NBIA07031U Arctic Field Course

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biology
Content

The course uses the Arctic Station, University of Copenhagen, at Qeqertarsuaq as the main platform for its activities.
The participants apply for the opportunity to participate in the course by formulating a project to be carried out during a three weeks stay at the Arctic Station. The application should include:

  • A description of the project
  • Why is it interesting?
  • Why go to Arctic Station to do it?
  • How realistic it is to carry out the project during 3 weeks under arctic conditions?
  • How much money is needed?
  • How to obtain external funding for the project
Each project includes two to three students. The successful students carry out their project with supervision of the involved teachers.
At the Arctic Station lectures are arranged in the evenings. The scientific leader of the station as well as guests and the teachers at the course are talking about their current projects.
During the travel to and back from Arctic Station shorter stays in Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat are undertaken to get experiences of the different communities found there.
Learning Outcome
Knowledge:
  • Discuss and understand the scientific process from the idea of a project to completing a report of the study
  • Carry out practical field work under challenging conditions
  • Analyse accumulated data statistically
  • Apply general morphological, physiological and reproductive strategies in arctic organisms in the discussion of the acquired results
  • Apply general population dynamics in relation to environmental conditions
  • Apply general element cycling of the Arctic in the discussion of the acquired results.


Skills:
  • Include general knowledge on arctic abiotic conditions in the treatment of the results of the project
  • Mediate the ideas of the project and the acquired results in terms of a project report and in an oral presentation of the investigation.


Competencies:
  • The ability to work in a group and to take responsiblity for preparing a report of a high standard
Literature
See Absalon.
It is a pre-request that the course Arctic Biology ahs been successfully passed either before or during the same year as the field course.
Experimental group projects with intensive guidance in connection with planning of project and execution of field work. The groups present their plan to the team.
The course is part of the qualification profile Marine Biology. For all courses of the qualification profiles, see Course Portal for Department of Biology.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 0,5
  • Excursions
  • 10
  • Guidance
  • 15
  • Lectures
  • 5
  • Practical exercises
  • 70
  • Preparation
  • 30,5
  • Project work
  • 75
  • Total
  • 206,0
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination
For each project students will write a report in English based on the results of their investigations. The report is similar to the format of a scientific paper. The examination is a 20-minute oral examination where the students individually present their study and its results. The presentation is followed by questions to the report as well as relevant background literature to the project. Finally an English report based on all project reports performed during the Arctic Field Course will be published on behalf of Arctic Station.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
A reportdesigned asa scientific articlethat iswithstate-of-the-art , hypothesis,materialsandmethods,presentation of resultsand a discussionand perspectiveof own resultsin relation to relevant literature.