UNIT ORGANISATION

·       Lectures are held each Monday at 3 and Thursday at 9 in E7B100

·       Each internal student must attend one of three weekly 3 hour practical sessions, usually held in E5A240

·       External students must attend two on-campus sessions: 29 & 30 March and 10 May

·       There are two compulsory 2 day fieldtrips for all students: 5 and 6 April, and 24 & 25 May

LECTURES are designed to provide you with a framework with which to focus your study of the subject and are an essential and important component of the course.  They are by no means exhaustive on each and every topic, and you are expected to supplement them by reading especially from the textbook but also from the current journals, where the most up-to-date information can be found.  There is a reading list for you to use as a starting point later in this document, and additional material will be referred to during the lecture program.  Lecture slides are available on-line through https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ for viewing and/or printing.  Audio recordings of the lectures are available on-line shortly after delivery and are mailed to external students after that.

PRACTICAL CLASSES comprise a practical exercise, including map and air photo interpretation, numerical analysis, examination of rocks and sediments or local fieldwork.  Practicals provide greater depth to the related lecture materials and are designed to assist learning by encouraging your active participation.  You will usually complete the practical within the class time.  The venue of the practical classes varies (see page 5).  The week 1 practical is held in E5A240 and some other practicals will be held in the field within a short distance from the university.  Important material for the practical classes is included in this book.  Additional material may be posted on Blackboard for download. Each student must bring the appropriate equipment to the practical session and pre-read the practical description.  Equipment may include; overhead transparencies, permanent FINE overhead pen (red or green preferably), drawing pencils (2B, HB, 2H), coloured pencils, ruler, sharpener, eraser, protractor, calculator, field note book.  You should also wear appropriate clothes for the laboratory (week 1) and field: closed shoes, sun protection etc.

ON-CAMPUS SESSIONS FOR EXTERNAL STUDENTS are held on weekends 1 or 2 weeks prior to the two weekend fieldtrips.  There is no need to sign on at COE.  You should proceed to Building E5A Room 240 by 9am.  On the first day of the first on-campus session, the group will then proceed to a field site in the Lane Cove valley, starting at the end of Vimiera Rd, Marsfield (see Practical 2 description) by 9.30.  We will proceed by private vehicles (sharing) and spend the morning in the field, away from shops, toilets or other facilities. 

Each of these sessions will enable you to undertake the practical components of the unit and also discuss the lecture content with the lecturers.  You will be expected to have listened to the audio lecture recordings before each on-campus session.  In some cases (where internal lectures lag behind) you will be given additional introduction before each practical activity.  It is expected that external students will be able to access the Internet. If you do not have dial-up or broadband internet access from home, most local libraries have access.

FIELD WORK There are two compulsory weekend fieldtrips in this unit during which a range of natural and human-modified landscape features are examined.  Each of these fieldtrips reinforces and extends the content of the Soils and Coasts modules (first fieldtrip) or Catchment and Fluvial Processes module (fieldtrip 2). The major assignments are based on these field trips.  In addition, two of the weekly practicals (Weeks 2 and 3) will be conducted in the field within the normal practical class times.  The assignments and fieldtrips are described in detail elsewhere in this book.  Equipment and safety issues for field work are described below.

TEXTBOOKS and ESSENTIAL READINGS

The following texts are suggested as being valuable reading. You are not required to purchase them, but may find them useful.  There are some copies in the library.

·       Paton TR, Humphreys GS and Mitchell PB  1995.  Soils: A New Global View. UCL Press.

·       Brierley, G.J. and Fryirs, K.A., 2004. Geomorphology and River Management.  Blackwell Publishing.

·       Fryirs KA and Brierley GJ, 2013. Geomorphic analysis of river systems. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-9274-3.  (this book is an alternative to Brierly and Fryirs, above, but may not be available early in 2013)

To keep up with lecture materials and also some of the practical classes and the fieldtrips you should complete all ‘essential’ reading BEFORE the lectures each week.  Essential readings are shown on the timetable on page 5.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

You will require access to a computer for parts of this unit. You can gain access to slides used for each lecture by visiting the iLearn page for ENVE266 (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/).  Audio lecture recordings will also be available shortly after live presentation through Echo 360 link in iLearn.  iLearn may be used by staff to send reminders and notices concerning fieldtrips, practical classes and lectures. You should check the site regularly, especially the day before lectures/pracs. There is also the space for a bulletin board discussion between students; please feel free to use this to discuss issues relating to any aspect of the unit and geomorphology in general.  For specific questions of the lecturers, email them directly (see front cover).  The major assignments must also be submitted electronically through Turnitin, via the iLearn page for this unit. This software provides a means of gauging the timing of submission, an originality checker to test for potential plagiarism and a paperless grading system, more information on this program can be found at (http://turnitin.com/) and (http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm) and a ‘quick guide’ in ilearn next to the Turnitin link.

