Belgium geography (field course + project)

lgeo1381  2022-2023  Louvain-la-Neuve

Belgium geography (field course + project)
6.00 credits
60.0 h + 60.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Vanacker Veerle;
Language
French
Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.
Content
The central theme of this course on the "geography of Belgium" is the interaction between humans and their environment. The course aims to observe the spatial organisation of the landscape, to explain the observed patterns and compare them with theoretical models on landscape structure. Different geographical regions will be visited: Pays de Herve, Fagnes, Haute Ardenne, and the Belgian coast.
Teaching methods
The course is organised in four parts
1. Research project in small groups on a relevant environmental problem, that covers different aspects of geography (physical, human and environmental aspects). During the year 2022-2023, the transversal theme is: "Flooding risks in Belgium in a context of global change". Based on a review of the literature, the group needs to define and elaborate a research question that is relevant for one (of more) of the geographic regions that we will visit during the excursion. During 10 weeks, the groups will work on their research project. During the practical exercises, the groups will analyse the landscape using historical maps, digital terrain models and environmental data in a GIS environment.
2. Writing of final scientific report that is conceived as a small research paper.
3. Excursion in Belgium. During 5 days, we will visit 4 geographic regions and analyse human-environment interactions. We will use different teaching techniques, and include field monitoring and measurement techniques.
4. Oral communication. During the excursion, the groups will present a synthesis of their work to their peers and the teachers.
Evaluation methods
The skills and competences that will be learned:
  • Capacity to apply different geographic tools for field observation and data collection
  • Capacity to read and understand geographic patterns, and the different components of a landscape
Also, the students will learn how to
  • formulate a research question on a relevant environmental problem
  • work efficiently in group on a common project
  • estimate the time and resources necessary to complete a research project
  • synthetise the main results in a scientific report
The evaluation of the course will be based on
  • individual participation in group work and weekly group meetings
  • final report, the quality of the research project and its documentation, and the presentation of the final results during the excursion
  • active participation in the daily activities and debates during the excursion
Other information
The participation to the practical exercises and field excursion is mandatory. These are organized only once during an academic year. It is impossible to redo them in the second session.
Prerequisites:
LGEO1221 Elements of human geography; LGEO1231 Elements of physical geography, or equivalent courses taken by students in mobility. For the realisation of the research project, notions in geographical information systems (GIS) and cartography are necessary.
This activity is accessible to students who do not speak French.
Student in mobility need to contact the teacher(s) before the start of the semester to verify if they can participate in the excursion.
Online resources
 
https://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=8000
Bibliography
Demoulin, A. (2018). Landscapes and Landforms of Belgium and Luxembourg. Cham Springer International Publishing.
Livre électronique (eBook). e-ISBN:  9783319582399.
Disponible via DIAL : http://hdl.handle.net/2078/ebook:123606
Teaching materials
  • Matériel bibliographique sur moodle
  • Slides des cours et exercises disponible sur le site moodle du cours
Faculty or entity
GEOG


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Bachelor in Geography : General