IRF32621 Field Research (Autumn 2022)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Elective course in Bachelor of Engineering study programmes. 

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.

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 summer/winter

• be healthy enough to stay in tents in mountains at high altitudes for 2 weeks 

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.