Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

Earth Sciences

For most of us - staff and students alike, fieldwork is one of the major attractions of the subject.

We aim to introduce you to fieldwork in your first year and then develop your techniques of data collection in the second year. You then undertake you own research project and finally we take you on an integrated, project based field course in your final year.

These will provide the practical field-based skills necessary for a career in the geosciences. However, we recognize that some students with certain disabilities might not wish to participate in field studies but still have a great interest and ability in the geosciences. The course is designed flexibly in order to help you develop your potential fully and, therefore, other geoscience units are available in the portfolio.

Residential Courses

Level 1

Central Spain: this compulsory trip 70 Km north of Madrid provides training in geological mapping as well as general geology.

Level 2

Brittany and SW England: these compulsory trips provide the training in data collection and interpretation. Additionally, they show superb examples of minerals, structures, ore deposits and fossils.

Level 3

Cyprus: see how the oceans are made amongst spectacular scenery in this friendly Eastern Mediterranean island. This is a compulsory trip which shows you the mantle, amazing dykes and pillow lavas, gold, copper and zeolite mineralisation, ocean floor sediments with deep sea faunas, black smokers and reef faunas.

Other field work

We lead short trips to places that include the Isle of Wight, Lulworth Cove, Lyme Regis, Barton-on-Sea, Osmington Mills, Beer and other local sites.