OCEN 301 Practical and Field Oceanography
2015
Photo: Prof. Steve Dawson OCEN 301 is a core paper in the new BSc in Oceanography. The paper provides essential practical and field experience for OCEN graduates while grounding these broadly applicable skills and methodology on foundations of existing research programmes and higher-­‐order scientific questions. Things that are important in Marine Science/Oceanography: Planning: Knowing what/where/when you need to measure before you start collecting data Data: Good data vs bad data, fair data reporting, presenting data sensibly Problem-­‐solving: What data do you require to answer your question? Teamwork: Marine scientists work in interdisciplinary teams. They watch each other’s backs in dangerous places. They can communicate well with people from other disciplines. Specific Learning Outcomes (the final report will marked on these criteria) Experimental Design: students are able to design a field programme and laboratory research approach that is achievable and will address their question appropriately Data Collection: student use field and laboratory techniques in physical, geological, biological and chemical oceanography to gather data according to a detailed experimental design; they record and store information usefully and accurately Data Analysis and Modelling: students are able to analyse data using both statistics and modelling, interpret their results, and modify their approaches based on their findings Presentation of Results: students present their results fairly, appropriately, and clearly in both tables and figures; they are able to describe their data both orally and in written form Oral and Written Communication: students describe study design and methodology, results and interpretation. They put their findings into a research, cultural and/or policy context Critical Thinking: students are able to evaluate the strength and rigour of data; they show scholarship and understand the ethics of science; they can formulate and address hypotheses and questions Teamwork: students work together to acquire datasets, and may consult with each other in the course of analysis and interpretation. They know their strengths and weaknesses and address them. They understand when teamwork is appropriate, and when their individual work should be used instead. 1
OCEN 301 Practical and Field Oceanography
2015
People Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Abby Smith Marine Science, 310 Castle St, Room 143 abby.smith@otago.ac.nz Teaching Fellow: Dr. Peter Russell Marine Science, 310 Castle St, Room 141 peter.russell@otago.ac.nz Other Staff: Ross Vennell, Marine Science Christina Riesselman, Marine Science and Geology Lucy Jack, Marine Science Will Rayment, Marine Science Emily Tidey, Surveying Kim Currie, NIWA and Chemistry Bob Dagg, Physical Sciences Technician, Marine Science Doug Mackie, Laboratory Manager, Marine Science Steve Little, Chief Skipper, Marine Science Course Design The overall design of this paper is in three sections. First half of semester one: Lectures and laboratories that introduce students to fundamental methods in oceanography, provide practical experience in study design and data analysis, and allow students to develop appropriate research skills for the field trip. Course Outline Week Lectures Practical Assessment Staff of Monday at 12 Wednesdays 2-­‐6 pm Wednesday at 12 various locations 23 Feb Mon: Scientific method Health and safety Smith applied to oceanographic induction at Portobello research (AS) Marine Lab and on Lab: Wed: Field survey design vessels, PML Mackie (AS) Smith About Cruise plans, Tidey field planning, H&S plans, Industry forms 2 Mar Mon: Where am I? Position-­‐ Oceanographic Tidey fixing and charts (ET) instruments (RV Polaris Lab: Wed: How deep is it? II): GPS, echo sounders, Dagg Bathymetry (ET) side scan, multibeam?, Tidey T/S on sound speed 9 Mar Mon: Where are we going? Longshore drift and Russell Currents, tides and waves wave measurements, Vennell (RV) Allan’s Beach Wed: Machines that Lab: Smith measure water movement: Russell drifters, drogues, current 2
OCEN 301 Practical and Field Oceanography
16 Mar metres, ADCP (RV) Mon: How’s the water? Temperature, salinity (AS) Wed: Water chemistry: nutrients, pH (AS) 23 Mar Mon: What’s down there? Bottom sampling (AS) Wed: Marine sedimentology basics (AS) 30 Mar Mon: Marine environment at Rakiura/Stewart Island (AS) Wed: Orientation and preparation for field trip (incl mihimihi) (PR) Water sampling and measuring, CTD, rosette, thermometers, salinometers, Sonde (off the wharf) AND Lab methods for analysing water: pH meters, perhaps compare with specrophotometer (PML) Bottom sampling, box core, piston core, grabs, gravity core, ROV (RV Polaris II) Lab methods for analysing sediments – sieves, texture, composition (PML) 2015
Chemistry Lab report 5% (spreadsheet) Smith Lab: Mackie Dagg Smith Lab: Dagg Riesselman Seds Lab report 5% Smith Russell Lab: Dagg, Smith Mid-­‐semester break: Week-­‐long Field-­‐trip to Rakiura Stewart Island, 7-­‐11 April 2015 The field component will be based at Taupuni Moana o Rakiura, the department’s field station on Stewart Island. The initial part of the field trip will allow for team building and gaining an understanding of the local area. Small groups of students will then use the knowledge gained from lectures, practicals and fieldwork to develop and implement a project collecting physical, chemical, and/or geological data in order to address a research question. Field Trip Plan Tuesday Morning travel to Bluff by van and then to 7 April Rakiura/Stewart Island via ferry Afternoon settling in and exploring Late afternoon powhiri (welcome), mihimihi (introductions), and kai (barbeque) Discussions with local people, providing an introduction not only to the natural and cultural landscape, but also to the community and their concerns around the marine environment 8-­‐10 During the day, student research is carried out on ships April Each evening, data processing and revision of research plans occurs, with revised research plans submitted in writing as necessary 3
OCEN 301 Practical and Field Oceanography
2015
