EOSC 473/573

EOSC 473/573 - Oceanographic Methods

2020 SYLLABUS

Methods of data acquisition, study and analysis required in solving oceanographic problems. Includes a field school held during the mid-term break. A fee is to be paid. Open to third- and fourth-year students in Oceanography, or with permission of the Department Head.

Schedule Tu-Th, 9:30-11:00, EOS-Main 201, and Bamfield Marine Science Centre, Feb 16-22.

Instructors

  • Prof. Maite Maldonado (office: ESB 2067, tel: 604-822-4198, email: mmaldonado@eoas.ubc.ca)
  • Prof. Rich Pawlowicz (office: ESB 3016, tel: 604-822-1356, email:rpawlowicz@eoas.ubc.ca)
  • TA – Patrick Pata (office: AERL 314.03, tel: 236-979-7282, email: p.pata@oceans.ubc.ca)

Web Page https://sites.google.com/site/eosc473/home

Philosophy

This course will introduce students to the techniques and processes of modern scientific investigation. In one term all of the major steps in a research program will be carried out - preliminary fieldwork, a research proposal, focused fieldwork, informal seminars, a data report, a formal conference presentation, and a final journal-style article. In addition, students will gain hands-on experience in the sampling techniques of the 3 oceanographic subdisciplines.

The scientific part of the course will be centered around one week field trip to Bamfield Marine Science Centre during the spring break. The field trip will begin with a number of sampling exercises. While at Bamfield, a short research proposal will be submitted. Data gathered during this trip will be analyzed and results submitted in a final report.

Due to the nature of this course the workload will vary tremendously over the term. There is little to do before the field trip, and a great deal of work to be done afterwards. Please plan accordingly!

Costs

Transport and lodging at Bamfield is a significant cost. A fee of $420 per student is required for this course which will cover all expenses (transport, lodging, food). You can pay online.

Safety

While at Bamfield, you will be working in the laboratory, using chemicals (e.g. acetone, formalin, phenol, etc.) that may be harmful to you if not properly handle. Therefore, to ensure your personal safety, you will need to take the online UBC Chemical Safety Course by February 12, 2020. If you do not complete this online course, you will not be able to participate in the Bamfield field trip. The UBC Chemical Safety Course consists of 7 online modules ending in quizzes, and an online final exam. It is the first course listed at (https://srs.ubc.ca/health-safety/research-safety/chemical-safety/chemical-safety-training/). To register, you will only need your CWL. Completing this online course should take you about 2 hours. When you pass the final exam, you are required to take a screen shot and e-mail it to us, as a proof of completion.

In addition to this online course, you have the option to take the practical session that complements the chemical safety online material. If you do so, you will receive a Chemical Safety Certificate, which will be free to you, as a UBC student. [Note that this Chemical Safety Certificate cost $250 for non-UBC students/faculty/staff]. The practical session is 2 hours and is offered throughout January, twice a week for the weeks of January 6 and 13, and three times per week for the weeks of January 20 & 27. There are morning and afternoon session, in order to accommodate students schedules. If you end up taking this practical, you will have a personalized Chemical Safety Certificate (i.e. a pdf of your certificate with your with your name on it).

Evaluation

Total marks for the course are divided as follows:

  1. Research proposal - due on Wednesday, February 19th at 6pm in Bamfield (10%). Two pages in length maximum, including figures.
  2. Fieldwork Participation (5%). This mark is assigned by the instructors and TAs based on participation in the fieldwork and the quality of the informal evening seminars.
  3. Sampling exercise summary (“Group Data Report”) - due in class March 5th (10%). Two or 3 pages in length (not including figures) for each discipline (biology, chemistry and physics), giving a quick explanation of data recorded (good examples will be provided)
  4. Final Oral Presentations (“Conference”) - just before exams (20%), a 10 minute oral presentation.
  5. First draft of Written report (“Paper”) – to be reviewed by your colleagues in class on March 26th
  6. Final Written report (“Paper”) - rough draft (5%) due April 7th, final version (50%) due April 23rd. Please note that 10% per day is deducted for any late report.

Detailed expectations will be given elsewhere but in general marks will be given on a letter scale with the meaning:

  • A - Excellent
  • B - Competent
  • C - Passable
  • D - Just barely acceptable
  • F - Not acceptable

Although the coursework for graduate students in EOSC573 and undergraduate students in EOSC473 is the same, the quality of work expected for graduate students is somewhat higher. You can work on your own or in groups for any or the entire course, with two exceptions:

  1. Graduate and undergraduates should not submit joint final reports except in special circumstances (this causes marking difficulties...)
  2. Final oral presentations CANNOT be made as a group and each talk must “stand alone”.

If you wish to work with others let instructors know in advance.

Course Schedule

See Syllabus above.