Arctic Ecology Laboratory

Antarctic Field Course - Curriculum

The program will focus on:

• Processes and interactions among the major components of the Antarctic system and their importance to global phenomenona.
• Current research in marine and terrestrial biology, oceanography, climatology, glaciology, geology and human geography.
• The importance of multidisciplinary research in Antarctic system science.
• The critical role of remote sensing and GIS technologies in Antarctic research.
• Early exploration of the world's coldest, windiest, driest and highest continent.
• How science in Antarctica is being pursued by over 45 nations in a spirit of international cooperation and collaboration, not competition.
• Lessons learned from the history of four eras:
  • Early whaling/sealing
  • Exploration
  • Science and international politics
  • The current climate of tourism/adventure/environmental research.

Courses
Students will be required to enroll for a minimum of four credits (cr), maximum of six, from the following courses:

1. ANR 475
   International Studies in Agriculture and Natural Resources (2-6 cr)
2. FW 491/891
   Special Topics in Fisheries and Wildlife (1-5 cr)
3. FW 490
   Independent Studies in Fisheries and Wildlife (1-5 cr)
4. PLB 490
   Directed Studies in Plant Biology (1-4 cr)
5. PLB 498
   Undergraduate Research in Plant Biology (1-4 cr)

ANR 475 / NSC 491 / FW 491 - 3 credits

Exam on prescribed reading material soon after arrival in Ushuaia (20%)

Randomly assigned oral presentation delivered in Ushuaia following voyage (10%)

Two short answer exams based on oral presentations, prescribed reading material, onboard lectures and post voyage lectures and discussions (20% each)

Daily journal for loading on a web site, compiled for each day of the trip and handed in prior to the return trip to Detroit (30%)

FW 490 / PLB 490 / NSC 490 - 3 credits

Multiple field reports following field excursions in Antarctica (30%)

Group projects of 3-5 students to coordinate retrieval of reference material and provide a forum for discussion with faculty. Assessment will be a poster presentation (30%) and term paper (40%) due 1 month after the trip (Feb 13th).

No prior knowledge of any of these subject areas is required
Independent research projects can be accommodated - please see us.

Summary of Proposed Curriculum Itinerary Day #: 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-12 13-14 15-20 21-22 February 13 Date: Dec 13-14 Dec 15-16 Dec 17-18 Dec 19-24 Dec 25-26 Dec 27-Jan 1 Jan 2-3 Travel: X           X   Ushuaia:   X       X     Drake Passage     X   X       Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula       X         ANR 475 / NSC 491 / FW 491 3 Credits 3 Exams, 20% Each   X       X     Oral 10%           X     Journal 30%           X     FW 490 / PLB 490 / NSC 490 3 credits Field Reports 30%       X         Poster 30%               X Term Paper 40%               X

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