Each night, a sub-­‐group carries out the night watch and plankton sampling/drifting/tidal cycle Saturday Presentation of interim results from each group to Group 11 April community (including lunch) presentation Clean up of interim Poroporoaki (farewell ceremony) results 10% Ferry back to Bluff and van to Dunedin Second half of semester one: Lectures and tutorials provide support and advice as students analyse and interpret their data prior to presenting their conclusions. Weeks Lectures Tutorial Assessment Staff Monday at 12 Wednesdays 2-­‐6 pm Wednesday at 12 Hunter CAL (unless stated otherwise) 13 No lectures Presenting Data: GIS GIS Tidey April workshop assignment 5% GIS and contour plots 20 No lectures Presenting data: Graphs Rayment April graphs and figures assignment 5% 28 Wed: Library Skills for Analysing data: Correlation Richardson April Oceanographers (AR) correlation, assignment regression (CAL lab) 5% Jack or Draft report Rayment check 4 May Mon: Putting oceanographic Analysing data: time Time series Smith, results into context series (CAL lab) assignment Vennell Wed: Examples of 5% Oceanographic studies 11 May Mon: About scientific writing Work on reports Smith Wed: About scientific (CAL lab) presentations 18 May Mon: Last minute questions Student Group Smith, presentation of their presentation other research (MS 140) of results markers 10% 25 May Wed: Feedback and No lab Final research comments, party report 50% Terms Requirements Students are required to attend the entire field trip. 4
OCEN 301 Practical and Field Oceanography
2015
Assessment will be entirely internal: Assessment Contribution to final grade Two lab reports at 5% 10% Four data analysis problem sets at 5% 20% Two group presentations of research results at 10% 20% A detailed report on a research project that 50% investigates in detail an aspect of the physical marine environment at Stewart Island There is significant “group work” component in this paper. The reality of oceanographic research is that cooperation and teamwork are important required skills. Every student in the group will receive the same mark for designated group presentations (total contribution to final grade: 20%), but individual marks will be provided for individual work (totalling 80%). Important Note All students are expected to be familiar with spreadsheets (e.g., Excel) by mid-­‐semester. If you need help, ITS offers a good 2-­‐hour course in late March. Save your place now at: https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/its/course/subject/subsidised-­‐student-­‐training/ Assessment Chemistry Lab Report Spreadsheet analysing data collected in lab on 18 Monday 23 (5%) March March 10 am Sedimentology Lab Spreadsheet analysing data collected in lab on Thurs 2 April Report (5%) Wednesday 1 April by 6 pm First Group This is group work: every student in each group Saturday 11 Presentation of will receive the same mark April Results (10%) GIS Assignment (5%) GIS project to be completed during lab on Wednesday 15 Wednesday 15 April and handed in then April by 6 pm Graphs Assignment Graphs to be completed during lab on Wednesday 22 (5%) Wednesday 22 April and handed in then April by 6 pm Correlation Correlation analysis to be completed during lab Wednesday 29 Assignment (5%) on Wednesday 29 April and handed in then April by 6 pm Time Series Time Series analysis to be completed during lab Wednesday 6 Assignment (5%) on Wednesday 6 May and handed in then May by 6 pm Second Group This is group work: every student in each group Wednesday 20 Presentation of will receive the same mark May Results (10%) Final Report (50%) This is the big assignment, worth as much as a Due Tuesday final exam 26 May by 6 While you will have worked as a group to collect pm and perhaps analyse the data, it is expected that each report will be the work of the individual 5
OCEN 301 Practical and Field Oceanography
2015
Handing in Assessment Assignments must be accompanied by a signed copy of the Marine Science coversheet – you can download a copy from the Marine Science Website. Assignments should be submitted as a pdf file by email to the Teaching Fellow (peter.russell@otago.ac.nz) as well as in hard copy at Marine Science Department reception 141. Plagiarism Any student involved in dishonest practice, whether intentional or arising through failure to take reasonable care, will be subject to the University's Dishonest Practice Procedures which contain a range of penalties. “Dishonest practice” is seeking to gain for yourself, or assisting another person to gain, an academic advantage by deception or other unfair means. The most common form of dishonest practice is plagiarism. Dishonest practice in relation to work submitted for assessment (including all course work, tests and examinations) is taken very seriously at the University of Otago. If you are ever in doubt concerning what may be acceptable academic practice in relation to assessment, you should clarify the situation with your lecturer before submitting the work. Communication There will be a student representative chosen by students to take care of official communications and feedback for this group of students. Make sure you know him/her. When the Department of Marine Science communicates with you, it will be via your student email address (@student.otago.ac.nz). Please make sure that you check this address regularly, or that you arrange forwarding to an address you check regularly. Useful Links Department of Marine Science website Postgraduate student support http://www.otago.ac.nz/marinescience http://hedc.otago.ac.nz/hedc/sld/Postgraduate-­‐-­‐-­‐Students.html University policy on plagiarism http://www.otago.ac.nz/study/plagiarism.html Student Learning development http://hedc.otago.ac.nz/hedc/sld.html University Library E-­‐Journals University Library E-­‐Reference http://rb6fc7tv6s.search.serialssolutions.com/ http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/research/index.html Help If you are worried, upset, sick, technologically challenged, overtired, or overwhelmed, please ask for help. You can come see me in my office. You can send me an email (abby.smith@otago.ac.nz) or give me a call (479-­‐-­‐-­‐7470). You may refer questions to the Student Rep in the class if you don’t feel comfortable asking me yourself. If that won’t work, please find another staff member with whom you feel comfortable talking. Or head over to Student Health, where they have counseling available. Please don’t suffer alone. Believe me, we all want you to succeed. 6