KE4012 - Environmental Science Fieldwork

You will encounter a variety of fieldwork approaches to studying the environment as you develop your technical skills as part of a residential fieldtrip. This component of the module will introduce you to conservation and management concerns of the UK countryside. You will also design and present how you would approach solving a local environmental problem. These tasks are designed to give you employable skills in approaching problem-solving and public communication. The fieldtrip will be supported by introductory lectures and pre-fieldwork background reading.

On the fieldtrip you will learn safe working practices in the field and get plenty of opportunity for discussing matters related to the module with staff. Staff will be on hand to provide formative feedback as you identify a local environmental problem and develop an approach to its solution.

Where appropriate, learning materials are made available through eLP. All reading material is made available electronically through reading lists. Teaching staff operate an ‘open door’ policy for students meaning you can approach them anytime during normal office hours, or via email, to answer questions, receive feedback and support your learning on the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO 1: Review a range of key environmental issues, at global and local scales
• MLO 2: Discuss the value of life on earth, economically, culturally and ecologically, and assess its current threats to biodiversity

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO 3: Use and apply standard ecological survey methods to collect ecological field data
• MLO 4: Demonstrate safe working practices in the field situations

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):.
• MLO 5: Develop a positive and professional attitude towards teamwork in the field.

Group presentation (50%): During the Semester 2 residential field trip, you will identify a local environmental problem and suggest how this might be solved. You will present your project proposal in the field. Staff are on hand to offer feedback on the development of your project and presentations (MLO 1,2,3,4, 5)

Individual herbarium collection (50%): In developing your field identification skills, you will collect and describe a plant specimen in accordance with professional standards (MLO 3,4,5)

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This module immerses you in Environmental Science residential fieldwork. As a grand finale to your first year, you spend a week in the Lake District putting into practice skills and concepts you have been developing throughout the first year.