The practical component of this course will consist of a three day fieldtrip to the coast. The trip runs from the 30th March to the 1st of April (Friday to Sunday). All students are expected to attend the fieldtrip unless they have a legitimate excuse that is acceptable to Pat Backwell and the Head of Department.

There is a COMPULSORY practical on the 23rd of March. In this practical we will prepare for the fieldtrip and discuss Occupational Health and Safety Issues. It is a legal requirement that you attend this practical. If you miss it, you will not be allowed to go on the fieldtrip.

The fieldtrip will be a full-on practical experience and will take the place of laboratory classes. It will consist of six separate exercises, each will an assessment item associated with it. The field trip is not meant to be a holiday or a look-and-see type of trip. It is a serious working field trip. You will need to prepare for it, and you will need to complete the assignments after you return.

You will be given a fieldtrip booklet with instructions on the work you will do there, timetables, information, assignments etc. You can use this book to prepare for the work beforehand.

There is a cost ($120) associated with the fieldtrip. You will only be given the fieldtrip book when you take your $120 receipt to Audra Johnstone at the BoZo main office (Building 116). You need to pay for the trip and collect the book before the 23rd of March so that you can bring it to the compulsory practical. You pay at the Faculty Office in the Frank Fenner Building.

After you return from the fieldtrip there will be two practicals in which I teach you the statistics you will need to analyse your data. These will be on Friday 27 April and Friday 4 May.