This course is intended to give students practical experience in the design and implementation of a research project in physical geography. Students choose a project topic that focuses on natural processes in the environment. They then choose the methods for which they intend to explore these processes and use these methods to collect data in the field that will be analyzed to make an informed argument about these processes. Research projects are focused on recording existing conditions in the environment and the methods used include vegetation surveys and mapping; looking at fire and wind damage and re-vegetation, earth movement through slides and slumps, morphology of streams and beaches, etc. The class provides its own research equipment but will want to access data of past surveys, maps and photo documentation. In some cases tree or sediment cores may be taken for analysis or beach sand may be taken to determine grain size. Any use of flagging or other markers will be taken up by the end of the weekend.

Approved