative

• Presentation (oral; 5-10 minutes) of a relevant scientific paper and preparation of a single slide to complement the presentation (15%)
• 2-hour open-notebook test on the group component of the unit (25%)
• Final proposal based on fieldwork and literature review. 8 pages (50%)
• Professionalism: - including behaviour, engagement, and participation in unit activities. The default is that this mark is the average of other components (i.e. it does not affect total mark) but the mark will be adjusted for exceptionally positive or negative behaviour on agreement of three members of staff. This mark may also be reduced for cases of poor academic practice or plagiarism (10%)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASCM0051).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.