Geography, Geology and the Environment

 I hope you’re looking forward to starting your degree at Keele in September.  These Applied Environmental Science Welcome Web pages aim to help you prepare to come to Keele and to help you settle in quickly when you're here.

One thing to note is that there will be a compulsory field course on Saturday 13th October to help you to get to know us and each other and to find out more about what Applied Environmental Science at Keele is all about. It's important that you keep this date free and make sure you have the clothing you need to work safely outside (see Fieldwork).

If you’re keen to get started with some reading to prepare you for the course then I’d recommend purchasing the following book:

Jackson, A.R.W. and Jackson, J.M. (2000) Environmental Science: The natural environment and human impact. Prentice Hall.

In addition, to give you a good introduction to the variety of cutting edge research being carried out by Environmental Scientists I would recommend looking at the ‘Planet Earth’ publication of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). 

I look forward to welcoming you to Keele and to the Applied Environmental Science course at the end of September.

If you have any queries about the course please don’t hesitate to contact me, Dr Katie Szkornik (course director): email: k.szkornik@keele.ac.uk, Tel: 01782 733614.

Dr Katie Szkornik

Course Director for Applied Environmental Science

Although we don’t expect you do have been doing preparatory reading for the course, if you are keen to get started and do some background reading I would recommend purchasing the following book, which will prove useful throughout your course:

Jackson, A.R.W. and Jackson, J.M. (2000) Environmental Science: The Natural Environment and Human Impact.  Prentice Hall

Another useful book to look at is:

Porteous, A. (2000) Dictionary of Environmental Science and Technology (3rd edition).  Wiley

To help you in your transition to university and the development of your study skills at university I would also recommend purchasing:

Kneale, P. (2011) Study Skills for Geography, Earth and Environmental Science Students. Hodder Education.

You don’t have to buy these books as they (along with a large number of other relevant texts) will be available in the library at Keele.  You will be directed to further reading throughout the course when you arrive at Keele.

To give you a good background in the variety of cutting edge research being carried out by Environmental Scientists I would recommend looking at the ‘Planet Earth’ publication of the Natural Environment Research Council.  You can look at it on line or even register to receive free copies of this magazine every quarter.

Other things to bring with you include:

• A diary (academic year)
• A scientific calculator
• A good stock of stationary, including files and folders, a stapler, etc…

The University will provide you with Enrolement Information about arriving and registering at Keele. Make sure you check those details before looking at the details below, which relate just to your sessions with Applied Environmental Science.

Week 1 is 'Welcome Week' during which you will complete your official registration and enrolement with the University alongside attending a number of welcome and induction sessions relating to Applied Environmental Science (and also your other dual honours subject). During these sessions you will receive important information about the AES course so it is important that you attend.

During Welcome Week there are three important sessions relating to your AES course that you are required to attend:

1. Monday 24th September 2012, 9-10 am (room to be confirmed) - 'Welcome and Indorduction to the Applied Environmental Science Course'.
2. Tuesday 25th September 2012, 3:30 - 5:30 pm (room to be confirmed) - 'How to make a success of your degree - study skills session'.
3. Friday 28th September 2012, (room to be confirmed) - 'Field trip - An introduction to Keele campus'. Please note that much of this session will be outside on Keele campus and hence you should come prepared with suitable walking shoes (or boots) and waterproofs etc (see Fieldwork).

During Welcome Week you will also meet with your personal tutor. Details on this will be confirmed in due course.

Fieldwork is an essential part of your Applied Environmental Science degree, and throughout your degree you will learn many essential field skills for the environmental scientist from ecological identification to water sampling and geochemical analysis.  You will work in a wide range of locations from coastal habitats, areas of forestry, to areas of contaminated land and past mining activities to pristine mountain environments. 

During your AES degree you will attend two compulsory residential fielcourses, one to North Wales in April of your first year, and one to the European Alps or to the English Lake District in the Spring/early summer of your second year.  You will be informed of the exact dates as soon as these are finalised.

Your first fieldcourse will be a day trip in the local area to Barlaston Downs, highlighting the diversity of the subject of Environmental Science, and providing an opportunity to get to know the other students and the staff teaching on the AES course.  This will take place on Saturday 13th October 2012.  It is important that you attend this field course so please make sure you keep this date free.

As Environmental Scientists we often find ourselves carrying out fieldwork in less than ideal weather conditions, therefore you are strongly advised to ensure that you have a good set of outdoor equipment at the beginning of your degree. This should include:

• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• A small capacity rucksack
• Hat and gloves
• Clipboard

Fieldwork Costs: A substantial part of the cost of fieldwork is borne by the School; however, you will be required to pay part of the cost of each course. The exact amount payable will be posted on the AES Year 1 notice board at the beginning of the Autumn Semester.

If you have any queries or concerns about coming to Keele or starting your Applied Environmental Science degree, please feel free to contact the AES Course Director, Dr Katie Szkornik (email: k.szkornik@keele.ac.uk).

Additional information which you may find helpful:

• Keele University Welcome Web:
• Keele University Welcome Week events
• Applied Environmental Science course information for current students

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