Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 3 x 2 Hour Lectures |
| Practical | 7 x 3 Hour Practicals |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Laboratory Notebook Laboratory Notebook based upon four lab exercises | 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Laboratory Notebook Laboratory Notebook based upon four lab exercises |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Plan and undertake a field-based sampling strategy for collection of soil, sediment and/or water.
2. Undertake a suite of laboratory based techniques to determine a range of chemical properties of soil, sediment and water.
3. Present, interpret and analyse soil and sediment chemical data.
Content
This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and field- and laboratory-based sessions. Themes include designing appropriate sampling strategies and using a range of techniques for analysing soil and sediment. These will include determination of soil nutrients, pH, organic matter and trace elements.
Brief description
The chemical analysis of Earth’s materials (particularly soil and sediment) is one of the most important skills for a wide variety of geographical applications. The quality of these materials often determines the ability of societies to maintain sustainable food and water resources and can impact the viability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, these materials can often be significantly impacted by organic and inorganic pollutants. This module is designed to develop the practical skills required to undertake these analyses and to enable students to pursue independent projects on environmental chemistry for their dissertations.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Through tabulating and analysing numerical data during laboratory practicals and through preparations for the final laboratory report |
| Communication | Through the final written laboratory report where self-generated chemical data will be presented in an appropriate way |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Independent reading and self-critique of sampling strategy, individual and group data analysis |
| Information Technology | The internet will be used to undertake independent reading and help prepare assessments. Technological instruments and techniques will be used during the fieldwork and practicals. Standard software (e.g. Word, Excel) will be used to prepare assessments |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The skills developed through this module can provide the foundation for higher-level studies and also are transferable to many applied, non-academic contexts. Students will be made aware of the relevance for further study and employability throughout the module |
| Problem solving | Problem solving is involved in analysing and interpreting patterns of environmental geochemical data using available data. The module will include examples where independent application of theoretical knowledge is used to solve an applied problem related to a particular field site |
| Research skills | Library resources and the internet will be used to obtain sources of information (e.g. academic papers) relevant for completing assessments |
| Subject Specific Skills | The acquisition (field and laboratory), analysis and presentation of environmental geochemical data |
| Team work | Team work and group discussion will be embedded in some lectures, fieldwork sessions and practical sessions |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5