NBIK14024U Arctic Field Course

Volume 2014/2015
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 an experimental project to be carried out during a two weeks stay at the Arctic Station. The application should include:

  • A description of the project, aim, working hypothesis and present knowledge
  • How realistic it is to carry out the project during 2 weeks under arctic conditions?
  • Provide a budget for all expenses
  • 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.

 


Competences:



 

 

  • The ability to work in a group and to take responsiblity for preparing a report of a high standard

 

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.
Note that all must send an application following a template that will be announced. Participation in the course is based on these criteria: relevance, project, feasibility, general skills, grades and motivation.

Each student must contribute with 4-5000 Dkr. as co-financing.

The course is part of the qualification profile Marine 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 must follow 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 report paper incl. own results in relation to relevant literature.