GEMOC ARC National Key Centre

Teaching and training program

 

undergraduate

 

the teaching aims

 

• to provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with a broad, integrative understanding of Earth architecture and processes, bridging the discipline boundaries of geology and geophysics
• to train undergraduate and postgraduate students in new conceptual approaches and the applications of advanced technology, including geochemical analysis techniques and the integrated field and laboratory use of geographic information systems (GIS)
• to develop international links in teaching programs (especially postgraduate) relevant to GEMOC's goals
• to develop formal tailored coursework components at postgraduate level which also can be packaged for distance education delivery and as short courses available to the mining industry
• to enhance the pool of high quality geoscience graduates by restructuring academic programs to attract a new clientele

 

 

undergraduate training

 

The teaching program has four short-term objectives in addition to the overall teaching aims outlined above:

• to reform the undergraduate curriculum
• to strengthen Geophysics training
• to introduce GIS-based philosophy and practice to both fieldwork and laboratory work
• to introduce a general-interest course to attract different clientele

 

 

actions 1996

 

curriculum development

GEMOC aims to promote geoscience as an interesting, vital area which is a relevant and essential part of today's world. Changes are being introduced in undergraduate teaching to

• attract a wider clientele to the geosciences
• develop a continuing interest in geoscience within the student body

In 1996 changes concentrated in the first and second year courses at Macquarie:

In Planet Earth (GEOS 112) (in cooperation with the Physical Geography area) we have planned the first of a series of voluntary field trips in which staff will guide students through a simple, hands-on, 3-day excursion aimed at promoting interest in the Earth Sciences.

In Materials of the Earth (GEOS 115) curriculum development reflects the changing interests of students, including

• incorporating lectures and practicals in hydrogeology, engineering geology and environmental geology, and increasing the emphasis on map reading skills
• innovative teaching methods using CD-ROMs and virtual fieldtrips which lead the students through topics and are then reinforced using more conventional teaching methods
• using a small group tutorial structure

Earth's Evolving Environment (GEOS272) was introduced in second year to attract a wider clientele and was very successful with over 60 students.

A new Bachelor of Technology in Exploration Geoscience has been planned at Macquarie - the first one in geology/ geophysics since the introduction of the B. Tech at Macquarie some 5 years ago. This will be submitted for formal consideration by the appropriate University committees in May 1997.
A new third year unit "Metallogeny of Continents" has been approved in principle by the School of Earth Sciences.

Flow sheets (Appendix 6) have been prepared to assist students with enrolment decisions.

In 1996 at the ANU, a major restructuring of undergraduate courses for introduction in 1997 has occurred including:

• offer of a single introductory Earth science unit in the first semester with the Department of Geography, followed by streaming in the second semester
• explicit introduction of geochemistry as a primary component of 2nd year units

Geographic Information Systems in teaching

GIS technology is used widely within the resource sector and we aim to produce graduates who are experienced with the approach and the application of GIS software. To this end we have worked in four main ways:

• Introduction of GIS-based practicals into undergraduate teaching at Macquarie. A GIS component has been introduced into Introduction to Field Geology (GEOS224). Students collect data in the field using GPS units and are guided through a simple data entry and manipulation exercise. More complex student-centred practicals using GIS are being set up for subsequent courses in second and third year.
• Purchase of lap-top computers ($65,000 grant from Macquarie) and MapInfo" software for routine use in the field and classroom. This facility will be used for data management, image analysis and spatially-based databases. When installed in the classroom in early 1997, the computers will be networked to aid technology exchange programs and teaching via the html environment. In the field the computers will allow rapid on-site analysis of data and involve the students in planning decisions.
• Introduction of a new 3rd year unit at the ANU (Geologic Information Systems: GEOL3009) incorporating computer-based analysis of remotely- and directly-acquired geologic and geophysical data
• Organising formal training for staff in the use of the MapInfo system

 

 

Publicity

 

The world wide web is delivering information into the home and workplace. Clients of the web include students, researchers and companies within Australia and overseas. Web pages have been set up for both GEMOC and the Geology area. These are linked to sites of CSIRO partners.

These sites aim to

• promote geosciences to students, researchers and the wider community
• provide information on Geology courses at Macquarie and ANU
• promote the research and technical activities of GEMOC
• introduce staff of GEMOC and Geology

To attract more high quality geoscience graduates, GEMOC has targeted high school students, geology teachers and careers advisers. Emphasis is placed on the variety, flexibility and interesting nature of jobs available. The need for geoscience-trained graduates in "non-traditional" jobs such as the public service and other decision-making areas and in environmental-related jobs into the next vital decade is promoted.

Through 1996 we have:

• prepared informative, colourful brochures about geology/geophysics undergraduate courses
• prepared multi-purpose displays about geology and geophysics and job-information bulletin boards
• promoted careers in Earth Science via information days for Earth Science teachers and careers advisers
• placed a member on the Earth Science Education Facility Steering Committee
• attended careers market days for local high school students
• organised talks on careers in geoscience at local high schools

 

 

Staffing actions relevant to undergraduate teaching

 

Chair of Geology at Macquarie

• Macquarie University has offered the Chair of Geology (in a field relevant to GEMOC) to Professor Paul Morgan from the University of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff. He has broad experience in teaching and research across geology and geophysics with special expertise in the thermal state of the Earth and other planets.
• At the ANU node an offer of a senior level appointment was eventually declined during 1996- a renewed search at senior (Level D/E) is ongoing simultaneously with an appointment process at a junior level (B/C) - both positions are currently being pursued as joint appointments with the Research School of Earth Sciences.
• Macquarie University advertised in 1996 for a Lecturer in a field relevant to GEMOC (see advertisement in Appendix 7). An offer has been made with the expectation of commencement in second semester, 1997.
• Advertisement of another lecturing position is under negotiation.

