GEOG309-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Research for Resilient Environments and Communities

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

This course will develop your ability to undertake research that supports resilient environments and communities. Drawing on problem-based and service learning approaches, you will design and complete a research project in collaboration with a community partner. The training, practice and critical evaluation of the research will be carried out in groups, and you will communicate your research findings using spoken, numerical and written skills. The course begins with a short fieldtrip, and then progresses through occasional lectures and regular project group meetings, supported by web-based resources. It concludes with a public conference. The emphasis is on students working together to solve real world problems using skills that are transferable to the workplace.

Learning Outcomes

  • The goal of this course is to develop students’ abilities to undertake geographical research, whilst gaining an appreciation of how to work in the community on ‘real’ issues, and developing team-work skills.

    Students successfully completing this course should have an understanding of:
  • How to conceive, develop and execute a research project using problem-based learning
  • How to work successfully with others using service learning
  • How research is framed by broader conceptual and analytical frameworks
  • Effective research design

    Students will be able to:
  • Undertake and deliver a research programme in a specified amount of time
  • Work effectively in groups
  • Select and use appropriate geographical techniques in research
  • Reflect critically on their research and that of others
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Biculturally competent and confident

      Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

      Engaged with the community

      Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Prerequisites

30 points of GEOG at 200 level, or
ENVR209/GEOG209 and ENVR210

Restrictions

GEOG204, GEOG303

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 15:00 - 18:00 Rehua 009
14 Jul - 20 Jul
18 Aug - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 14 Sep
22 Sep - 28 Sep
13 Oct - 19 Oct
Field Trip A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 15:00 - 18:00 Christchurch/local region
21 Jul - 27 Jul
Field Trip B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Saturday 09:00 - 09:00 Living Springs
21 Jul - 27 Jul
Presentation A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Saturday 09:00 - 17:00 C2 Lecture Theatre (4/10)
C1 Lecture Theatre (4/10)
29 Sep - 5 Oct

Timetable Note

There is an out of town 2-day residential workshop for all students on Saturday 27th July and Sunday 28th July. There is also an end of course all day Conference on Saturday 5th October. Attendance at both is a course requirement and is compulsory.

Course Coordinator

Simon Kingham

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Group mana whenua engagement report 5%
Individual critical review of existing research on topic 20%
Individual critique of project research & your learning 20%
Group conference presentation 15%
Group written report 40%

Course links

Library portal

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,997.00

International fee $10,375.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All GEOG309 Occurrences

  • GEOG309-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025