Information for Earth Sciences Freshers
This section of the web site is for those who have met the conditions of their offer and been accepted for a degree in the Department of Earth Sciences or Natural Sciences at Durham for entry in October 2012. Earth Science includes all students who have been accepted for the following degrees; F600 Geology, F630 Environmental Geoscience, F641 Earth Sciences, F642 Geoscience and F662 Geophysics with Geology.
You will be arriving in Durham on Sunday 30th September 2012 and your lectures will start on Monday 8th October 2012. You should start to consider your choice of modules before you arrive in Durham. The following pages will provide advice on module choice.
Induction including registration will take place between Monday 1st and Friday 5th October 2012. Below are details of compulsory induction events.
| Date and Time | Department and Location | Purpose |
|
Monday 1st October 14:00-15:00 |
Earth Sciences. Room ES228/229, Earth Sciences, Science Site. |
Welcome. Dr James Baldini, Director of Undergraduate studies |
| Tuesday 2nd October 9:00 – 10:00 | Natural Sciences. Room ES231, Earth Sciences Department, Science Site | Welcome. Dr James Baldini, Director of Undergraduate Studies |
| Tuesday 2nd October 9:00 – 5:00 | Earth Sciences & Natural Sciences. Room ES228/229, Earth Sciences Department, Science Site | Registration & Module Approval. Mrs Janice Oakes, Departmental Administrator |
| Thursday 4th October 9:00 – 12:00 | Earth Sciences & Natural Sciences Room ES228/229, Earth Sciences Department, Science Site | Allocation of Departmental Advisers & Group Meetings. Field Trip Introduction Prof Bob Holdsworth |
| Friday 5th October 9:00 – 5:00 | Earth Sciences & Natural Sciences Room ES228/229, Earth Sciences Department, Science Site | One Day Field Trip. Prof Bob Holdsworth Cullercoates & Hartley Steps |
Follow the instructions on how to choose your modules and if you have any queries, please contact Mrs Janice Oakes, Departmental Administrator, see details below.
Meet your Departmental Advisor – Thursday 4th October, 09:00 - 12:00
In addition to your subject tutorials you will be allocated a Departmental Advisor. Your advisor will meet with you each term and be responsible for providing academic progress reviews and study advice throughout your degree. It is important that you meet regularly with your advisor so they are in a position to write references for you during and after your time in Durham.
Induction fieldtrip – Friday 5th October 9:00 - 17:00
Coastal Northumberland provides some of the best geological exposures in Britain. The rocks are Carboniferous sedimentary strata laid down in deltaic environments and include examples of the coal seams for which the NE of England is famous. We will visit some of these rocks in the cliffs at Hartley Steps, just north of St Mary’s Island (pictured). Younger Permian strata, in the form of dune-bedded desert sandstones and marine carbonates are also preserved in the coastal exposures at Cullercoats and record some of the earliest stages in the evolution of the oil- and gas-bearing North Sea Basin which lies offshore and to the east. We will introduce you here to the purpose and processes of fieldwork in the geosciences, showing you spectacular examples of various types of sedimentary rocks, geological faults and a discussion of some of the key processes involved in the formation and trapping of coal, mineral deposits and oil/gas in the sub-surface.
Photograph of St Mary’s Lighthouse
For more information about the Earth Sciences degree programmes, please contact:
Mrs Janice Oakes
Departmental Administrator & Registration Coordinator
Department of Earth Sciences
Science Laboratories
Durham University
DH1 3LE
Tel: 0191 334 2310
Fax: 0191 334 2301
Email: janice.oakes@durham.ac.uk
or
Dr James Baldini
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Earth Sciences
Science Laboratories
Durham University
DH1 3LE
Tel: 0191 334 2334
Fax: 0191 334 2301
Email: james.baldini@durham.ac.uk