Many of the readings (scientific papers) are available on-line from the library’s e-reserve page for ENVE266 (http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/borrowing/ereserve.php).

WORKLOAD

ENVE266 is a 3 credit point unit and, according to University guidelines, you should spend at least 9 hours on the unit each week, or 135 hours over the 15 week semester.  The following is a guideline as to how that time should be spent:

24 lectures24 hours

4 days of excursions28 hours

Writing up field trip reports30 hours

8 practicals24 hours

Writing up 4 assessable practicals8 hours

Your own study time for ENVE 266 should therefore be a minimum of an additional 2 hours per week.  Simply attending lectures and practical classes is not enough to guarantee a good grade.

What is required to complete this unit satisfactorily?

·       Attendance: make the most of the opportunities available to you: attend lectures and practicals and the two fieldtrips.  You may only submit assessment items based on practicals and fieldwork if you attended those sessions.

·       Assignments: you must hand in/complete ALL the assessment tasks to complete the unit

·       Attitude: look, read, ask, discuss, debate, enjoy

·       Quality: your assessment items will be graded according to your achievement of the learning outcomes.  We are looking for deep understanding as well as competence in particular skills of data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation.

·       Honesty and sharing: you will often work in groups in the field and the laboratory but all the assessment tasks are individual.  Group data must be shared freely but presentation, writing up and interpretation are to be the efforts of each individual. Macquarie's procedures relating to plagiarism can be found at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/plagiarism/ 

Changes to this unit in 2014

This unit will be offered in 2014 in much the same format as 2013.  We always tinker a little to try and make things better and in 2014 there are some changes to the structure of the first fieldtrip to improve data analysis skills teaching and to accommodate the early fieldtrip necessitated by the fall of Easter in term time.

In 2014 we have also added online submission of the practicals, as well as the major assignments, through Turnitin

ENVE266 Earth Surface Processes –TIMETABLE 2014

INTERNAL LECTURE AND PRACTICAL CLASS TIMETABLE

EXTERNAL ON-CAMPUS SESSION and FIELDTRIP TIMETABLE

AIMS AND SCOPE

Welcome to ENVE266 Earth Surface Processes.  ENVE266 aims to present a unified picture of processes, materials and forms occurring at the surface of the earth.  That means how and why the earth's surface looks and behaves as it does and includes the soils, sediments and landforms as well as the processes important to them.  Given its antiquity, along with its geographic, tectonic and climatic character, Australia has a distinctive and diverse landscape.  The unit therefore draws unashamedly on Australian, and often local, examples which have immediate relevance to Australian environmental problems.  The principles and ideas, however, are certainly global and possibly universal (at least applying to the solar system).  We aim to give you the 'tools' to understand landscape processes no matter where you are.  Time constraints prevent coverage of all aspects of geomorphic enquiry.  Emphasis is placed on soil materials, slope, river and coastal environments, although the arid interior of Australia and other exotic places are also examined briefly and the role of human activities is examined.  Connections between various aspects of the landscape will be stressed, aiming to provide an integrative perspective on surface processes.

ENVE266 AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE MAJOR AT MACQUARIE

ENVE266 is the core 200-level unit in Environmental Earth Science and is the main prerequisite for the 300-level units ENVE338 (Environmental Quality and Assessment), ENVE339 (Fluvial Geomorphology and River Management), ENVE340 (Environmental Change) and ENVE341 (Advanced Environmental Earth Science) which comprise the Environmental Earth Science major.

 Environmental Earth Science describes the study of the earth’s surface, the diverse physical processes found there and the connections between them.  As the name suggests, it lies at the nexus between earth systems and biological systems – it is often concerned with landscapes and the landforms, sediments and soils within them but also, and crucially, the interaction of plants and animals in directing processes and shaping habitat.  Environmental Earth Science combines aspects of Geomorphology, Soil Science, Natural Hazards, Environmental Management and Ecology.  As a consequence, graduates gain skills essential for management of natural resources, including rural rivers and lands, and highly altered landscapes, including urban environments and mining areas.

 Graduates of the Environmental Earth Science program are in a wide range of workplaces including: environmental and geotechnical consultancies, local government (environmental officers), state government departments (Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources; Environment and Conservation), National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney Water, mining companies (environmental officers), teaching (primary and secondary) and research.

