Unit information: Advanced Earth Sciences Fieldwork in 2019/20

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 in Santorini, Greece, 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.

Santorini provides a unique setting for scientific research spanning topics of interest for Environmental Geosciences, Geophysics and Geology, including, but not limited to:

• long term evolution of a volcanic terrain (there is remarkable exposure – the best in the world),
• processes of volcanic eruptions and eruption dynamics,
• hazards associated with volcanic eruptions, gas emissions, earthquakes and landslides,
• geophysical monitoring for hazard mitigation
• geophysical investigations to study the architecture and dynamics of a volcano
• regional tectonics in relation to magmatism, faulting, and geothermal systems
• risks associated with natural hazards on an island with an economy that depends on tourism,
• impact of tourism on a fragile ecosystem,
• issues associated with water resources,
• rock-water interactions and/or the implications of changing ocean chemistry,
• early development of soils,
• biogeochemical cycling on land and in the ocean.

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 and undertake a field campaign focused on gathering preliminary data for a research proposal
• Record field data relevant to future analysis of the data.
• Describe the diagnostic features of each main locality 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

Fieldwork

Assessment Information

• Pre-proposal: 2 pages (10%)
• Presentation (oral; 5-10 minutes) of a relevant scientific paper and preparation of a 2-page handout to complement the presentation (10%)
• 2-hour open-notebook test on the group fieldwork component of the field trip (25%)
• Final proposal based on fieldwork and literature review. 8 pages (45%)
• Professionalism: - including behaviour, engagement, and participation in daytime and evening activities throughout the duration of the field trip. This mark may be reduced for cases of poor academic practice or plagiarism. (10%)

Reading and References

Recommended references relating to the volcanic history of Santorini and general volcanology fieldwork are:

• Druitt et al (1999) Santorini Volcano, Geological Society Memoire No. 19
• Cas and Wright (2010) Volcanic Successions: Ancient and Modern, Blackwell Science Ltd

Further reading will depend on the chosen area of study for each student.