Welcome

This blog is written by the Environmental and Geographical Sciences team at the University of Northampton. This will keep you up to date with both student and staff activities.

The Environmental and Geographical Sciences team includes staff with interests in biological sciences, conservation, ecology, environmental sciences, environmental statistics, geography and waste management. We offer a range of degree programmes and have a number of postgraduate research students. For more information about studying with us please visit http://www.northampton.ac.uk/.

Monday 31 October 2016

Geography fieldwork in central London

At the end of October three groups of geography students travelled down to central London for a day of fieldwork.
An early start

First year students have been exploring representations of place in their GEO1006 Introducing Human Geographies class.  They have been reflecting on what type of information is presented on maps - and what missing.  To examine this themselves in the field, they worked in groups to develop a walking trail for visitors to central London, including themes and locations not usually covered in a tourist trail.
Meeting outside Newton building

The coaches await!

An opportunity for students of different year groups to get to know each other

Second year students taking GEO2030 Transport travelled across the city using various types of public transport, to better understand connectivity in transport networks.

Dr Chris Holt took third year students doing GEO3124 Water Resource Management on a tour of rivers in London.  They considered how water is managed in the capital.
Dr Chris Holt enjoying the banter on the bus!

Tuesday 25 October 2016

Learning about the social construction of childhood

Third year Geography students recently spent a day in London, looking at the social construction of childhood.
Getting ready for the trip

Meeting at Northampton train station - an early start to the day

The students - all of whom are studying GEO3007 Children's Geographies - visited the Museum of Childhood and the National Portrait Gallery.

At the Museum of Childhood they looked at how experiences of childhood have varied over time.  There were also opportunities for us to critically reflect on our own childhood experiences - and to play with some toys!
Learning about how childhood has changed over time

Learning about the development of board games (or auditioning for a role as a game show host?)

Trying out some of the games
After a lunch break near Trafalgar Square, the group visited the National Portrait Gallery.  This provided opportunities to critically reflect on representations of childhood - and to consider how these have changed over time.
Taking a break to explore some of the National Portrait Gallery's collections online
A bit tired after a busy day!


Friday 21 October 2016

Students visit Natural History Museum

This week second year Geography and Environmental Science students taking GEO2114 Earth Science visited the Natural History Museum in London.


Meeting outside Newton building at 8.00am
Lots of enthusiasm for an early start!
The group explored a number of galleries.  They focused on rocks and minerals, and examined fossils - and dinosaurs! - too.
The minibus awaits!