Geophysics

• Dr Karsten Gohl (seismic speciality) has been appointed Lecturer in the School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie. This has resulted in enhanced cooperation with geophysics at the University of Sydney and a greater interface with the Mineral Exploration Technology CRC at Macquarie.
• Dr Yvette Poudjom-Djomani, a geophysicist (potential field speciality) has accepted a 3-year GEMOC post-doctoral position and will also have input to higher level teaching.
• Dr Pram Chopra has taken up a half-time GEMOC Fellowship in GIS applications.

 

 

GEMOC honours

 

GEMOC offers scholarships for students with excellent undergraduate records who are carrying out GEMOC-related projects.

The following projects commenced in 1996 with GEMOC Honours Scholarships

Macquarie

Tim Chambers: Tertiary volcanic history of the Mount Royal Ranges
Venessa Bennett: A re-evaluation of the Great Serpentinite Belt and surrounding rocks and the tectonic significance to the Peel Fault
Tom Nicholson: Petrology, magnetic characteristics, metamorphic aureole and shape of the Termeil gabbro

ANU

Katie Devlin: The albitite units at Broken Hill

The following projects have been set up for 1997 with GEMOC Honours Scholarships

Macquarie

Mark Pirlo: Silica heat flow and groundwater geochemistry

ANU

Margaret Chorley: Granite petrogenesis and associated mineralisation in the Tenterfield Region, NSW
Megan James: Granite petrogenesis and associated mineralisation west of Wellington, NSW
Ian McIntosh: Experimental studies of sulfide stability in the ore bodies of Broken Hill, NSW
Carl Spandler: Spinel and PGE geochemistry of the Greenhills Complex, New Zealand

 

 

postgraduate students

 

 

 

Macquarie: commenced 1996

Elena Belousova (PhD): Zircon and apatite geochemistry: applications to petrology and mineral exploration. Collaborative with CRA
Xu Xisheng (PhD, exchange, Nanjing University): The lithospheric mantle beneath eastern China
Shixin Yao (PhD): Chromite as a petrogenetic indicator in ultramafic rocks. Collaborative with CRA

Ongoing 1996

Rondi Davies (PhD): East Australian Diamonds: Characterisation and origin. Collaborative with CRA
Oliver Gaul (PhD): Composition of the Lithospheric Mantle beneath Australia. Collaborative with Stockdale Prospecting
Joanne McCarron (MSc): Mantle xenoliths from Queensland and South Australia

Awards granted 1996 for 1997

Olivier Alard (PhD): Trace element geochemistry and mantle domains, emphasis on PGE and Re/Os. (OPRA with MUPRA stipend)
Eloise Beyer (PhD): Contrasting characteristics of Proterozoic and Phanerozoic mantle types. Collaboration with Ashton Mining
Will Powell (PhD): New England lithosphere. APA
Chakkaphan Sutthirat (PhD): Corundum, basalts and mantle xenoliths from Thailand. Royal Thailand Scholarship

ANU: commenced 1996

Ulrike Troitzsch (PhD): Metamorphism of mafic rocks in the crust and mantle
Tony Kemp (PhD): Aspects of low pressure partial melting

Ongoing 1996

Colleen Bryant (PhD): Geochemistry of volcanic ashes from the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc systems, and a geochemical traverse of the Kurile-Hokkaido arc
X. Teng (MSc): Petrology of the trans-Tanakura Tectonic Line (a lithosphere-penetrating fault in Honshu) island arc transect
Liankun Sha (PhD): Accessory minerals (especially phosphates) in granites of the Lachlan Fold Belt; theoretical modelling of ordering-disordering in silicate minerals
Alfredo Camacho (PhD, jointly with RSES): The geology of the Musgrave Ranges, Central Australia
Geoff Fraser (PhD, jointly with RSES): The metamorphism and cooling history of the Lutzow-Holm Bay area, Antarctica
Greg Cameron (PhD, jointly with Dr John Walshe, CSIRO): The origin of Au mineralisation at Porgera
Eugene Bastrakov (PhD, jointly with Dr John Walshe, CSIRO): The geology and geochemistry of the Lake Cowal deposit, NSW

international exchange students

One of GEMOC's goals is to create international and exchange links at the postgraduate level. In 1996 Rondi Davies from Macquarie spent 3 months in the diamond laboratory at Imperial College and the following postgraduate students undertook significant research periods at Macquarie:

Erik Wulff-Pedersen (University of Oslo): Canary Islands mantle and the nature of oceanic lithosphere
Shaohai Chen (Academia Sinica, Beijing): Geochemical and geothermal nature and lithospheric section beneath Hannuoba, central Sino-Korean craton
Jianping Zheng (China University of Geosciences at Wuhan): Mantle characteristics in Shandong Province