Students studying Geography at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham have enjoyed another academic year of fascinating fieldtrips to locations in London, Europe and the Caribbean. First year students visited the River Crane in London to investigate river geomorphology, and also went to the Peak District to undertake human and physical geography projects.
Second year students visited Malta in March, enjoying a week of research into cultural and physical aspects of the island. The fieldtrip included research into the unique geology of the island along with an opportunity to understand the experiences of Malta’s migrant communities.
In January 2013 a group of around 20 final year students from the Geography, Tourism and Sociology courses spent a week on the island of Grenada in the Eastern Caribbean. Students were given a warm welcome to the lifestyle and culture of Grenada, and researched the influence of British and French colonialism, current issues in the tourism industry, and the importance of spices, such as nutmeg, to the island’s economy, culture and identity.
Third year students were also able to attend the first research expedition from St Mary’s to the French Alps. In the beautiful scenery of the Mont Blanc region, students researched a diverse range of ecological and geomorphological projects concerning climate, glacial retreat and alpine stream ecology, and took a trip by cable car, more than 3800m above sea level, to Aiguille du Midi. One of the students said “The Alpine fieldtrip was a great time away in an amazing setting. It was a fascinating insight into how real research is done in the field. My Geography degree at St Mary’s has inspired me to pursue a career in teaching geography, thanks to the knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly staff.”
Dr Iain Cross, St Mary’s lecturer, said “Fieldtrips and original research are an essential part of the St Mary’s Geography degree. The Alpine expedition is an outstanding opportunity for students to experience the challenging process of independent field research and to understand the complexities of a dynamic physical environment. I’m already looking forward to returning next year!”
To find out more about Geography at St Mary’s and the fieldtrip opportunities, contact Dr Iain Cross on iain.cross@stmarys.ac.uk.
Second year students visited Malta in March, enjoying a week of research into cultural and physical aspects of the island. The fieldtrip included research into the unique geology of the island along with an opportunity to understand the experiences of Malta’s migrant communities.
In January 2013 a group of around 20 final year students from the Geography, Tourism and Sociology courses spent a week on the island of Grenada in the Eastern Caribbean. Students were given a warm welcome to the lifestyle and culture of Grenada, and researched the influence of British and French colonialism, current issues in the tourism industry, and the importance of spices, such as nutmeg, to the island’s economy, culture and identity.
Third year students were also able to attend the first research expedition from St Mary’s to the French Alps. In the beautiful scenery of the Mont Blanc region, students researched a diverse range of ecological and geomorphological projects concerning climate, glacial retreat and alpine stream ecology, and took a trip by cable car, more than 3800m above sea level, to Aiguille du Midi. One of the students said “The Alpine fieldtrip was a great time away in an amazing setting. It was a fascinating insight into how real research is done in the field. My Geography degree at St Mary’s has inspired me to pursue a career in teaching geography, thanks to the knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly staff.”
Dr Iain Cross, St Mary’s lecturer, said “Fieldtrips and original research are an essential part of the St Mary’s Geography degree. The Alpine expedition is an outstanding opportunity for students to experience the challenging process of independent field research and to understand the complexities of a dynamic physical environment. I’m already looking forward to returning next year!”
To find out more about Geography at St Mary’s and the fieldtrip opportunities, contact Dr Iain Cross on iain.cross@stmarys.ac.uk.Media enquiries
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