Environmental Change Field Class

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

An enrolment quota of 25 students applies to this subject. For detailed information on the quota subject application process, enrolment deadlines and selection preferences, refer to the Faculty of Science website: http://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/course-planning-and-advice

The field trip for ENST20002 is scheduled to occur in July during the mid-year break. Final dates and details will be posted on the LMS before the trip and as they come to hand. For further information, contact the course coordinator and see the School of Geography website http://www.geography.unimelb.edu.au/field-trips.

170 hours

Students taking this subject should have already completed one of the following 1st year subjects Natural Environments, Global Earth, Biology, Famine: The Geography of Scarcity, or other relevant subjects in consultation with the subject coordinator.

Students who have completed 121-458 Australian Quaternary Environments or ENST30001 Environmental Change Field Class may not enroll in this subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject comprises a 10 day intensive field trip to tropical far North Queensland in the mid-year break before the start of 2nd semester and a laboratory project to be completed during 2nd semester. Students will engage with topics such as past climate change, biogeography, glacial cycles, changes in sea level, archaeological trends, the effects of people on the environment and the development of modern landscapes. On completion, students should be familiar with the major forces which have shaped physical landscapes over the past 2 million years and the nature of anthropogenic impacts on landscapes. Students should acquire field and laboratory skills in palaeoenvironmental, archaeological and biogeographical methods.

The objectives of this subject are to develop theoretical and practical skills for the purpose of reconstructing past environmental changes. Site selection, site characterisation, sediment core recovery, pollen analysis and landscape identification skills will be developed within a framework which examines human impacts as well as natural processes.

• Field report of 1,500 words, due in week 7 - 40%,
• Laboratory report of 2,500 words, due in week 12 - 60%,

It is a hurdle requirement that students miss no more than 3 weekly laboratory classes and attend the field trip to be eligible to pass this subject.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• have gained skills in the oral presentation of information and ideas to a small audience.
• demonstrate research and laboratory skills.
• engage effectively with others in field situations.
• work independently.
• write concise reports or essays.