Field Course in Physical Geography

This course aims to give the student knowledge and skills about commonly used methods and techniques in physical geography. Under supervision, the students will work alone or in small groups to carry out a field-based research project dealing with climate and environmental reconstruction in a defined field area, in either Norway or abroad. The field area may vary from year to year. To prepare the students ahead of the fieldwork, the students will either alone or as part of a small group work out a thematic report based on literature studies relevant for the field area.

As part of the research project, the students will develop their own research questions and related objectives. They will also learn how to deal with hypotheses and how to write an academic report in physical geography, including proper referencing.

On completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can explain the major agents and related processes which are linked to terrestrial climate and environmental changes in their field area.
• has knowledge about relevant field methods and techniques used in their field area.
• has knowledge about relevant quantitative analysis methods.
• has knowledge about the principles behind a quaternary geological map and how to make one.

Skills

The student

• can based on literature studies and field observations design their own research project in the field area.
• can formulate working hypotheses as part of solving the research questions of interest in the field area.
• can use relevant field methods and techniques in their field area.
• can collect relevant data to reconstruct climate and environmental changes in their field area.
• can describe features of interest in an unbiased way before interpreting their cause.
• can make a quaternary geological map for the field area.
• can analyse quantitative data using methods appropriate for the field investigation.

General competence

The student

• can perform a field project in accordance with the guidelines for proper behaviour and safety at the University of Bergen.
• can write a field report either alone or in a small group by use of a professional language and disciplinary terms, make adequate analysis, produce good illustrations, and put own work into a wider context by finding and properly referring to relevant literature.
• can communicate orally and write an academic text on issues regarding the research field of interest and relate it to the scientific literature.
• can develop working hypotheses as part of solving the research questions of interest.
• can exchange opinions with others having a background in the field, and provide constructive comments to their work.