Polar Palaeoclimate

This course aims to critically evaluate current research-based knowledge about climate change in the polar regions during the geological past and the present day. The content of the course addresses interdisciplinary research topics, covering a range of methods and approaches to explore how palaeoclimate proxy records such as ice cores, glacial geomorphology, ocean chemistry and lake sediments can be interpreted to better understand the drivers of past climate change in the polar regions.

The course explores formal and informal modes of scientific communication (research seminars, reading and group discussions of current literature, peer review) to enable students to develop skills and competence in discussing and presenting research topics.

This course involves participating in a research seminar series. Each week, a seminar is given by an invited researcher in the field of polar palaeoclimate and students will join the audience. Before each seminar, students will lead a group discussion (`Journal Club¿) of a paper chosen by the invited researcher to formulate a list of possible questions to ask in the seminar.

Knowledge

• Describe major topics of debate and current understanding in polar palaeoclimate research with a focus on the North Atlantic region.
• Apply knowledge about methods used in polar palaeoclimate research to inform discussions of the research topics presented.

Skills

• Engage with informal modes of scientific communication, through leading a group discussion and active participation as a member of the audience.
• Demonstrate formal academic communication by producing a summary of the research seminar and associated paper.

General competence

• Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of specific research projects by summarising and discussing published literature and live seminar presentations.