Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
 

 

The students become familiar with the key processes controlling nutrient dynamics in aquatic environments.
They obtain knowledge about the societal, economical, and environmental implications of anthropogenic perturbations of the nutrient dynamics in aquatic environments. Students learn how to design experiments or how to plan the collection and analyses of environmental samples in order to answer research questions.
Furthermore, they learn how to combine experimental data and field measurements and to integrate them with knowledge from scientific literature in order to answer the research questions and to evaluate the obtained information in a broader context. 

The fieldwork consists of three parts: a preparation period in Utrecht, a field campaign, and a period of data interpretation and report writing in Utrecht. During the preparation period, the students give presentations related to the subject and the objectives of the fieldwork. Furthermore, they practice analytical procedures and experimental methods which are required during the fieldwork. During the fieldwork campaign, water samples from rivers, estuaries, and marine locations are collected and analyzed. Additionally, sediment cores will be taken and analyzed. Laboratory experiments are conducted in order to quantify individual processes related to the nutrient fluxes in the investigated environments. The analytical and experimental data are finally integrated in order to characterize the trophic state of the investigated systems, to determine the nutrient fluxes between the different compartments of the systems, and to investigate the interplay between physical and biological processes in controlling the nutrient dynamics. The results of the fieldwork are presented in reports

Development of transferable skills

• Leadership: Students work in teams; each day someone takes the task of the team leader who takes the responsibility that the team activities are target orientated and  who reports about the team activities.
• Ability to work in a team: All tasks are performed in teams. The teams often operate independently during field campaigns. Important hereby is making decisions about the selection of sampling sites and sampling approaches.
• Written communication skills: Results of fieldwork are presented in reports. Feedback is given on the reports and students have to revise the reports based on the comments.
• Verbal communication skills: Students have to give scientific presentations about a subject related to nutrient dynamics in aqueous environments.
• Problem-solving skills: In the field, teams often have to define a strategy for fulfilling the assigned tasks, including the identification of sampling sites and performing the sampling.
• Analytical/quantitative skills: students have to integrate the data collected in the field and in the laboratory, in combination with knowledge from scientific literature and model calculations, in order to answer the allocated research questions.
• Flexibility/adaptability: Depending on conditions and observations during field campaigns and during laboratory work, the sampling programme or the analytical / experimental approach have to be adjusted.
• Technical skills: students are introduced to a variety of methods to characterize the chemical and physical properties of water or sediment samples. They are introduced to methods to determine processes and fluxes in situ or in laboratory experiments.

Please note: There are only a limited number of places available. A pre-registration will be preformed and announced via Blackboard to evaluate whether a selection will be necessary. In case a selection has to be performed the criteria will be: 1) participation in the pre-registration 2) participation in MSc courses with biogeochemical signature (GEO4-1439, GEO4-1440). The field campaign will be organized as a research field campaign, implying that we are striving to make maximum use of the time we are in Brittany for collecting and analyzing samples but also for processing and discussing data. We therefore expect that students perform with full commitment and involvement. Also the preparation period of two weeks in Utrecht will be full time, 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. 

Please note: Registration for this course only during the regular registration period. Late registration is not possible. After enrollment to the course, the students will have to pay a financial contribution until 1st of May. The financial contribution is not refundable if the student decides not to participate at the fieldwork after 1st of May.