From Mountain to Fjord – Geology and Ecology of Western Norway

From Mountain to Fjord is an environmental programme focusing on interdisciplinary natural science with a main emphasis on the geology and ecology of western Norway. The Faculty is located at the shores of the Sogndalsfjord, a tributary of the famous Sognefjord in Western Norway. The area spans across a variety of ecosystems over very short distances ranging from alpine through lowland into the marine fjord environment. This landscape offers a unique natural laboratory for fieldwork and research. Students have to pay about 2000,- NOK  for excursions / fieldwork according to the HSF rules and regulations on accommodation and travel expenses. (NOTE: no tuition fees).

The course qualifies for 30ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits, corresponding to one semester of fulltime academic study.

International Bachelor students who wish to take an interdisciplinary education unit in Norway. This also includes students within the European Erasmus exchange programme and Norwegian students. The From Mountain to Fjord course provides additional qualification for students of biology, geography, geology and environmental sciences.

Students who apply for the “From Mountain to Fjord” course have to document at least 90ECTS credits, i.e. 1.5 years of academic study, at the time of their application. Credits should have been gained within the fields of biology, earth sciences, ecology, environmental sciences, geology or physical geography. The number of students is limited to 24 and student admission will be ranged according to relevance of the field of study and number of credits gained in this field at the time of application. Note that the From Mountain to Fjord course is only exceptional suited for post-Bachelor students.

The course is interdisciplinary and focuses on the interaction of ecological documentation and geological source interpretation within the changing environment. The main concept is (a) to understand the formation of selected ecosystems based on bedrock geology, glacial geology and fjord hydrography; (b) to describe these selected ecosystems using vegetation ecology, fjord biology and limnology; and (c) to conclude with the significance of fjord and freshwater sediments for the interpretation of environmental change along ecological gradients. The understanding of the total process provides an effective tool for the identification and timing of environmental change.

 The course consists of three main blocks, involving a total of 21 days of fieldwork on land and on fjords:

• Block 1: GE476 Geological aspects of Western Norway (10ECTS)
• Block 2: GE477 Glaciers and Ecology (10ECTS)
• Block 3: GE478 Fjord Processes (10ECTS)

 Please refer to the course homepage for details.

http://www.hisf.no/en/home/studies/from_mountain_to_fjord_autumn

Teaching methods include lectures and a science project with fieldwork and laboratory practice. Most of the practical exercises and / or laboratory work are compulsory.

After finishing the course the students will have an understanding of environmental change across natural gradients from mountain to fjord, and how these are influenced by human activity. The students shall be able to reconstruct natural conditions of temperature- and vegetation zones, crossing diverse geological and hydrographical units. The students shall be able to use lake and fjord deposits as an effective tool for interpreting a variety of environmental change in space and time.

Approved field and laboratory reports.

Block I: Geological aspects of Western Norway: 10ects credits
Journals (one third of total)

Block II: Glaciers and ecology: 10ects credits
4 hours written exam (one third of total)

Block III: Fjord processes: 10ects credits
Journal and presentation at a (public) seminar (one third of total)

Actual scientific articles; changes from year to year.