What is required to complete this unit satisfactorily?

Attendance: (fairly obvious) you have to turn up to complete the unit

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

Attitude: look, read, ask, discuss, debate, enjoy (it’s an amazing landscape to be in)

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 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 academic honesty and plagiarism can be found at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Late Assessment Submission

Late assessments are not accepted in this unit unless a Special Consideration has been submitted and approved

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through ask.mq.edu.au.

Aims of the fieldtrip:

(refer also to the learning outcomes)

Australian sedimentary character and transfer processes reflect the slow and episodic tempo of geomorphic processes on this continent. The dominance of chemical weathering processes and the extremely long storage time of sediments results in the almost-complete conversion of most silicate minerals in sediments to clay minerals. The low relief of Australia also results in rather slow transfer of weathering products to the sedimentary basins. One other characteristic of Australia makes this area unusual: there has been very little tectonic activity during the Quaternary (the last 2.6 Ma). As a consequence, the geomorphology of Quaternary deposits, the nature of their contained sediments and their transfer processes contrast strongly with those of the Pacific Rim steepland environments. We intend to address this contrast through an 11-day field trip to the South Island of New Zealand.

Required and recommended readings

There are no set texts or readings.  You must research the topic of your A4 handout and oral presentations using peer-reviewed scientific literature. On-line materials should also be peer-reviewed and fully references wherever possible.

You are asked to write your final report in the field.  Bring the papers that you have found so we can pool them to create a mobile working library.

Technology used and required

We will be working in a remote environment – both remote from help and remote from Macquarie Uni – and this imposes some limitations on the technology we can use (i.e. what we can carry).

We will use mostly very simple technology in the field.   What you should buy and bring: hand lens; camera; notebook; calculator; USB memory stick What we will provide that you must carry: survey equipment, tape measures, GPS, geological hammer, grain size card, safety equipment.

If you have a laptop computer you will find it useful for producing your report.  Some are available for loan from the School of Natural Sciences. If you need to borrow one of these laptops, please contact Paul and arrange for pickup before the field trip.  Remember that ArcGIS only runs on Windows. If you have a Mac you can (potentially) partition your hard drive and install windows (at cost) on one side (using bootcamp to switch between operating systems), enabling you to install ArcGIS.

For your pre-field A4 report you are expected to undertake research using on-line research databases and electronic journals and other resources. Internet will be limited or unavailable in the field.

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email and through announcements on iLearn. Queries to the convenor should be sent to the unit convenor directly via the contact email on iLearn.

COVID Information

For the latest information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please refer to the Coronavirus infection page on the Macquarie website: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs. Remember to check this page regularly in case the information and requirements change during semester. If there are any changes to this unit in relation to COVID, these will be communicated via iLearn.

Timetable and Itinerary

Pre-field meeting (Monday 25 November 10-4): We will hold a field safety induction session before the fieldtrip. We have also continued to work on improving GIS skills. This includes a day of safety induction, orientation and mapping on campus before the fieldtrip and a separate software installation clinic for those who need it. The map data will help orient you to the field area and the GIS skills will be useful to you when you are doing your research project and report in the field.

Day 1 (Mon 2nd Dec): Sydney to Queenstown (you can fly independently but meet flight QF121 at 2.30 pm in Queenstown Airport). Begin student presentations and scientific stops. Visit sites in Queenstown area. Stay at Queenstown.

Day 2-4: Drive to Mt Cook Village via Lindis Pass (~6 hours). Short student presentations along the way. Stay at Aoraki/Mt Cook Village. On day 4 visit Tasman Glacier and Tasman River outwash plain and then return to Twizel.

Day 5: Research projects in the Hopkins valley and vicinity of Twizel. 

Day 6: Class on data analysis. Scout field projects.

Day 7-9: Continue work on field projects in Twizel area.

Day 10: Travel to Queenstown. Stay in Queenstown.

Day 11 (Thurs 12^th Dec): Free morning; transfer to airport in time for flight to Sydney (QF122).

We value student feedback to be able to continually improve the way we offer our units. As such we encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page.

Cost

Accommodation (paid to University before the trip): to be advised by email and iLearn

Food – covered by you.  There are cooking facilities at all of our accommodation locations as well as options to eat out (although that can be quite expensive at Mt Cook).

On ground Transport in New Zealand – (paid to University before the trip): to be advised by email and iLearn

Airfare - to be booked and paid for by you.

Accommodation

We have booked all accommodation for the fieldtrip.  You will be asked to pay the final amount (once confirmed) to the University (online).

All locations have the option of cooking in attached kitchens or eating locally.

There is a laundry attached to our accommodation in Twizel (from 4th night, for 6 nights).

You should bring a towel but you do not need to bring a sleeping bag.

Personal field equipment required

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

• sturdy shoes (‘no visible skin below the ankles’)- sandals, thongs, or high heels are for après-field activities
• an extra pair of shoes for getting wet in rivers
• water bottle (full, of course!)
• wet weather gear – a waterproof jacket with a hood and waterproof pants
• hat (with a wide brim, front and back) and sunscreen
• field note book and pencils (see note below)
• calculator, hand lens
• camera; binoculars (if you have them)
• your lunch, drinks & snacks for the day - we do not stop at shops!!!
• a back pack to store it all in
• any medications you may need.  We cannot provide you ANY medications (even paracetomol).  

Other personal items

towel/toiletries – bring these.  

Fieldwork fundamentals

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: Will be in minibuses driven by staff.

Cost: You must cover your own food costs and pay for your transport. Prior to the fieldtrip you will be advised of the estimated cost for accommodation.  You must pay this amount before leaving on the fieldtrip.  

Accommodation: Accommodation is in dorm /shared rooms with communal kitchens, dining, bathroom/toilet and work areas.  You should bring a towel. 

Safety in the field

Any student who has a disability or health condition 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 and through Field Friendly.  As a general guide to the level of physical fitness required, you should be able to walk 10 km over open undulating terrain in 2 hours.  You must accept the fieldtrip invitation in Field Friendly before the fieldtrip and complete your contact and personal details there.

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 footwear (closed toe boots or shoes).

•You should bring a first aid kit if you have one (basic kits will be provided to each group) and any medications you require.

•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.