Environmental Geoscience

A Specialised Subject Skills & Knowledge

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:

1. Recognise the structure and composition of the solid Earth (core, mantle, crust etc.), the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere and the processes operating within and between them.

2. Understand the cycling of matter and flows of energy into, between and within these Earth system components.

3. Apply present and past interactions between Earth system components and the effects on them of extra-terrestrial influences.

4. Recognise the contribution of chemistry, mathematics, physics and biology to our understanding of Earth structure, materials and processes.

5. Understand sustainability and social awareness in an Earth science context (e.g., renewable vs. non-renewable resources, climate change, biodiversity).

6. Recognise major geoscience paradigms (uniformitarianism, evolution of life as revealed in the fossil record, plate tectonics)

7. Appreciate geological time, principles of stratigraphy and the stratigraphic column, dating techniques, rates of Earth processes and major events in Earth history, nomenclature and identification of fossils.

8. Appreciate spatial scales, study of structures, materials and processes ranging from atoms to planets.

9. Understand terminology, classification and identification of minerals and rocks.

10. Understand terminology, nomenclature and identification of geological structures.

11. Collect and document geological information in the field, production and interpretation of geological maps.

12. Undertake surveying and measurement in field and laboratory contexts, using qualitative, quantitative and instrumental techniques.

13. Undertake exploration for, and development/exploitation of, Earth resources.

14. Understand human impacts on the geology, chemistry, physics and biology of Earth’s environment.

15. Understand the chemical and hydrogeological behaviour of chemical contaminants in the natural environment.

16. Understand the natural, unnatural and legal concentrations of a wide range of chemical contaminants.

17. Understand the principles and protocols for contaminated land investigation, remediation and redevelopment.

18. Understand legal requirements of Environmental Audits, risk assessments and their role in the planning process.

19. Understand the types, advantages and limitations of the principal methods of sampling, geophysical and invasive ground investigation techniques.

20. Understand geohazards and their impacts on human societies.

21. Recognise the need for a multi-disciplinary approach in advancing understanding of Earth systems, contribution of geology to development of knowledge of our world.

22. Understand applicability of Earth Sciences to the work environment.

23. Develop awareness of prior research and data sources

Learning & Teaching Activities

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be accommodated & facilitated by the following learning & teaching and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

Material is introduced by lectures and directed reading / research and students are given very clear guidance in how to manage their learning. Understanding is developed and consolidated by laboratory work, private study exercises and, in particular, by field classes. Work is carried out individually and in groups with tutorial support and is both self-assessed and tutor marked to provide feedback. Field work and project work is used extensively to integrate material and make knowledge functional.

1, 2 and 3 are supported explicitly by the 1st stage Dynamic Planet module, all stage 2 modules, stage 3 modules in Climate Change: Past and Future and the stage 4 module Research Frontiers in Earth Science.

4 is supported explicitly by the 1st stage Quantitative Methods for Geoscientists and Earth and Environmental Chemistry modules and then developed by use in other modules throughout the programme including the stage 4 Research Frontiers in Earth Science module.

5 and 6 are introduced in the stage 1 Dynamic Planet and Earth History and Palaeontology modules, further developed in stage 2 modules, including Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Contaminated Land Management and Remediation and Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges, and in stage 3 modules such as Geological History of Life on Earth, Climate Change: Past and Future and Energy Resource Geology, and the stage 4 module Research Frontiers in Earth Science.

7 is explicitly supported by the stage 1 Dynamic Planet, Earth history and Palaeontology and Field Geology and Geological Maps modules, stage 2 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy module, stage 3 modules Geological History of Life on Earth and Climate Change: Past and Future and the stage 4 Research Frontiers in Earth Science module; it is also implicitly supported in all field-based modules.

8 is supported by 1st stage modules in Earth and Environmental Chemistry and Crystallography, Mineralogy and Gemstones and implicitly developed in most 2nd, 3rd and 4th stage modules.

