IREXC30018 Field Research for International Students (Autumn 2021)
Facts about the course
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics
- Campus:
- Fredrikstad and Hessdalen
- Course Leader:
- Anna-Lena Kjøniksen
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- ½ year
The course is connected to the following study programs
Elective course in all Bachelor of Engineering study programmes and Bachelor in Innovation and Project management.
Admission to the course is restricted by the criteria described under Absolute preprerequisites
Absolute requirements
Criteria for admission:
- passed at least 30 ECTS on bachelor level, of which at least 10 ECTS is within matematics or natural science
- written application outlining motivation and qualifications for following the course
- interview
- evaluation of achievements in previous bachelor courses
In addition, the student should
- be in general good physical condition, be able to swim, capable of walking about 30 km each day with a backpack in mountain terrain both summer and winter
- be healthy enough to stay in tents in mountains at high altitudes for 2 weeks early and late autumn
Lecture Semester
Autumn
The student's learning outcomes after completing the course
Knowledge
The student:
has knowledge of problems in relation to field research and infrastructure
Skills
The student:
is able to troubleshoot and solve problems with technical equipment
is able to plan and carry out practical field research
is able to utilize some methods for aquisition of research data in the field
General competence
The student:
can communicate aquired research data in english with experts and the general public
is able to work in interdisiplinary groups and teams
is able to reflect over their own achievements and ability to cooperate
Content
The students will actively participate in research regarding the Hessdalen phenomena. The aim of this research project is to find the physical mechanisms that cause the light phenomena that are observed in Hessdalen. Similar phenomena are also observed at other locations. The research project is of an interdisciplinary nature, and the students will work in interdisciplinary groups.
The students will actively participate in field research, with mounting and operation of research equipment at bases in Hessdalen and the surrounding mountains. In addition, there will be conducted field excursion to collect, e.g., geological data.
The field work includes spending the nights in tents at top of the mountains where the students will operate the research instruments during the night under varying weather conditions. Hiking in the mountains to collect various empirical data.
The students will, under supervision, analyze some of the data they have collected and write a report based on the results.
In addition to the field work, the students will conduct a project related to this research project.
Forms of teaching and learning
The tuition is in the form of compulsitory assemblies
Training and safety course
Active fieldwork in Hessdalen
Note that some of the tutorials will be at times outside normal working hours (holidays, weekends, evenings, and nights).
Workload
250-300 hours
Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam
80% compulsatory active participation on training and safety course and fieldwork, including setting up and taking down equipment.
Examination
Home assignement: Individual reflection note, maximum 3 pages.
The note should describe the students reflextion regarding their own preformance regarding organization and execution of the field work:
what functioned well
potential for improvement
how did the interdisiplinary cooperation function regarding problem solving and interactions.
The cource is marked as passed/failed.
Examiners
One external and one internal examiner or two internal examiners.
Conditions for resit/rescheduled exams
If the home assignement is not passed, the student is allowed to deliver an improved version once, after feedback from the teacher.
Course evaluation
Evaluation after each assembly, and a final evaluation.
Literature
Compendia, scientific articles, and other relevant literature. More information will be provided at the start of the semester.