NBIK14024U Arctic Field Course
MSc Programme in Biology
The course takes place at the Arctic Station, University of
Copenhagen, in Qeqertarsuaq at Disko, West Greenland.
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 in Greenland of which 10 days
are at the Arctic Station. The application should include:
- A description of the name of applicants, project, aim, working hypothesis and present knowledge
- Description of the applicants (CV), the course portfolio and the grades
- Provide a time plan and a budget for all known expenses
- How to obtain external funding for the project
Each project must include two to three students. The
successful students carry out their project with supervision of the
involved teachers. These as well as details about the application
procedure will be announced during autumn.
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.
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.
Lectures from Department of Biology, The Natural History Museum of Denmark, Arctic Station and other institutions.
Each student must contribute with approx. 4-5000 Dkr. as co-financing.
- 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 assignmentOral examinationFor 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. Submission deadline is 15 September. 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. This will take place in the "free week" between block 1 and 2. Finally an English report based on all project reports performed during the Arctic Field Course will be published on behalf of Arctic Station.
- Exam registration requirements
It is a requirement that the student has participated in the field part in Greenland. If the requirement is not fulfilled, the student must take the course again the next year.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
One internal examiner.
- Re-exam
Reexamination is possible if the student has participated in the field part in Greenland. The student must hand in a new report within the following block.
Criteria for exam assesment
A report paper incl. own results in relation to relevant literature.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NBIK14024U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Summer
Incl. field trip to Greenland - 10 days in July.
- Schedule
- No scheme group
- Course capacity
- 12 students
- Study board
- Study Board of Biology and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Biology
Course responsibles
- Kirsten Seestern Christoffersen (15-797176807781827d7474738081737c4e70777d3c79833c7279)