9 is supported explicitly by the Crystallography, Mineralogy and Gemstones module in the 1st stage and then by Sedimentology and Stratigraphy and Magmatic and Metamorphic Rocks modules in the 2nd stage; this skill is also implicitly supported and developed by the various Field Geology and Field Techniques modules throughout the four stages of the programme.

10 is supported by 1st stage Dynamic Planet and Field Geology and Geological Maps module and the various Field Geology and Field Techniques modules throughout the four stages of the programme including explicitly by the six day Wessex Basin (Devon and Dorset) as part of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy and the nine-day Skye field courses as part of Geological Mapping Techniques in Stage 2.

11 is explicitly supported by the 1st stage Field Geology and Geological Maps module, the 2nd stage Geological Mapping Techniques, and Sedimentology and Stratigraphy modules, the 3rd stage Independent Research Project, and the Fourth Year Fieldclass.

The surveying aspects of 12 are supported explicitly by the 1st stage Surveying and Digital Mapping module and the survey course at the end of stage one (contributing to stage 2 Geological Mapping Techniques), by stage 2 Geophysics, and the stage 3 Environmental Geoscience Overseas Fieldclass. 12 is also explicitly supported by the laboratory techniques and microscope work undertaken in most of the 2nd stage modules, plus the fourth stage Research Project and implicitly by several other modules.

7 and 9-12 are further developed by the Independent Research Project, at the end of the 2nd stage plus the Research Project and the Fourth Year Fieldclass.

13 is supported by 1^st stage Dynamic Planet and 3rd stage modules in Hydrogeology and Energy Resource Geology.

14 is explicitly supported by 1^st stage Earth History and Palaeontology, by stage 2 Contaminated Land Management and Remediation and Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges modules, and by 3rd stage modules in Hydrogeology and Energy Resource Geology; it is also integrated within the 3rd stage Environmental Geoscience Overseas Fieldclass module and also integrated within a range other modules throughout the programme, including the stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project.

15 is introduced during stage 1 one-day fieldclasses as part of Field Geology and Geological Maps and by stage 1 module Earth and Environmental Chemistry. It is supported explicitly by stage 2 modules Contaminated Land Management and Remediation and Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges, and by stage 3 modules Hydrogeology, Energy Resource Geology and Safety and Sustainable Development. 15 is also supported by stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project.

16 is introduced during stage 1 one-day fieldclasses as part of Field Geology and Geological Maps and by stage 1 module Earth and Environmental Chemistry. It is supported explicitly by stage 2 modules Contaminated Land Management and Remediation and Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges, and by stage 3 modules Hydrogeology and Safety and Sustainable Development. 16 is also supported by the stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project.

17 is supported explicitly by stage 2 modules Contaminated Land Management and Remediation and Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges. 17 is also supported by the stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project.

18 is explicitly supported by stage 2 Contaminated Land and Remediation and by stage 3 module Safety and Sustainable Development.

19 is introduced in stage 1 field work as part of Field Geology and Geological Maps and is explicitly supported by the stage 2 modules Geophysics and Contaminated Land Management and Remediation and stage 3 Energy Resource Geology.

20 is introduced during the 1st stage Dynamic Planet module and implicitly developed during 2nd stage modules and explicitly in stage 3 modules Volcanology, Evolution of Earth and Planetary Systems, Climate Change: Past and Present and Geology Overseas Field Class modules and the Fourth Year Fieldclass module.

21 and 22 are implicitly supported by a large number of the modules throughout the programme.

22 is explicitly supported by the 3rd stage Independent Research Project, 4th stage Research Project and further developed during all fieldclasses.

23 is explicitly supported in the 3rd stage Independent Research Project, 4th stage Research Project and implicitly by all modules throughout the programme.

Assessment Methods

Direct assessment is through a range of formal written examinations, both open and closed book and marked coursework in the form of problem sheets, laboratory reports and reports based on directed reading/research.