 Environmental Earth Science is offered as a major within the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Environment.  It is also suitable as a component of other specialised programs, including Environmental Management, SIS, Climate Science, Ecology and Environmental Geology.  Depending on your own goals you may decide to combine Environmental Earth Science units with other fields e.g. geology, atmospheric science, biology, Spatial Information Science (SIS). 

 Second year is usually the time you will need to make a decision about your goals and your academic program.  Please feel free to discuss your program with any of the staff in the unit at any time during the semester.

 You can also find more information about the Environmental Earth Science program and units of study at:

http://www.envsci.mq.edu.au/geoecology/index.html

 FIELD WORK There are two compulsory weekend fieldtrips in this unit during which a range of natural and human-modified landscape features are examined.  Each of these fieldtrips reinforces and extends the content of the Soils and Coasts modules (first fieldtrip) or Catchment and Fluvial Processes module (fieldtrip 2). The major assignments are based on these field trips.  In addition, two of the weekly practicals (Weeks 2 and 3) will be conducted in the field within the normal practical class times.  

FIELDWORK

Weather: We never cancel fieldtrips for bad weather!  You must be prepared to work in the rain with the appropriate clothing.  Likewise you should always protect yourself from the sun and dehydration.

Transport: You will need to arrange your own transport for these fieldtrips.  Ideally you should arrange to drive to each site with several other students from your practical class.

Arrival: Both fieldtrips start at 8 am on the Saturday morning and therefore you should arrive the previous afternoon.  We book accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights.

Cost: You must cover your own food and transport costs and pay for accommodation.  We book accommodation on behalf of the group and you must pay your money to the Cashier using the payment slips found on the iLearn page BEFORE THE TRIP.

Food: You should bring food for breakfast (2 days) and lunch (2 days - to be carried into the field).  You should cater for your own dinner on the Friday night and we will organise a BBQ on Saturday night.

Accommodation: Field accommodation is in bunk rooms with communal kitchens, dining, bathroom/toilet and work areas.  You should bring (apart from the gear listed below) a sleeping bag, pillow and towel.  You can camp, but the cost is the same.

Departure: We aim to leave the field by 4pm on the Sunday afternoon, after all field equipment is returned and the accommodation cleaned.  You must advise a staff member before returning home.

Personal Field Equipment:Each student should bring the following aids/comforts on each field trip:

·       sturdy shoes - no sandals, thongs, or high heels! (no visible skin below the ankles)

·       water bottle (at least 1 litre)

·       wet weather gear - we go whatever the weather!!!  Cheap plastic ponchos will not survive walking through scrub.

·       hat (with a wide brim, front and back) and sunscreen

·       field note book and pencils (see note below)

·       calculator, hand lens, small pocket knife

·       camera

·       your lunch, drinks & snacks for the day - we do not stop at shops!!!

·       a back pack to store it all in

FIELD EQUIPMENT YOU SHOULD PURCHASE

·       Field notebook

·       Hand lens

Each student MUST purchase a small hardcover notebook for use in the field.  It should be bound down the spine on the left side, or across the top (but NOT spiral bound). The notebook does not necessarily have to be used only for this unit (you may have used it on previous trips) but it should be good quality and able to withstand a week in the field – in what may be wet conditions.  The best, and most expensive, option is a waterproof Rite-in-the-Rain, Markrite or Chartwell notebook. There are several versions but the best options are 1. Geological (Rite in the Rain 540F), with columns, lines and grids (good for sketching and data), included classifications; 2. Small Rite in the Rain notebook (200T) which can be inserted in a hard cover (200C).  The first will last you several fieldtrips (and units), the second will probably last you this Unit.

A 10x hand lens can be purchased at the Campus Shop.  It can be used in many ENVE, BIOL and GEOS units.

SAFETY IN THE FIELD AND LABORATORY

Any student who has a disability that may limit their participation in field work or that could result in a medical emergency in the field should notify the unit convenor immediately.  As a general guide to the level of physical fitness required, you should be able to walk 10 km over open undulating terrain in 3 hours.

Each student must ensure his/her own safety at all times during field excursions.

·       Do not undertake fieldwork alone.  You must work with at least one other person.

·       You must be adequately equipped to undertake fieldwork, including wet weather clothing, warm clothing, hat and sun protection, protective footware (closed toe boots or shoes).

·       You should bring a first aid kit if you have one (they will be provided to each group).

·       Do not undertake any activity you feel to be unsafe.  Discuss with the fieldtrip leader any concerns you have about particular tasks.

·       Be watchful of the safety of your fellow students, if they become separated from the group or are at some other risk.  Tell the fieldtrip leader as soon as you notice a potentially dangerous situation.

