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ESC-20106 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

ESC-20106 - Geographical and Environmental Field Skills
Coordinator: Daniel Allen Room: WSF11 Tel: +44 1782 7 34961
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations



Description for 2025/26

This module will equip you with the knowledge, skills and techniques about how to undertake fieldwork and independent research appropriate to the subjects of geography, environmental science, sustainability and ecology and conservation. You will practice your research skills in an unfamiliar real-world field setting, collect your own data and communicate and analyse your findings in a research report. You will also develop key research techniques and skills relevant to your third-year independent project and will also gain a range of technical, communication and analytical skills relevant to a range of careers.

Aims
This module aims to develop students' research skills applicable to the fields of geography, environmental science, sustainability and ecology and conservation. Students will gain experience of planning and executing fieldwork research in an unfamiliar real-world setting using appropriate techniques and skills. Students will learn how to communicate the research process, including research strategy, data collection, analysis and interpretation through a research report. The module also aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and methodologies required to design and undertake their independent research projects in Level 6 through the development of research proposal.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify a research question and write achievable, clear, aims, objectives and hypotheses: 2
design an appropriate research strategy relevant to the field of geography, environmental science, ecology and conservation, and environment and sustainability: 1,2
select and use the correct field techniques and methodologies to successfully complete research in the field and to collect reliable meaningful data: 1
conduct research safely, ethically, responsibly and sustainability in accordance with the RGS fieldwork principles: 1,2
integrate and apply knowledge of geographical, environmental science, ecological, conservation and sustainability issues to specific social, geographical and environmental contexts: 1,2
clearly and critically communicate the rationale for fieldwork, the methods chosen, the results and what they mean in the form a research report: 1

Study hours

12 x 2 hour seminars/active learning sessions
40 hours fieldwork
86 hours completing fieldwork portfolio assessments

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 70%
Fieldwork Report
A group (4-6 students) field work report (of around 3,000 words) on the themed research activities carried out whilst on the residential field course. Students will draft a fieldwork plan prior to the course, and receive feedback to improve their planned activities and ensure safe and ethical fieldwork will be carried out. The fieldwork report will include the rationale and context for the field activities carried out, clear methodologies, the presentation and interpretation of data collected, and a discussion of impacts and solutions to any issues raised.

2: Research Proposal weighted 30%
Dissertation Research Proposal
Students will submit a detailed research proposal of around 1,500 words that will form the basis of their Level 6 independent research (dissertation) project. The proposal will follow a template and comprise key components such as a clear rationale (underpinned by a brief literature review), aims and objectives, clear and reproducible methodologies, justification of resources, a research plan, and will include awareness of research ethics and a risk assessment.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025