Fieldwork-based modules are a major component of the overall programme assessment; their assessment is based on field notebooks, field slips, geological maps and associated reports. Project work is assessed through a combination of a supervisor's report, self and peer assessment and formal assessment of final reports and presentations.

B Academic Discipline Core Skills & Knowledge

Intellectual skills – able to:

1. Recognise and use subject-specific theories, paradigms and concepts.

2. Critically analyse, synthesise and summarise information, including prior research.

3. Collect and integrate lines of evidence to formulate/test hypotheses.

4. Apply knowledge and understanding to address problems.

5. Recognise the moral/ethical issues of investigations and appreciate the need for professional codes of conduct.

Practical skills – able to:

6. Plan, conduct and report on investigations.

7. Collect, record and analyse data using appropriate field and laboratory techniques.

8. Cork in a safe and responsible manner in field and laboratory.

9. Reference work in an appropriate manner.

Learning & Teaching Activities

1-4 are integrated into most modules and developed steadily throughout the 3rd and 4th stages; in particular, 2-4 are developed during 2nd, 3rd and 4th stage fieldwork and project-based modules. 5 is developed by use in modules throughout the programme and specifically applied in the stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project

6-8 are introduced in a number of 1st stage modules, developed further in many 2nd, 3rd and 4th stage modules, where extensive field data collection and laboratory work is undertaken. 9 is developed throughout the four stages of the programme. 6-9 are an integral part of the fieldwork and project modules in the 3rd and 4th stages.

Assessment Methods

Problem solving, analytical and synthesis skills are assessed within many modules through a range of formal written examinations, both open and closed book, and marked coursework. These skills are primarily shown, however, in project work and fieldwork modules in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th stages, including the stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project (assessed via written report and field documents, verbal presentation).

Practical skills are assessed in part through laboratory reports and logbooks throughout the 1st and 2nd stages, but mainly through the fieldwork modules in all stages and the stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project modules in the 3rd and 4th stages, where they are used extensively.

C Personal / Transferable / Employment Skills & Knowledge

1. Receive and respond to a variety of information styles (written, verbal and graphic) and communicate in these styles to different audiences, including use of the Internet.

2. Appreciate issues of sample selection and data quality in the collection and use of geoscientific data.

3. Manipulate, interpret and present data using appropriate techniques and packages.

4. Solve numerical problems using computer and non-computer based techniques.

5. Work in a team, identifying and recognising individual and collective opinions and roles and evaluating performance of all members.

6. Develop self-managed and lifelong learning skills (target setting, time and project management, reflective practice).

7. Develop a flexible approach to study and work.

Learning & Teaching Activities

1 and 3 are specifically introduced throughout the programme with regular verbal and written presentations of work. 2 is explicitly covered in almost all stage 2, 3 and 4 modules. 3 and 4 are introduced in the 1st stage Quantitative Methods for Geoscientists and Earth History and Palaeontology modules and further developed in all the 2nd stage modules, most of the 3rd stage modules such as Volcanology, Evolution of Earth and Planetary Systems, Hydrogeology and GIS for Geologists and all stage 4 modules. 5 is developed through laboratory and group work in many modules, including 1st stage Surveying and Digital Mapping, stage 3 Geology Overseas Field Class and stage 4 Fourth Year Fieldclass.

6 and 7 are initially developed in the 1st stage with students being required to carry out regular reviews of their own progress, upon which they get formal feedback through the tutorial system. Further development occurs throughout the programme, particularly in the stage 3 Independent Research Project and stage 4 Research Project which both require a large element of independent study.

Assessment Methods

Assessment of key skills occurs throughout the entire programme, mostly through items of coursework in the form of written and oral presentations, field notebooks and maps, vivas and project reports.

1-4 are implicitly assessed in all modules and explicitly assessed in many modules across all stages. 5 is implicitly assessed in group work throughout the programme and explicitly in Geological Mapping Techniques (Summer Survey Course), Geology Overseas Field Class and Fourth Year Fieldclass. 6 and 7 are implicit in much of all students' study but are explicitly tested in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th stage fieldwork and project modules.