Laboratory work in this unit does not involve hazardous chemicals.  Nevertheless, in the laboratory you must wear safe (closed) footwear and generally follow safe practice.  Where items of equipment are to be used, do not use them until you have received adequate training.

All students taking ENVE266 are eligible for the Geoff Humphreys Prize for proficiency in this unit.  The prize is for $300 (cash).

Geoff Humphreys was a lecturer in Physical Geography from 1994 to 2007 but had an association with Macquarie extending back to the early 1970s when he began his undergraduate degree here.  Geoff was an energetic and enthusiastic researcher and teacher in soil science and geomorphology.  His great passion was researching the processes of soil formation, especially the role of the biosphere in soil turnover and movement – bioturbation.  Geoff was very much at home in the field and greatly enjoyed teaching students in the bush where it is possible to see processes in action and also the landscape context of detailed measurements.

Geoff was instrumental in devising the curriculum of ENVE266 and taught in the unit for many years.  This prize, first awarded in 2007 following Geoff’s sudden death, is awarded to the student who shows the most proficiency in this unit which attempts to convey some of Geoff’s fascination with how landscapes work.

Assessment Tasks

PRACTICALS (10%, four assessable practicals)

These should be clearly presented (as opposed to beautiful) but short and not over-produced.  The main objective is to see that you have understood the content of each practical and are competent in the required skills so that we can monitor your progress.  The remaining pre and post fieldwork practicals will be used for preparation of maps or data analysis which will be used in the fieldwork reports.

FIELD REPORT 1 (20%)

This report is based on the first weekend fieldtrip, the preparatory practical sessions, post-fieldwork data analysis and your own reading and research on the topic.  You will be given a question (Report 1, see below) which you must address in your report.  The research and thought which go into each report are an important part of your learning in this unit.  We expect that you will deepen your understanding of the topic and your field experience by discovering the links between your observations and previous published research in the scientific literature.  The report should be presented with a high standard of presentation (clarity and accuracy, not necessarily ‘pretty’), with diagrams, maps, graphs and tables (as appropriate) and standard scientific citation and referencing.  You will be provided with some essential and useful readings for these reports but you should also undertake your own research of the primary scientific literature.

FIELD REPORT 2 (30%)

This report is based on the second weekend fieldtrip, the preparatory practical sessions, post-fieldwork data analysis and your own reading and research on the topic.  You will develop your own question (Report 2, see below) which you must address in your report, tailoring the presentation and discussion of your results to answer the question and placing them within a context revealed by your readings.  The report should be presented in the format of scientific report, with a high standard of presentation (clarity and accuracy, not necessarily ‘pretty’), with diagrams, maps, graphs and tables (as appropriate) and standard scientific citation and referencing.  You will be provided with some essential and useful readings for these reports but you should also undertake your own research of the primary scientific literature.  See guidelines (below) for report writing style.

EXAMINATION (40%)

The exam will be scheduled in the regular University examination period.  The exam is 2 hours in length and will cover all subjects covered in the lectures, practicals and fieldtrips.  There is a combination of short answer and longer (short essay) style questions.  Past exam papers can be found on the library web site.

The University examination period in First Semester 2010 is from 6/6/11 to 24/6/11.  You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable.  The timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations.  (http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/Forms/APSCon.pdf)

The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption.  In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration. Information about unavoidable disruption and the special consideration process is available at (http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/Forms/APSCon.pdf)

If a supplementary examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period.  You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students.  All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is the final day of the official examination period.

FEEDBACK

At all stages in this unit we will try to give you critical feedback on your understanding and performance.  The unit has been structured so that assessable practicals and field reports allow us to monitor your progress and understanding throughout the unit.  This includes both conceptual and practical (such as field skills) components.

We will do our best to return assessment items to you within 2 weeks of submission (sometimes faster).  Feedback will be given you as individual comments on each piece of work and also some comments delivered to the group in class.  The assessed practicals concentrate on specific practical skills where feedback is detailed but usually short.  The field reports will normally carry longer comments addressing both specific skills and generic skills. 

If at any stage you wish to receive guidance on the content of the unit or your performance then we encourage you to approach one of the staff and arrange a meeting.  Likewise, if you would like more detailed feedback or explanation of the feedback you have received then please approach the staff member who gave this feedback to arrange a meeting.

Finally, we appreciate your (constructive) feedback too.  Our goal is to improve our teaching (and your learning) continuously.  We ask for your feedback at the end of semester and value your specific comments.  We are also happy to receive your comments throughout the semester.